Watch our Virtual Town Hall recordings for insights and strategies from field experts across sectors. Explore the impact of Creative Youth Development in equipping young people and strengthening communities.
Virtual Town Hall Series
Impactful Spaces and Places through Creative Youth Development
We gathered on October 24th for an inspiring town hall exploring how young people impactfully shape the design of their environments through involvement in local community development initiatives and placemaking in their organizations. We discussed how CYD programs, alongside their aligned community partners, create safe and vibrant spaces that cultivate creativity and growth.
Watch this short video to dive deeper into our theme.
Youth Organizing, Movement Making, and Creative Youth Development
Our September 26th Town Hall explored how young people's energy, creativity, and voices are shaping the future. This event highlighted how today’s youth lead transformative movements and drive innovative solutions to pressing issues, including the importance of participating in democracy. Through engaging discussions and inspiring presentations, we discussed how young leaders actively pioneer new directions for our communities through youth-led creativity and advocacy.
Empowering Young Entrepreneurs through Creative Youth Development
Our June Town Hall spotlighted the transformative role of Creative Youth Development in equipping young entrepreneurs for career success. Entrepreneurship was highlighted as a key element in CYD, fostering innovation and adaptability in shaping vocational pathways for young individuals. The Lewis Prize for Music shared entrepreneurship data from their Producing Well-Being report. Young entrepreneurs Anj Fayemi, Victoria Standoak, and Alonzo Wilson discussed how entrepreneurship has impacted their careers and the resources they have accessed.
Nurturing Wholistic Well-Being through Creative Youth Development
Our May Town Hall spotlighted Creative Youth Development (CYD) and how it enhances youth well-being and career opportunities by integrating mental health and socio-emotional growth. Alexis Jackson and Brandon Steppe shared their organizations' efforts in advancing youth well-being before our panel. Dr. Adriana Galván from UCLA discussed her research on adolescent brain development and its policy implications. Dr. Nia Imani Fields from the National Youth Employment Coalition explored the nexus of youth development and economic mobility. Amy Price from the Zellerbach Family Foundation highlighted her work in transforming youth and family systems in the Bay Area.
Exploring Youth-led Workforce Readiness Through Creative Youth Development
Our April Virtual Town Hall highlighted the role of Creative Youth Development (CYD) in enhancing youth workforce readiness. The session demonstrated how integrating CYD with workforce strategies can enrich career opportunities for young people. The Lewis Prize for Music led the session by presenting findings from their research on CYD's impact on preparing youth for the workforce. Amber Hamilton and Kab Browley from the Memphis Music Initiative then shared how their MMI Works initiative integrates CYD principles with practical workforce applications, fostering creativity and leadership. Our panel included experts like Joel Arquillos from the Snap Foundation, Marjorie Parker from JobsFirstNYC, and Elizabeth Cheung from the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, who discussed strategies for incorporating creative development into youth career preparation frameworks.