When Pule first walked through the doors of Late Nite at the Pearl Street Family YMCA three years ago, she wasn’t sure what to expect. She was quiet, unsure, and just looking for a way to pass the time during the long summer evenings.
Quickly, she found more than something to do. She found a second home.
“Sometimes I show up in a bad mood,” Pule says, “but I always leave feeling great.”
More Than Just Fun
Late Nite is a free evening program for local middle and high school students, designed to offer structure, belonging, and safety during the hours when teens often need it most. Each night includes games, sports, music, food, and trusted adults who offer support through both structure and genuine care.
For Pule, that care is noticeable.
“The Late Nite staff feel like family,” she says. “They always make sure we’re okay.”
Confidence and Connection Through Community
Over the years, Pule has made dozens of new friends, stepped into leadership roles, and grown into a confident, welcoming presence. Mina, a senior membership director at the Y, has seen that transformation up close.
“She used to be quieter,” Mina says. “Now she’s the first to welcome new teens and step up to help. She’s become a leader and a loyal friend.”
Pule’s confidence and kindness now help shape the experience for others. She’s one of the people who makes Late Nite feel like home for newcomers.
Meeting a Critical Need for Tacoma Youth
Pule’s story is part of a much bigger one.
With school out for the summer, many Tacoma teens face long, unstructured days without safe spaces to go. In recent years, the region has seen a troubling rise in youth gun violence. For some teens, even home isn’t a safe or supportive place to spend their summer.
That’s what makes Late Nite so essential.
In Tacoma, the program is part of a larger community effort to create safe, supportive environments for youth during high-risk hours. It was launched as a direct response to the city’s call for action. In 2023, the Tacoma City Council passed a resolution directing city departments and partners to prioritize youth safety. Tacoma Public Schools, Boys and Girls Club, Greentrike, Parks Tacoma, and the Y answered that call by offering free, low-barrier access to fun, mentorship, and consistency.
In 2024, more than 4,100 teens participated at YMCA locations. Each one offers free meals, mentorship, activities like basketball, music, and art, and, most importantly, a space where teens are known and valued.
Late Nite runs weeknights during the summer and weekends during the school year, with doors opening at 5pm and staying open until 10pm. For many teens, that time of day is critical. School is out, parents may still be working, and safe options are limited. By offering consistent access to caring adults and engaging activities, Late Nite fills a vital gap.
An Impact That Goes Beyond Summer
Pule has spent years coming to Late Nite, and she knows how powerful it can be to have a place that feels fun, consistent, and welcoming. She has grown from a quiet middle schooler into a confident, engaged teen who now helps others feel at home as well.
She’s the kind of person who reflects what Late Nite is all about. She shows up, builds community, and helps others feel seen.
This impact is made possible through partnerships with key community organizations and the generosity of our donors.
Late Nite is completely free for participants because individuals, families, and community partners choose to invest in youth. Every meal, every caring adult, every safe and welcoming space exists because someone decided to take action.
When you support programs like Late Nite, you are doing more than funding a few hours of activity. You are helping teens like Pule build confidence, discover belonging, and grow into leaders.