Founded 1988
Teen Outreach
Teen Outreach is the personification of Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski's life's work — a nonprofit she founded in 1988 to provide compassionate, dignity-centered support for young people. Visit the Teen Outreach website to learn more about their programs, resources, and the Common Ground Teen Center.
Go to teenoutreach.org“Teen Outreach is the personification of my work.”
1988
Year founded
2008
Common Ground Teen Center opened
35+
Years serving young people
A Vision Born in 1988
Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski founded Teen Outreach in 1988 with a simple but powerful belief: every young person deserves a safe space, honest information, and an adult who truly listens.
For nearly four decades, Teen Outreach has served as the organizational home for programs that meet teens where they are — without judgment, without shame, and with unwavering respect for their dignity.
Teen Outreach is a distinct nonprofit organization. Its work, its programs, and its community are its own. Dr. Podgurski is proud to have founded it and to remain connected to its mission.
Common Ground Teen Center
The Common Ground Teen Center, founded in 2008, is a teen-driven, teen-monitored, and teen-staffed safe space operating under the Teen Outreach umbrella. It stands as a living example of what happens when young people are trusted with real responsibility.
Visit Teen Outreach
Explore programs, resources, the Ask Mary Jo archive, and more at the official Teen Outreach website.
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