
NZ SUMMER 2025
This summer join us for six weeks of free, drop-in programming June 23-July 31. Teens are welcome daily, Monday- Thursday from 2:00 - 6 PM. Come every day, join for a few weeks, or just attend on the days you want.
Join us for the kickoff June 3rd at 6 PM to learn more!
We are open early at 12 noon this week Mon-Weds. The last day of drop-in for the year is Wednesday, June 11th. Good luck with finals, everyone!
We will then be closed from June 12th until Summer Programs launch on June 23rd.
Upcoming Events
This week’s features: Building a band, Photography, Free Library and Thursday EMU Photowalk
This week, check out: Creative Writing, Fairy Doors, Tie Dye and on Thursday, we’ll hike to the Arb
This week’s features inclue Creature Costumes, Brain Hugs, Chopped! food challenges and on Thursday, join us for Fuller Pool Day
It’s Earth Week! Join us for an Eco-Art Showcase, Songwriting, Creature Costumes (pt. 2) and Thursday, it’s Movie Day at NZ
This week’s features: Mural Design, Make a Music Video, “Yes, And” Improv, and Thursday is a field trip to the Hands-On Museum
It’s Summer Finale Week! Come for Dance, Dance, Mini Book Club, Sustainable Fashion and Thursday we’re hosting a Summer BBQ, with families welcome to join for a summer finale show at 4:30
“It was a rare opportunity to have the expertise provided by the engaged staff, the permission to pursue the wackier ideas we had, and the resources to execute those ideas at a professional level. I learned so much at the Neutral Zone about leadership and communication, as well as professional-level technical skills in the behind-the-scenes aspects of the music industry.”
“I wouldn’t be who I am without the zone,” stated Sterling Field, now a Senior Research Specialist at Michigan State. “The experiences I had there have been invaluable, and they are still with me.
Click to read more
Make a donation today to support Neutral Zone’s mission to be a transformative, youth-driven community where youth embrace their power, ignite their creativity and launch their future to build equity, justice and collective liberation.
“Not only does Neutral Zone help you to uncover your passions, it gives you resources to pursue them. It provides teens with the opportunity to walk away from the space and enter adulthood independently, with new-found knowledge of themselves, discovered at Neutral Zone.” - Jayla Fields
Neutral Zone's Youth Driven Spaces introduces an exciting new webinar-based professional learning series focused on Restorative Practices. Seminars are led by professionals in the field who are transforming education through school- and district-wide restorative practices implementation.
"The prize uplifts our youth as creative artists and leaders in our community” - Lori Roddy, Neutral Zone executive director. Click to read about Neutral Zone receiving this incredible honor
Enormous thanks to filmmaker Toko Shiiki who created this 12-minute film to commemorate Neutral Zone on our 25th Anniversary. Take a peek for a look into Neutral Zone programs, events, alumni and our leadership over the years.
The Neutral Zone is celebrating 25 years!
It has been 25 years of creating a vision, finding a home, building our skills, developing structures, and facilitating program opportunities for thousands of youth in our community to thrive.
NZ Updates
Our Mission
Neutral Zone is a transformative, youth-driven community where youth embrace their power, ignite their creativity, and launch their future to build equity, justice, and collective liberation.
-Approved October 28, 2023

Our Approach
YOUTH DRIVEN SPACES
OUR YOUTH DRIVEN SPACES APPROACH
Historically, adults struggle to find effective strategies to support meaningful opportunities for youth to lead their own initiatives or learning. We have drawn on our more than 20 year experience to develop a “youth-driven” philosophy that rests on three core practices:
1) Tapping teens’ intrinsic motivation
2) Supporting teens’ developmental needs; and
3) Fostering genuine partnerships between adults and youth.



Several teens involved at Neutral Zone have been recognized for their community leadership as Washtenaw County Young Citizens of the Year.