For teens with big dreams, access to technology is essential to opening new pathways and possibilities. But the digital divide – access to a computer and reliable internet at home – can be an obstacle. 

Through a multi-year financial gift from Phillips 66, the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles has opened a Teen Innovation Center in Wilmington, California for students to collaborate and connect through technology and guided programming. The 1,000-square-foot space features more than 20 computers plus 3D printers, podcast, photography and other creative arts equipment. 

“As technology becomes increasingly important for school, career readiness, and everyday life, the Teen Innovation Center gives students a place to build digital skills,” says Mario Valenzuela, Chief Mission Advancement Officer for the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles. “We are grateful for Phillips 66’s investment in our youth and we are excited to see the positive impact this space will make on our community.” 

During the school year, the Wilmington YMCA services than 1,200 students each month and that number grows to more than 2,500 in the summer. 

Jaziel Galindo, a rising senior at Phineas Banning Senior High School, has been a member of the Wilmington YMCA since pre-school when his mother joined the Mother Read literacy program. An aspiring firefighter, Jaziel enjoys going to the Y with friends to work out in the gym. 

He and other teenagers have been engaged in the Teen Innovation Center from the start, providing input on what they want to see in this space that they can call their own. The Center includes a collaboration space that will be used for the California YMCA Youth & Government delegate, a youth leadership and civic responsibility organization. Jaziel, currently the treasurer and candidate for president, says the group has helped him learn how to advocate for his community. 

“I’m excited that teenagers will be able to come to the Y so we can learn skills that we will need later in life or for our jobs,” he says. 

For Phillips 66, this investment reflects a rich history that will develop leaders for generations. 

“Phillips 66 has been part of this community for more than a century,” says Henry Barzotti, Vice President of the Los Angeles Refinery. “Through the years we have partnered with non-profit organizations to give our time, talent and resources to be a good neighbor and strengthen the economic, social and environmental vitality of this area. It is an honor and a privilege to be part of this legacy.”