Just learned about a terrific new youth media center project designed by a Youth Design Team at the Pima County Public Library’s Joel D. Valdez main library downtown (101 N. Stone Ave.). Their vision:
“Our vision is a thriving youth community where all youth are passionate, empowered, connected, and use their voice to create a better world.”
A $100,000 planning grant from the Institute of Museum & Library Services and the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation made this project a reality – “to work with youth to design a community learning lab for Tucson’s youth to dream, learn, take action and fulfill their potential”.
22 youth (from various high schools and colleges in this area) served on this 2013/2014 Youth Design Team surveying 2100 Tucson youth in the community through 9 focus groups. They found out that youth value mentors and safety in programs, and requested “digital media” and “college/career readiness” for themselves.
Have youth that you know (and love) participate by contacting the LearningLabs Project Manager Jennifer Nichols, 594-5562, jennifer.nichols@pima.gov.
And here’s a 3 minute You Tube video they produced enthusiastically informing us about this Youth Design Team project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBJGsnfPq-o
Congrats to Jennifer Nichols for winning the 2014 David Hoyt Johnson Arts Administrator award at the Lumies last night for this design team project: http://azstarnet.com/entertainment/blogs/caliente-tuned-in/lumies-presented-for-work-in-and-support-of-the-arts/article_29aefbf7-27a7-5f73-99d2-32d6638a8005.html