Youth Leadership Cohort
Teens work alongside veteran community advocates through weekly dialogue circles and organizational practicums. Participants learn consensus building, public speaking, and project budget stewardship while designing neighborhood service days.
Creative Media Lab
Students practice digital photography, audio documentary recording, and community journalism. Working with professional gear and local guest editors, each student documents neighborhood elders and publishes their stories in an end-of-term risograph zine.
Civic Action Circles
Youth examine urban planning, food sovereignty, and local civic policy alongside neighborhood organizers. Each circle develops an actionable community project, presenting concrete recommendations directly to local block associations and park boards.
Seasonal Learning Cadence
Application and Intake
Orientation Weekend
Weekly Studio Sessions
Community Showcase
Youth and families submit a simple interest profile, followed by an informal conversation around personal goals and preferred workshop concentrations.
A two-day gathering at our studio introduces mentors, clarifies seasonal commitments, and builds trust through shared meals and creative group exercises.
Twelve consecutive weeks of hands-on workshops, individual mentor check-ins, and collaborative studio time focused on real-world creative outputs.
Cohorts present finished zines, policy plans, and multimedia portfolios before a packed hall of families, neighbors, and civic organizers.
Pull Up a Chair
Spring applications are open for students ages 14 through 19, volunteer mentors, and family advocates. No tuition fees or prior experience required.