Our Mission
The mission of the Jefferson Teen Center is to empower tri-area teens through socialization, enrichment activities, resources, and mentor support in an inclusive, safe environment.
Our Vision
The Jefferson Teen Center will be a collaborative and adaptive organization supporting opportunities for teens to grow in self-advocacy, empathy, and fulfillment thereby enriching their lives and community.
Meet our Staff and board:
Eden Blooms (she/they) - Director
Eden brings a decade of experience as an educator, community advocate, and public health practitioner to their role as Director of the Jefferson Teen Center. With a Bachelor’s in Ethnobotany and a Master’s in Population Health and Public Health, Eden’s work bridges the healing power of land-based knowledge with human-centered approaches to wellness and equity.
Eden played a key role in launching The Nest and developing its resource navigation programs, including harm reduction initiatives. Additionally, Eden created The Hoot, Jefferson County’s youth and young adult resource guide. Their research and teaching focus on ending teen suicide through community building and addressing homelessness with empathy and systemic insight.
As a queer Sephardic person of color living in Cascadia, Eden’s lived experience - including being disabled with two chronic pain conditions, mental health challenges, and being an at-risk teen - deeply informs their leadership at the Teen Center. They are committed to creating inclusive, trauma-informed spaces where young people feel seen, supported, and empowered.
Eden’s work is rooted in the One Health model, emphasizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental wellbeing. At the Jefferson Teen Center, they continue to cultivate belonging, resilience, and radical care.
Daisy Janes (she/they) - Associate Director
I have been involved with the Jefferson Teen Center since the fall of 2023 and stepped into the position of Associate Director in 2025. In this role, I provide strategic oversight for the Teen Center and ensure the effective management of resources, programs, and community partnerships.
I am deeply passionate about supporting the young people of Jefferson County to grow and thrive. I bring a positive, upbeat attitude to my work with youth, and prioritize their voices and perspectives in decision-making for the Teen Center.
As a full-time student at Peninsula College, a local farmer in Jefferson County, and a staff member for the Jefferson Teen Center, I am deeply rooted and invested in my community. In my spare time, you can find me gallivanting through the abundant nature surrounding our peninsula, nose-deep in a good book, or working in my garden.
Jeanette
With two working parents, Jeanette was reliant on after school programs just like the Teen Center for almost her whole education. Her first jobs were in similar programs, and she knows what it takes to make the Teen Center as fun and enriching as it can be!
Board of Directors:
John Anderson (he/him) - Treasurer
Dr. John Barrett (he/him)
Jeff Jones (he/him)
Elizabeth Brink (she/her)
Kara Billinger-Hessom (she/her)
