Why The Atrium, Why Now
When we launched the Marcella Foundation our goal was simple: listen deeply, dream boldly, and take action. As someone born and raised in South Lake Tahoe, I know this place is both extraordinary and challenging. Tahoe is a community of paradoxes. World-renowned recreation is steps away, yet a drive on a holiday weekend can feel impossible. Leading scientists study our lake, yet access to educational opportunities can feel limited. Celebrity chefs and luxury dining draw visitors, yet 18% of local families face food insecurity every day. We have access to so much, and at the same time, so little.
That tension is exactly why we exist. For the past three years, the Marcella Foundation has worked alongside students, families, schools, and partners to support young people through food access, literacy, and mentorship. We’ve seen what happens when basic needs are met, when a child has a book in their hands, when a student has someone who believes in them. And we’ve also felt the ceiling of what’s possible without a dedicated space to bring it all together.
Space to build.
Space to try.
Space to fail safely.
Space to belong.
The Atrium was born from that gap.
Why The Atrium
The Atrium is the next evolution of our work. It is not a standalone project or a new direction. It is a place that allows our existing impact to grow.
Located at 970 Lodi Avenue (the old Attic building!), The Atrium transforms a former thrift store into a community hub. It brings together youth leadership, hands-on learning, food access, and literacy under one roof.
At its core, The Atrium is a makerspace developed in partnership with South Tahoe High School. It is a place where high school students can explore making, design, fabrication, and entrepreneurship through real tools and real experiences. It is free, accessible, and intentionally designed for all students—not just the ones who already see themselves as “makers” or “high achievers.”
This is learning by doing. Trying something new. Building confidence through creation. Discovering what’s possible when students are given both tools and trust.
But The Atrium is more than a makerspace.
It strengthens the local food system by expanding refrigeration, storage, and coordination for food rescue and redistribution. It expands literacy by supporting book access and reading mentorship for younger children. And it creates a visible, welcoming place where students, families, volunteers, and partners can come together.
Why Now
The need is already here.
High school students are asking for more hands-on learning and clearer pathways between school, college, careers, and community. Teachers are looking for partners who enhance what’s already happening in the classroom. Food partners are stretched by limited capacity, even as good food goes to waste. Families are navigating rising costs, limited access, and uncertainty about what comes next for their kids.
At the same time, momentum is building.
We are in active partnership with South Tahoe High School. We are engaging workforce partners and funders who see the value of experiential learning. We are hearing from volunteers and community members who want to do more - but need a place to plug in. And we are learning, again and again, that siloed solutions are not enough.
The Atrium exists because the work is already happening. Now it has a home.
This moment matters because we have the opportunity to build systems, not just programs. To reduce duplication and increase capacity. To create a space that is flexible, responsive, and rooted in the real needs of our community.
A Place to Belong
Perhaps most importantly, The Atrium is about belonging.
A place where students can show up after school and feel welcome.
A place where trying something new is encouraged.
A place where food, learning, creativity, and connection coexist.
A place that says: You don’t have to be a certain kind of kid to belong here.
The Atrium is both a place and a promise. A promise that Tahoe’s young people deserve access, opportunity, and trust. A promise that when we invest in the whole student, the entire community benefits.
Follow along on our social medias, subscribe to our monthly newsletter.