Long Island is set to celebrate the grand opening of its first Jewish Teen Safe Space at the Village Chabad of Stony Brook. The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on Sunday, September 29th at 1:00 PM, marking a significant milestone for the local Jewish community and its youth.
At the heart of this initiative is Mya Declue, an 18-year-old freshman at Endicott College studying interior architecture. A former CTeen leader and a dedicated Girl Scout working towards her Gold Award, Mya recognized a pressing need within her community. “When I heard that there were CTeen lounges at other Chabad’s around the world and our meetups were being done in conference rooms, I realized the teens need a space to hang out, a place to be together,” she said.
A Vision Born from Personal Experience
Having spent her high school years at Smithtown West deeply involved in CTeen, Mya experienced firsthand the importance of having a supportive community. “CTeen means a lot to me. It was a really family-like community, a place I could connect with people I share something in common with. I’m still close with everyone there,” she shared.
Understanding the challenges Jewish teenagers often face in public schools, especially today, Mya wanted to create a haven. “Teens can sometimes not always be the nicest, but having fellow teens that understand you and a space where you can spend time with them in a safe environment means a lot,” she explained.
Turning Passion into Reality
Mya leveraged her interior architecture skills to design a multifunctional lounge that caters to various needs. “I designed it so you can do activities, but also just chill with couches. It should have multiple uses,” she said. From conceptual mockups to selecting furniture, Mya was hands-on throughout the project, coordinating with the Village Chabad and CTeen.
She pitched the idea to Rabbi Motti and Chaya Grossbaum of Chabad Stony Brook, who were immediately supportive. “He loved the idea a lot and said he was fully on board and was happy to do it,” Mya recalled.
Community Impact and Broader Significance
The opening of the lounge comes at a crucial time. With rising antisemitic rhetoric online and in schools, providing a safe and nurturing environment for Jewish teens is more important than ever. “During challenging times, it’s so important for Jewish teens to bond and celebrate their Jewish pride with joy and fun,” said Rabbi Motti Grossbaum.
This lounge is part of a larger movement, being one of 30 such spaces built across the globe in the past year, with ten more scheduled to open next year thanks to a grant program from CTeen International. This trend reflects a growing desire among young Jews to embrace their identity and take on leadership roles, especially in light of studies indicating that 71 percent have experienced antisemitic incidents.
“Despite all odds, Jewish teens like those of CTeen Stony Brook are stepping up to create positive change in their communities and online,” says Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky of CTeen International at Chabad World Headquarters. “We are seeing these safe spaces serve as the incubators of that change.”
A Legacy for Future Generations
For Mya, the lounge is more than just a project; it’s a legacy. “Just knowing that even though I may not use it because I aged out of CTeen, other teens will go there and build friendships, and it will be passed on and used after I leave means a lot to me,” she expressed. “I am so grateful to everyone for pitching in to help make this happen—my parents, sister, and Chabad”
About CTeen Stony Brook:
Led by Rabbi Motti and Chaya Grossbaum of Vally Chabad, CTeen Stony Brook is part of the Chabad Teen Network, the world’s largest network of Jewish teenagers, encompassing over 811 chapters in 64 countries across six continents. CTeen focuses on empowering Jewish teenagers to become leaders in their communities through acts of kindness, community service, and a strong commitment to their values. Since October 7th, the organization has intensified efforts to support Jewish teens facing antisemitism, ensuring no one feels alone.
