Creative Youth Society Program Highlights Guide - 2024

THE

CREATIVE YOUTH SOCIETY

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS GUIDE 2024

CREATIVE CAREER EXPLORATION FOR

Our Mission:

NYC YOUTH

AGES 16-24!

Cover Photo: Photographer- Sharon Miller, Model - CYS Member Pamela

About Us The Creative Youth Society provides transformative creative career exploration, and art exhibition opportunities designed to empower NYC youth between the ages of 16 to 24. We service all youth, with a primary focus on those who are disenfranchised, including youth dealing with justice involvement, foster care, financial instability, and housing instability. We equip participants through a journey of skill development, industry exposure, and career guidance in their chosen creative fields.

Meet the Founder Sharon Miller, is an award-winning photographer, hip hop artist, multi-hyphenate visual artist, and creative educator from Queens, New York. Sharon is passionate about using her skills for social change. As a former underrepresented artistic youth, Sharon founded The Creative Youth Society, as a platform to teach other underserved NYC youth visual arts, creative entrepreneurship and exhibition skills in order to inspire them to explore the creative career industries. In addition to her work with The Creative Youth Society, Sharon has also partnered with various respected organizations such as Groundswell Mural Project, Bric Arts Media, NYC NeON Arts, Citizens for the Arts, and Artistic Noise to facilitate youth arts workshops & exhibitions across New York City. Sharon is a recent 2024 EnFoco Photography Fellowship winner. Sharon Miller seeks to continue expanding on her visual storytelling via art, music Stransforming ervices W Oof f fothers e r in the and her creative lens, while the e lives process.

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WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

$30.4 BILLION

dollars In wages paid to New York City creative sector employees in 2017.

The Creative Economy Report, by New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer, October 2019.

68%

34%

Although people of color make up 68% of New York City's total population, they only represent 34% percent of the workers in all creative occupations.

There are 350,000 young people ages 16-24 in the New York metro area who are neither working nor in school.

Employers Struggle to Find Qualified Creative Workers

BARRIERS TO ARTISTIC ENTRY Lack of BIPOC representation in galleries, museums, and art publications Financial limitations Lack of materials & supplies Lack of access to educational and skill building resources

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95% RETENTION RATE ESTABLISHED IN 2020, 95% OF CYS PARTICIPANTS STAY ENGAGED, FOSTERING LONG-TERM GROWTH FOR EMERGING CREATIVES! SKILLS TRAINING OFFERED The Creative Youth Society offers various skill development workshop opportunities, including Visual & Fine Arts Creative Entrepreneurship Graphic Design Photography & Video Exhibition & Curation Emerging & Immersive Technologies Music & Performance Art DIY Craftsmanship SERVICES OFFERED The Creative Youth Society offers the following services to its members: Free Creative Workshops Mentorships & Career Guidance Space to Create Public Exhibition Opportunities Resume, Portfolio & Grant Writing Assistance Income Opportunities Free Meals & Metrocards Free Fun Excursions & Field Trips

SKILLS GAINED The Creative Youth Society members gain the following skills : Creative & Artistic Skills Technical Design Skills Social & Team Building Skills Time Management Skills Conflict Resolution Skills Community Engagement Skills Confidence and Self-Awareness Development AWARDS & RECOGNITION The Creative Youth Society & its founder have won the following awards:

NeON Arts Grant Award Winner, 2024, 2023, 2021 & 2020

QCA Grant Award Winner 2021

CYS Founder: NYFA/NYSCA Grant award 2023

NYC Artist Corps Award Winner 2021

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OUR VISION As an emerging organization driven by a vision of significant impact, The Creative Youth Society is committed to scaling its programs, benefits, and reach within the community. We will achieve this ambitious vision by: 1. Amplify Our Impact: Expand Program Reach We aim to significantly increase the number of youth we serve through targeted community partnerships, outreach efforts and potential program expansions into new neighborhoods.

2. Cultivate Comprehensive Growth: Develop New Programs We will introduce a series of new programs to enhance our offerings. This includes career and arts-focused workshops, artist residencies, and academic tutoring programs in core subjects like math, writing, and reading. Additionally, we plan to develop etiquette and public speaking classes to equip our youth with essential life skills.

3. Immerse and Inspire: Expand Learning Through Immersive Experiences We are committed to enriching the learning experience by introducing field trips, travel opportunities outside of NYC, studio visits with renowned artists, and location tours related to creative careers. These immersive experiences will spark creativity, broaden perspectives, and ignite a lifelong passion for the arts.

4. Showcase Talent and Build Community: Organize Public Events or Exhibitions We will host captivating public events and exhibitions showcasing the artistic talent cultivated through our programs. Ticket sales and proceeds from these events will BYour AUDREY DELANEY directly support our programs and further mission.

5. Foster Collaboration and Growth: Partner with Other Organizations We actively seek partnerships with schools, businesses, and other organizations. These collaborations will allow us to share resources, expand our reach, and offer more comprehensive services to the youth we serve.

6. Secure Sustainable Funding: Diversify Funding Sources We are committed to long-term sustainability by diversifying our income streams. This includes applying for a wider range of grants, establishing an online store to sell merchandise, offering public workshops with participation fees, renting out studio space to the public for additional income, and utilizing income from our founder's other ventures to support the program's growth.

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The Creative Ambassadors Project won the Sony Alpha Female Photographers Award , 2021

The Creative Ambassadors Project was featured in Click Magazine 2022, Photoville Festival 2022, and on Spectrum News NY1, 2022 Page 08

“CYS's curriculum paired with Ms. Sharon's guidance made the program super memorable. I am sure her projects and talent will continue to leave a mark! “ -Malin A. Evertsz Mendez (CYS Youth Member)

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN PARTNERSHIPS, DONATING, OR LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE CREATIVE YOUTH SOCIETY, PLEASE CONTACT US. THANK YOU! : info@creativeyouthsociety.org creativeyouthnyc@gmail.com

www.creativeyouthsociety.org

The Creative Youth Society is a Fiscally Sponsored Organization Located in Queens, New York Page 09