Our Approach to Youth Development

Our multi-pronged approach to youth development is critical to achieving our desired outcomes of employability, greater self-awareness, and skill set mastery. At its core, the DC Urban Arts Academy is an arts enrichment program that works with youth, ages 5-23, to explore their creative potentials, broaden their experiences, and develop their skills in the arts, humanities, and other academic disciplines. The DC Urban Arts Academy instructors and youth development specialists also act as mentors, working one-on-one or in small groups with youth to increase confidence, literacy, and academic progress toward high school graduation.

Skill set mastery outcome:

1. Students in each discipline participate in skills evolution each session to determine their progress in the program. In addition students work throughout the year to build their artist portfolio by producing work, participating in local events, and studying their craft.

Employability outcomes:

Through our Hustlenomics program, students work to attain internships, jobs, and grant opportunities in their field of study. Students also conclude each year with the following documents:

1. A business plan/resume/portfolio, measured by timely and satisfactory completion
2. Completion of career-based modules, measured by timely and satisfactory completion of pre-post survey

Pursuit of a Post Secondary Education

Through college material, apprentices’ aspirations are resourced with the information necessary to make the acquisition of a post secondary degree an attainable goal. College material coaches help apprentices:

1. Complete FAFSAs, application essays, artistic resumes and portfolios.
2. Participate in college tours and teambuilding retreats that make the apprentices accountable to each other for insuring their individual and collective success.