Programs

Youth Empowerment Studios
A Digital Media Arts & Youth Leadership Program

“In the federal No Child Left Behind Act, the arts share equal billing with reading, math, science, and other disciplines as core academic subjects, which can contribute to improved student learning outcomes.” U.S. Department of Education, No Child Left Behind (www.nochildleftbehind.gov)

Youth Empowerment Studios is a high-quality digital media arts and youth leadership program for low-income, under-served, and at-risk youths, especially those from communities of color. The program also helps teach youth a series of non-routine tasks that require social intelligence, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving skills.

The goals of Youth Empowerment Studios are to:
(1) Expand the access to art for communities of color and youth
(2) Increase learning outcomes in areas such as media literacy
(3) Develop leadership skills and community connectedness in youth
(5) Leverage the talents of community artists for social betterment
(6) Provide valuable communication skills and tools for healthy youth development

The DIAL offers Youth Empowerment Studios in two tracks: "In Focus" and "Beats, Rhymes & Life". Please contact us for more info about the program.

Education & Training

Creative Professionals & Artists provide media arts education and technical skills training to at-risk community members, especially youths, immigrants, refugees and communities of color.

Project Production

Participants create culturally- and linguistically-appropriate films, videos and other media, through the guidance of creative professionals and artists using human-centered design theory.