Local CTeen Leader’s Vision Brings Safe Space to Long Island Jewish Youth
Long Island celebrated the grand opening of its first branded state-of-the-art CTeen Lounge at the Village Chabad of Stony Brook as teens, their families, and community members gathered for the milestone ribbon-cutting ceremony.
At the heart of this initiative was Mya Declue, an 18-year-old freshman at Endicott College studying interior architecture. A former CTeen leader and a dedicated Girl Scout working towards her Gold Award, Mya recognized a pressing need within her community. “When I heard that there were CTeen lounges at other Chabad’s around the world and our meetups were being done in conference rooms, I realized the teens need a space to hang out, a place to be together,” she said.
Having spent her high school years at Smithtown West deeply involved in CTeen, Mya experienced firsthand the importance of having a supportive community. “CTeen means a lot to me. It was a really family-like community, a place where I could connect with people I share something in common with. I’m still close with everyone there,” she shared.
Understanding the challenges Jewish teenagers often face in public schools, especially today, Mya wanted to create a haven. “Teens can sometimes not always be the nicest, but having fellow teens that understand you and a space where you can spend time with them in a safe environment means a lot,” she explained.
She pitched the idea to her local Shluchim Rabbi Motti and Chaya Grossbaum of Chabad Stony Brook, who were immediately supportive. “He loved the idea a lot and was fully on board,” Mya recalled.
Mya leveraged her interior architecture skills to design a multifunctional lounge that caters to various needs. “I designed it so you can do activities, but also just chill with couches. It should have multiple uses,” she said. From conceptual mockups to selecting furniture, Mya was hands-on throughout the project, coordinating with the Village Chabad and CTeen International.
The opening of the lounge came at a crucial time. With rising antisemitic rhetoric online and in schools, providing a safe and nurturing environment for Jewish teens is more important than ever. “During challenging times, it’s so important for Jewish teens to bond and celebrate their Jewish pride with joy and fun,” said Rabbi Motti Grossbaum.
This lounge is part of a global initiative spearheaded by Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky A”H, with his inspiring commitment at the Kinus Hashluchim three years ago to “triple our efforts to bring Moshiach.” At that memorable gathering, he announced a wide-ranging Hachlatos to strengthen Jewish communities worldwide, including creating 36 supportive spaces for Jewish teens. Li’iluy Nishmas Harav Moshe Yehuda Ben Tzvi Yosef Z”L, his son Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky has carried forward this vision, with a dedicated grant program from CTeen International at Merkos 302. Surpassing the original goal of 36 teen lounges, they have now established 40 worldwide, with ten more scheduled to open next year.
“Despite all odds, Jewish teens like those of CTeen Stony Brook are stepping up to create positive change in their communities and online,” said Rabbi Mendy Kotlarsky Executive Director of Merkos 302. “We are seeing these safe spaces serve as the incubators of that change.”
For Mya, the lounge is more than just a project; it’s a legacy. “Just knowing that even though I may not use it because I aged out of CTeen, other teens will go there and build friendships, and it will be passed on and used after I leave means a lot to me,” she expressed. “I am so grateful to everyone for pitching in to help make this happen—my parents, sister, and Chabad”
