Our Creative Expression programs empower youth....

 
to develop their creativity and cultural awareness through knowledge and appreciation of the visual arts, performing arts, digital arts, applied arts, and more. We create high-quality arts programs through an unwavering commitment to hands-on learning that utilizes current equipment and technology. All youth are affirmed as artists in our space, and programs are shaped with active influence and input from youth participants. These efforts create a positive, engaging environment where youth are encouraged to try new things, explore their interests, and foster their unique skill sets.

We know that arts education is critical to ensuring the positive development of young people, especially young people facing systemic challenges. Access to arts education has been shown to improve youth’s academic performance, social-emotional and interpersonal skills, and self-confidence. In the communities that we serve, our programs provide a platform for youth to practice expressing their thoughts and emotions through different mediums.

We deliver an average of 8 hours of music programming and 10 hours of arts programming each week after school.

Each year, more than 150 Club members complete tailored songwriting, instrumentation, and production curricula.

We provide diverse program offerings...

including visual arts (drawing, painting, and sculpture), performing arts (theatre, music, and spoken word), digital arts (graphic design, video production, and photography), and applied arts (jewelry making, 3D printing, and fashion design). Each of these programs is intentionally tailored to meet youth’s needs based on age group and experience level. During the summer months, Creative Expression programs are built into campers’ daily program schedules. During our standard after-school programming, youth have the autonomy to self-select which programs they want to participate in.

Our programs empower our youth to expand their cultural awareness, develop new ways of communicating their perspectives, and increase their capacity to interpret and understand the ideas and feelings of others. Through our Creative Expression programs, we provide youth with the tools and skills that they need to create meaningful, lasting change within their communities.