Every young person deserves a safe place to feel seen, supported, and cared for. In 2024, Didi Hirsch opened Our Third Place (OTP), a 2,500-square-foot youth wellness center in Glendale created to provide just that. The center serves transitional age youth, ages 15 to 25, many of whom are experiencing homelessness, leaving foster care, or facing other challenges. Two years later, Our Third Place has become a welcoming space where youth can access everyday essentials, get mental health support, and build meaningful connections.
Youth at Our Third Place can use showers, laundry facilities, a kitchen, and even a digital recording studio. Programs include art therapy, financial literacy workshops, resume-building support, and opportunities to relax and connect with peers. Since opening, the center has served more than 350 youth and reached over 7,000 through community outreach.
Here, youth voices are valued and an integral part of the space. The OTP Youth Advisory Council helped shape the center, from its name to its programs. Their guidance ensures that OTP reflects the needs of youth in a welcoming, non-judgmental environment.
Partnerships are key to the center’s impact. Staff from the Department of Child and Family Services meet with youth on site, while organizations like Glendale Youth Alliance, ExpandLA, Coffee With a Cause, Better Youth, and the YMCA provide housing support, job skills training, and creative opportunities. Having these partners at the center makes it easier for youth to access a range of support in a space they already know and trust. In addition, field trips to places like local waterfalls and aquariums give youth new experiences and help them build positive memories while sparking creativity.
“We’re so proud to see how Our Third Place has grown over the past two years,” said Kerri Cole, Program Director at Our Third Place. “Spaces like OTP allow us to prioritize and address the unique needs of the youth we serve in a welcoming environment; showing them that their experiences matter, their voices are heard, and that someone is in their corner. When we meet youth where they are, we give them the chance to heal, connect, and build lives they can be proud of.”
Our Third Place is more than a center. It is a space where youth can feel safe, gain the skills they need for independence, and create connections that last. As we celebrate two years of service, we look forward to expanding opportunities, deepening partnerships, and continuing to support youth in Glendale and beyond as they navigate challenges and reach their full potential.
