The Youth in Action kids have new digs thanks to some hard work and a partnership formed with G.I.S. Tech Spot. The new office is located upstairs from the Space Bar Café in the old McGhee Building on Hastings Street. The kids, their mentor Abe Drennan and Tech Spot owner Patricia Whitlaw are all pumped so they threw a bit of a party on June 5 to share the good news.

The youth performed some theatre, presentations were made and Xavier Lane got up in front of his peers and read a poem he had written. Everyone showed serious respect and when he was finished he made a quick fist pump action and left the stage.

Awards of recognition were given to Sam and Jessie Robbins by Drennan who said to the small group gathered that the two members of YIA were always willing to do anything to lend a hand.

Drennan, making a short speech to the YIA and the audience said that he's really happy that the kids have their own space, their own office to work from.

"I think we have a really bright future for this movement," Drennan said.

YIA are responsible for running movies, youth dances and everything they do is youth-led.

"The office is here and the space is open," Drennan announced.

Whitlaw buzzed around the space bringing out more and more food that the kids happily devoured. Everything was delicious and the kids were excited to sample the vast array of salads, sandwiches and dips that are part of the regular Space Bar Café menu.

Whitlaw says she loves having YIA share the space.

"This place is vibrating," she says. "The building is alive."

And because so much of what the YIA kids do is about learning and experiencing responsibility, Whitlaw says she wants to get these kids trained so they know how to work with food in a commercial kitchen.

"I want to teach them about food handling, pricing and I want them to have retail skills," Whitlaw says.

But until then, the YIA crew is happy to enjoy some great food in their new space on Hastings Street while they learn about partnerships and making some great things happen.