A Year-In-Review at Youth Design Center

We began the year with the great honor of being acknowledged by Brooklyn Org as a Spark Prize Winner, a testament to our commitment to building a Brooklyn-based, youth-led institution over the past 11 years. The timely $100K award coupled with an additional $314K discretionary capital equipment allocation from Councilman Chris Banks was the investment we needed following the success of our 10-year celebration fundraiser, to fuel the renovation and initial outfitting of The Corner, our creative lab in Brownsville.

Top: Alum Board Member, Ana Frink gives speech for Youth Design Center at Brooklyn Org Spark Prize Breakfast. Bottom: Alum Board Member Ana Frink, Program Director Brittany Bellinger, Founder and Executive Director Quardean Lewis-Allen and Brooklyn Org President and CEO Dr. Jocelynne Rainey pose for a photo at the Spark Prize Breakfast.

This year, we focused on a diverse range of public programming, from volunteering and workshops to partner site visits. From a volunteer-led vision board party at Brownsville Collaborative Middle School, to a Today at Apple MLK Day art activism workshop at Apple Store Williamsburg, to taking interested alumni to visit design and manufacturer AllSteel to learn about interior design; youth and corporate volunteer partners engaged with one another in meaningful, transformative ways. We also hosted our 3rd annual Financial Literacy series in partnership with J.P. Morgan Chase, a three-workshop series hosted at the Pitkin Avenue Chase Branch. 

Top: Photo of volunteer events at a Patch of Inspiration Community Garden and Brownsville Collaborative Middle School.

Bottom: Alum Nickson Frederick speaks about YDC in front of large screen at the Apple Store Williamsburg.

Eleven alumni, staff, and other volunteers joined us in April for a volunteer event at A Patch of Inspiration Community Garden operated by community partners Divine Explosion Arts Program (D.E.A.P.).

Reboot of Youth-Led Creative Agency

Understanding this would be a year of transformational growth, we engaged in deep listening to our community and participants which aided in the redesign of our program service delivery framework. Our creative agency benefitted from this and since rebooting in Q3, the youth-led agency has earned $13,250 with 80% going directly to freelance alumni on those projects. Our creative services have ranged from alum, Destiny Jacobs' graphic design and fabrication of a mural for this year's ICFF for Rockwell Group, to Jabari Nedd's event photography for Echoing Green's Open House. We look forward to expanding services and print production offerings through our new space and partnerships.

Left: Destiny Jacobs at left in front of their first mural, 25’x 5’ at ICFF. Right: Jabari Nedd next to his event photos for Echoing Green’s Open House at their new Empire State Building HQ.

Internship Placement

Shawn Wharton-Scott started with us at age 16 in 2021 in our Digital Media exposure program. He has grown to become one of our star alumni. He is now 19, a High School graduate, with a full digital portfolio, and is ready to apply for colleges to continue his advanced education, already ahead of his peers. Shawn has taken 5 courses through our multi-tiered Creative Apprenticeship Program in the past 3 years. He has been trained in Digital Media, Graphic Design, Motion Graphics, Branding, and Web Programming. His passion for design and animation has shined throughout his time at YDC and beyond.

In the Summer of 2024, Shawn secured a paid internship through our Design Without Limits internship program with Pitkin Avenue Business Improvement District. When the six weeks ended the staff was so pleased with his work that they kept him on for an additional two weeks. Through our intern partnership with Van Alen Institute to place emerging designers within their Design Sprints program, this Fall Shawn worked with Pentagram on a wayfinding, branding, and advocacy campaign for Gotham Park. Beyond training, Shawn’s resume now reflects the mentorship, paid opportunities, and freelance work he has been able to gain from his time at YDC.

CAP: Digital Media II Documentary Filmmaking Studio

Building upon the work of 3 alumni interns (supported by Joy of Giving Something, Inc), the fall Digital Media II cohort conducted a series of intimate interviews, captivating archival footage, and immersive storytelling for the Roots of Resilience docuseries to shed light on the vibrant community of Brownsville, highlighting the remarkable activists and grassroots movements that have emerged from its streets. Their work culminated in the Showcase Event in December in which they screened in front of an audience of family, friends, and supporters, the first episode of the docuseries, and a "making-of" behind-the-scenes video.

The Space Era

Completing the renovation of our new creative lab (appropriately dubbed “The Corner” by alumni Ashanti A. and Aunika C. due to its geographic location on an intersection) has allowed us to offer flexible usage of our common studio and media lab for individual and groups projects, trainings and productions. All graduates of our CAP studios have free access to this new space and tools. We’ve witnessed the greatest benefit to them being The Corner’s use for their income-generating gigs. The space is available to book for anyone via our website, with proceeds helping to make our programming free or affordable to those most in need.

The launch of this space is just the beginning—but we need your help to make it a vibrant, thriving resource for our community. As we close the year out, please consider making a pledge to YDC or becoming a sustaining monthly, quarterly, or annual donor.

A gift of $25 helps us provide youth incentive gift cards for participation in community impact projects while $3,500 supports a year of access and free training for an emerging talented creative.

To date, our programs and services have engaged and benefited more than 1,300 individuals directly. With your partnership, we can make this space a beacon of possibility for generations to come. Let’s make history together.

Thank you for standing with us and for believing in the power of creativity to transform lives.

Thank you to our staff, Board, Brooklyn Org, JP Morgan Chase, Comic Relief US, Comcast NBCUniversal, 1834 Project, Councilman Chris Banks, Joy of Giving Something, Inc, Rockwell Group, LDI Color Toolbox, a generous anonymous donor, and the many individual supporters who have invested in our youth this year.

With gratitude,

Quardean Lewis-Allen
Founder and Executive Director
Youth Design Center