Nov 4, 2025 2 min read

Teens at the Common Ground Teen Center, located at 92 N. Main Street in Washington, will be hosting their second Love Anyway Feast on Tuesday, Nov. 5, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Young people are affected by adult concerns. Even though they do not vote, they follow the election process.

The Teen Center is a space for common ground. Last year, the Teen Outreach Director, Dr. Mary Jo Podgurski, was introduced to Common Ground USA by Emily Holmes. The similarity in names – Common Ground Teen Center and Common Ground USA – drew Holmes to bring their project to the Teen Executive Board, which approved participation.

The teens’ second Love Anyway Feast is an open house at the Teen Center and is patterned after the Common Ground USA ones. Last year, more than 80 people attended the event. This year, the group is partnering with the Washington Rotary Club.

The center’s Cooking Club meets weekly; on Tuesday, the teens will create one of their favorite dishes for the potluck – Mary Jo’s family recipe for minestrone soup. Community adults and families, as well as teens, are invited to join at the center. Each person should bring a potluck dish that represents heritage or food tradition in their family. Participants will break bread and chat.

The goal is to give teens a tangible sign of the support the community has for them.