Daggett Shuler, Attorneys at Law and the William G. White, Jr. YMCA Launch the Safe Sober Teen Center

Daggett Shuler, Attorneys at Law is pleased to announce a ten-year partnership with the William G. White, Jr. YMCA creating a unique space within the YMCA and a one-of-a-kind after-school initiative dedicated to nourishing, guiding, mentoring, and supporting teens in Winston-Salem.

The Safe Sober Teen Center by Daggett Shuler, located in the William G. White, Jr. YMCA, not only provides a safe place for middle and high school students to go after school, the Teen Center also serves as the launchpad for these students to improve their schoolwork, participate in enrichment activities, and improve their mental and physical health. In short, the Teen Center serves as a crucial foundational support for these students, allowing them to grow into who they are meant to be during their pivotal teen years.

            At a press conference held on November 7, 2024 managing partners of Daggett Shuler, David Daggett and Griff Shuler, along with the leadership of the William G. White, Jr. YMCA, Mayor Allen Joines, Police Chief William Penn, Lieutenant Dwayne Little of the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office, Superintendent of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School System Tricia McManus, YMCA of Northwest North Carolina President and CEO Darryl Head as well as other local leaders and dignitaries gathered to celebrate the Safe Sober Teen Center by Daggett Shuler.

“We are now in the 34^th year of our Safe Sober program,” says Attorney Griff Shuler, “and we want to honor the past successes of the program, while pushing this initiative forward to have an amplified impact in the lives of our students.” Safe Sober, known for their decades of encouraging kids to “Make the Right Choice!” with their pledge cards and student-designed Safe Sober t-shirts has operated in over 50 schools in ten counties for over three decades. Safe Sober is a non-profit organization co-founded in 1991 by David Daggett of Daggett Shuler, Attorneys at Law and was originally known as Safe Sober Prom Night. “The goal of Safe Sober is to provide ongoing awareness of the dangers of drugs and alcohol and to use the power of positive peer pressure to encourage students to make the right choices in life that will empower them to become the best version of themselves.” explains Griff Shuler.

“The Safe Sober Teen Center by Daggett Shuler was created to give middle and high school students a place to belong after school.” Attorney David Daggett says. “These kids are searching for leadership and guidance, and if we don’t provide them with the framework for them to succeed, they can go astray. The Teen Center is designed to be a sanctuary for these kids. By partnering with the YMCA Safe Sober has expanded our reach and our impact on the lives of young people.”

            The leadership of the William G. White, Jr. YMCA has partnered with Wiley Middle School and R.J. Reynolds High School to provide free memberships to the YMCA through the Reaching Our Potential initiative. Students, identified by the leadership at their schools, are referred to Reaching Our Potential, and receive a free membership to the William G. White, Jr. YMCA, gaining access to the YMCA’s facilities and the Safe Sober Teen Center by Daggett Shuler. Now in the second year of operation, the Teen Center sees between 60-80 students a day who come to the Teen Center for mentorship, guidance, and support.

            The Teen Center is a dedicated space within the YMCA where kids can hang out, do homework, and connect with mentors and new friends. The center not only has flexible gathering spaces for various activities, it also has a gaming room for the kids to play and learn.

            “The teens at the Teen Center have become a unique community within the YMCA, and we are delighted to see it.” says Darryl Head, CEO of the YMCA of Northwest North Carolina. “These kids come here not only for access to the gym and facilities of the YMCA, they are also here for the enrichment opportunities otherwise unavailable to them. We have cooking classes, art lessons, Teen Talks for mental health support, and mentors that come in and work with the students. Our incredibly talented staff member, Jamari Prim, not only looks after these kids, he forges true relationships with them. Jamari and the staff truly care and support these students.”