IYG Crawfordsville celebrated its re-opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday by the Crawfordsville/Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce.
IYG was originally established in Indiana as the Indiana Youth Group in 1987, it was renamed in 2024 due to the group expanding throughout the nation.
IYG provides a safe space for LGBTQ+ youth to build confidence, explore their identity, and form community connections. It promotes acceptance, equity, and restorative practices while empowering queer youth to thrive.
Crawfordsville’s IYG chapter was originally located at the Montgomery County Youth Service Bureau, but had to relocate and find a permanent space when the bureau expanded its alternative school. They are now located in the basement of St. John Episcopal Church, 212 S. Green St.
The new space has a lounge area, food pantry, clothing pantry and gaming area, among other things. IYG also allows for youth to take home food from the center if they need.
The center hosts activity nights 4-8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.
IYG also provides virtual therapy and all of their mental health services are provided free of cost.
Kara Riley, IYG’s Client Services Center Supervisor, said children and teens are welcome at the center.
“It’s just a place for them to be safe and be welcome,” Riley said.
The center relies heavily on donations from the community for the resources they provide. They are always seeking volunteers and community contributions.
To learn more on how to donate or volunteer, reach out to crawfordsville@iyg.org.
