A group of young Brooklyn residents successfully pushed for a community center for residents to come together and feel safe.

"The young people came to us with an idea that they wanted a safe space to gather," says Raquiba Labrie, of L+M Development Partners. "They wanted a place they can call their own."

Participants from the Brownsville Community Justice Center, which is dedicated to helping kids in court-involved cases, found a vacant lot and took advantage.

"Our young people...touched by the criminal system in a negative way, many times, have been perpetrators," says James Broderick, of Brooklyn Justice Centers. "We feel this is a great opportunity to get their lives back on track."

For the past year, a group of young men worked hard to build the space from scratch at Chester Street and the Garvey Apartments.

The youths say they feel accomplished and take pride in the work.

A shipping container at the site will house a computer center and a lounge. The clubhouse will also host workshops and other activities for young people, aimed at keeping them off of the streets and improving their lives.