When Rabble Mill first opened its doors in a Lincoln mall back in 2010, it was simply a gathering place—a skatepark and safe haven for kids who didn’t fit the traditional mold. Area youth could drop in to skateboard, play music, or experiment with media and fashion in a space that valued them for who they were.
Now, 15 years later, this humble indoor skatepark has transformed into one of the Midwest's most innovative youth empowerment organizations, now known as The Bay.
At first glance, The Bay might look like a typical indoor skatepark. But take a step inside, and you’ll find a world of possibility: an all-ages music venue, a coffee bar, a creative arts lab, a mentoring program, and even an after-school resource center. It’s a vibrant ecosystem built around one powerful mission—to engage and empower youth through passion and connection.
The space is no longer just a meeting spot and safer space to drop in and hang out, as it has exploded into an education, creative and career-launching institution that is now a sanctuary for teens seeking creative outlets and connections. The program, part of a variety of offerings by the non-profit Rabble Mill, and it has become a cultural movement that gives young people access to tools, mentors, and opportunities they may not otherwise have, while being a catalyst for the city's youth to discover belonging, creativity, and purpose. The Bay was built on the belief that everyone deserves a place to feel seen and supported—especially young people navigating difficult environments or facing societal challenges.
With programming centered around skateboarding, music, art, entrepreneurship, and community, The Bay currently serves more than 3,000 young people with many continuing on to Rabble Mill's more intensive initiative, Gap Year. This program, focuses on skill-building and career readiness, while also providing paid internships in media, music, marketing, apparel design, and more.
The Bay’s founder, Mike Smith, is no stranger to hardship. Having experienced homelessness and adversity himself, Smith envisioned a space that would serve as a lifeline for others. What began as a vision to support young skaters soon expanded into a multifaceted nonprofit with national recognition for its youth-first model.
From its early days, The Bay has welcomed students of all backgrounds—many of whom felt like they didn’t fit into traditional systems. Through art, music, mentorship, and skateboarding, The Bay helps them discover their voice and their value. Mike, along with co-founder Andrew Norman built this youth-first vision from a simple belief: trusting young people with space, resources, and mentorship could spark a movement. Smith’s commitment to authenticity—creating “a third place” for youth to feel fully themselves—earned him local acclaim, including Nebraska’s Distinguished Entrepreneur award in 2024 . Norman echoes that ethos: “Youth find us because they care…and that gives them opportunity to build confidence.”
Over the past decade, The Bay has grown into the flagship program of Rabble Mill, and with this explosive growth has come change. In early June 2025, Mike Smith, co-founder and Executive Growth + Innovation Director of The Bay, announced he’s stepping away after nearly 15 transformative years—citing the arrival of a new baby and a chance to bring his creativity to youth-focused ventures beyond Nebraska. With this announcement, Rabble Mill and The Bay will be in great hands as he is passing the torch to co-founder Andrew Norman, a seasoned community builder, who had also co-founded Hear Nebraska - a website and community activator that focused on the vibrant Nebraska music scene. Andrew shared with Nebraska Public Media:
“Youth find us because they care… that gives them the opportunity to find their community and to build confidence.”
As Norman takes the helm, The Bay is poised to deepen its community ties and continue innovating in the youth services space. “We’re not just giving kids something to do—we’re helping them discover who they are,” Norman shared in a recent interview. “That’s where real change begins.”
Andrew’s vision for the next chapter builds on roots grounded in trust, choice, and empowerment—continuing the Bay’s mission to equip youth with purpose and pride. His first large-scale initiative? Launching Gap Year in Omaha and bringing back Omaha Girls Rock for 2026, offering deeper pathways into creative and civic life.
At The Bay, no two days are the same—but the mission is always clear. Here’s what youth can expect:
These aren’t just “cool activities.” They’re bridges to confidence, opportunity, and connection.
In a time when many young people feel disconnected, The Bay stands as proof of what’s possible when we invest in belonging. It’s not just a skatepark or an art space—it’s a lifeline. It teaches us that when we create environments built on acceptance, support, and creativity, we unlock the potential in everyone.
If you're looking for positivity in the form of good people helping the youth of Nebraska find their path, then we highly recommend you visit www.thebay.org. Here you will find the details about all of the programs, upcoming events in the community, applications for kids to get involved, and a link to donate to this non-profit that quite literally is the epitome of positivity. 3 cheers and all the high fives to the fine people at The Bay for all that they do!
