\u201cWe want young people to feel confident and secure about the next steps in their future,\u201d said Alexa Harrison, one of the program\u2019s founding fellows. \u201cWe\u2019re not mind-readers and we\u2019re not trying to predict their future for them\u2014we\u2019re helping them pursue the future they want.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n
![\"Alexas](\"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CF1-1.jpg\")
<\/a>Run in partnership between the Aspen Institute<\/a> and the City of El Paso and funded by both, Centre Future was designed from the ground up by a trio of dedicated young professionals: Alexa (a psychology major from UT-Austin), Kalina Gallardo (a creative writing graduate from UT-El Paso), and Indy Gonzalez (a marketing student at UT-El Paso). The trio had a knack for marketing and event planning, and what began as sticky note brainstorming sessions has evolved into a one-of-a-kind space that\u2019s already making a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n While most youth programs focus narrowly on either teens or young adults, Centre Future brings both age groups together in a shared environment, something Alexa says was inspired by data from the Aspen Institute on \u201copportunity youth,\u201d or individuals ages 16-24 not currently in school or working. Looking at community demographics, Centre Future expanded the age range from 16-26 in 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The El Paso Public Library<\/a> was a natural home for the project. The city\u2019s library, Literacy Center, already offered programs like digital literacy classes and Career Online High School<\/a>. Centre Future builds on that foundation by providing tailored services to younger patrons who are re-skilling, upskilling, or simply finding their footing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur reference desk staff are our biggest champions,\u201d Alexa shared. \u201cThey help patrons access resources or research topics they\u2019re curious about. That kind of support really makes the space come alive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Located in the basement of the newly reopened Main Library, Centre Future is something of a hidden gem, or, as Alexa puts it, \u201ckind of like a speakeasy. If you know, you know.\u201d But once inside, young people find a welcoming space full of opportunities:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019ve had people come in not knowing what they want, and that\u2019s okay,\u201d Alexa said. \u201cWhether it\u2019s short-term planning or big-picture goals, we\u2019re here to help them work it out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n One recent success story involved a young man who had doubts about applying to graduate school. With encouragement from the Centre Future team, he submitted his application, and was accepted into UT-Austin public affairs program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Though still in its pilot phase, Centre Future is already showing signs of lasting impact. The program blends mentorship, technology, and community in ways that traditional classrooms and job centers often can\u2019t. Alexa and her team are constantly refining the model, tracking feedback, building relationships with library staff, and hoping the City of El Paso will officially absorb the program when the initial grant phase ends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019d love to see Centre Future replicated in libraries across the city,\u201d Alexa said. \u201cBring in some good chairs, reserve a room, and dedicate a space for young adults to figure things out. Give them access and support and see what happens!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n By grounding Centre Future in a public library, one of the most trusted, accessible institutions in any city, El Paso is offering a new blueprint for how to empower youth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n To learn more about Centre Future, you can follow them on Instagram<\/a> or visit their website<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" El Paso Public Library\u2019s recently reopened Main Library is now home to a groundbreaking initiative: Centre Future, a unique program designed for young adults ages 16 to 26. As the first of its kind in the nation, Centre Future brings teens and twenty-somethings together for workforce development, digital literacy, life skills training, and so much…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":66,"featured_media":32737,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"yes","footnotes":""},"categories":[488,1010,59,834,733],"tags":[1141,1144,1140,988,1139,1142,1143,1145,567,1146,998],"class_list":["post-33279","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community-engagement","category-digital-literacy","category-public-libraries","category-workforce-development","category-youth-services","tag-alexa-harrison","tag-aspen-institute","tag-centre-future","tag-el-paso","tag-el-paso-public-library","tag-indy-gonzalez","tag-kalina-gallardo","tag-life-skills","tag-public-libraries","tag-texas-library","tag-texas-public-libraries"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33279","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/66"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33279"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33279\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33292,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33279\/revisions\/33292"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32737"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33279"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33279"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tsl.texas.gov\/ld\/librarydevelopments\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33279"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nA National First: Supporting Ages 16\u201326 Under One Roof<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Peer Mentorship, Practical Skills, and a Place to Belong<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/li>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nA Library-Backed Launchpad for El Paso\u2019s Next Generation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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