For this year’s YIELD community project, this group of high school juniors have made it their mission to transform a vacant lot of the mall into a teenager socializing and studying space we have named, “The Social Study.” The purpose behind this project is to bring teenage life and commerce back into the mall and the surrounding district, while also providing a safe and comforting space for students in the Mason City area.
After the idea was selected, we students took it upon ourselves to cultivate the project. Each student gave their own talents to the project. While the artistic designed the space and layout, the logistical planned the hours and operations. As some campaigned for and collected donations, others spent hours coating the space with a fresh coat of paint.
Due to generous donations (including furniture from Brick Furniture, discounted paint from Sherwin Williams, and a number of monetary contributions), the vision of a safe and comfortable room will be supported with furniture, games, lighting, and decorations. Already, interest in the space has taken hold. A couple of organizations have reached out to use the space, including Tuba Christmas this past weekend.
The space is set to open with a ribbon cutting on January 5, after Christmas break has ended and the new school semester begins. The project is designed to last until the end of the school year, but will hopefully continue into the next school year after its popularity and effectiveness for the community are proven. The YIELD students will continue to support the project after their graduation overseeing the space and recruiting additional student groups and organizations to assist with staffing the project.
This valuable initiative has required strong commitment from this year’s students, but this year’s YIELD class is filled with exceptional students who have come together to complete this ambitious project. We look forward to the results and are hopeful the community benefits from the fruits of our labor.
Written by: Mark Bradley, 2025 YIELD Graduate