New Regional Teen Center Promotes Health And Wellness

AVON, CT — A local foundation dedicated to helping those dealing with substance abuse and mental health issues has now created a new facility to help kids avoid those issues in the first place.

The Connor Scott Zieky Foundation recently opened the CSZ Center in Avon for area adolescents to enjoy the company of each other, along with mentors in the community.

Located at 128 Simsbury Road, Building 8, the CSZ Center is a home-away-from-home where young teens can engage in "positive youth skill building activities including life skills, relationship building, mental health and wellness activities, guest speakers, pro-social and more."

Though located in Avon, Ryan Leonard, director of the CSZ Foundation, said the center serves teens living in Avon, Simsbury, Canton, and Farmington.

It opened last year, but the center didn't become fully operational until last month, with a gaming room, movie room, and study station finished, according to Leonard.

The foundation is named after Avon resident Connor Scott Zieky, who died in 2018 at the age of 27 due to an accidental drug overdose.

It was set up by his family to raise awareness and help other youths avoid the demons that struck Zieky.

The CSZ Center is an extension of that goal and is a tangible place for those goals to be turned into action.

"CSZ's mission is to provide a dedicated space for adolescents to engage in recreational activities, work on homework, and cultivate a positive self-concept," said Ryan Leonard, director of the CSZ Foundation.

"We believe that by creating a welcoming environment, we can contribute to the personal growth and development of middle school and high school students."

The center is the home base for the foundation's "Peer-to-Peer" mentoring program, where high school teens volunteer to mentor middle schoolers to help prepare them for the years ahead.

With food and beverages provided on-site, the CSZ Center hosts gaming days where teens play video games, tabletop sports games, mini basketball, etc.

Sprinkled-in are tutoring sessions where high school teens help middle schoolers with homework and teach them good study habits.

For more information on the Connor Scott Zieky Foundation and the CSZ Center, email Email Contact@CSZfoundation.org.

To view the Connor Scott Zieky Foundation web page, click on this link.

For more information on the CSZ Center, click on this link.