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In May the group is celebrating its young people and the help that they have received from the community.

YNN's Virginia Butler spoke with Teen Empowerment's Director of Rochester Programs Doug Ackley about the focus of the group and a luncheon they are hosting.

"Well since we moved over to the southwest area of the city we've been focusing on Genesee Street and Thurston Avenue and Jefferson Avenue. We've got a great group of young people hired over there that have been doing some amazing work," Ackley told YNN. "They have been organizing the young people in that community through youth brunches and open mics and game nights, and a whole series of things that are designed to be fun and bring young people in, but also designed with really deep messages about unity and how we bring young people together to create change in the community. And its been great to have an opportunity to focus centrally in that community since we moved into our new spot on Genesee and Arnett."

The community played a key role in the success of Teen Empowerment, which is why are hosting a luncheon in May to thank everyone.

"We want an opportunity to celebrate young people, celebrate the work that Teen Empowerment's done over the last seven or eight years here in the community, and hopefully try to bring it to the next level," explained Ackley.

The Luncheon, themed "It's Time" will be held Thursday May 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Riverside Convention Center. Tickets can be purchased on their website.