The Providence Journal and United Way of Rhode Island have partnered to highlight the state’s nonprofits. Each week, a nonprofit identified by United Way will be highlighted in the Providence Sunday Journal, and United Way will explain how it supports that organization.

This week we present Downtown Designwhich improves “cities by inviting neighbors to imagine and create a better future, using design tools”.

We asked Executive Director Adrienne Gagnon to tell us more about the organization.

What is your mission and vision?

DownCity Design (DCD) empowers young people to strengthen their communities by harnessing the creative power of design. Through our free after-school and summer programs, Providence County teens design and build beautiful, functional service projects for public spaces and community groups. Our participants learn that they have the power to make positive change, while developing essential skills for success in school and life beyond.

At DCD, we believe in the power of public places to provide a space for connection, support, protest and celebration, and we believe that community members have an important role to play in the design of these spaces. Since our founding in 2009, more than 3,300 youth participants in our free after-school and summer programs have collaboratively created more than 110 new amenities for common spaces in and around Providence, including community gardens, classrooms in outdoors for public schools and creative play structures for parks.

How do you measure success?

DownCity Design programs connect teens with their own power and provide supportive opportunities for them to practice wielding that power until they feel confident putting their lived experiences, ideas, and energies into service. positive community change throughout their lives. Our participants learn that when we see community challenges, we do not have to accept the status quo. We can use our energy and creativity to bring about change. DCD’s youth programs help teens develop career skills such as communication, collaboration, and perseverance in the face of setbacks.

Our programs deeply benefit the adolescents who participate in DCD programs, as well as the residents whose communities are improved through their service projects. DCD brings the talents of Providence youth to improving parks, playgrounds and schoolyards across the city. We engage participants in solving problems in their community and invite them to take the lead in generating solutions. By building places where people can gather, socialize and learn, our young designers are working towards a more equitable society and bringing joy to vulnerable communities.

How can volunteers or donors get involved?

We welcome volunteers! Currently, DCD has openings for volunteers who would like to get involved with our board committees. We also enjoy welcoming practicing professional designers to meet with our students, share their professional journeys, and offer feedback as our students refine the designs of their service projects. We occasionally host volunteer build days, where community members with manufacturing skills can offer help with the completion or maintenance of service projects. We appreciate contributions from community members who wish to support our work with donations.

What recent achievements or projects are you proud of?

This is an exciting time for DownCity Design! After years of preparation, DCD recently completed the renovation of our new community design studio in Providence’s West End. Our new location provides permanent housing right in the heart of the community we serve, within walking distance of several local schools. This new facility creates a safe and welcoming space for youth and young adults to learn new skills, connect with mentors and become community leaders.

In our new home, DCD will double the number of youth we can serve through our free programs and add program offerings that help connect people to careers in the growing design and construction industries. our state. We opened a digital fabrication lab with a laser cutter, 3D printers, and CNC router, and we recently launched a brand new robotics team open to any Providence high school student. We are excited to continue to grow in our new space and forge strong connections with our surrounding community.

What are your biggest challenges currently?

DCD currently has a waitlist for our most popular youth design and manufacturing programs, and we look forward to expanding our program offerings to meet this demand. Our growing organization must strengthen the capacity of its staff and its operating budget in order to be sustainable into the future. This moment of organizational growth will help us staff appropriately as we expand our programs and operations, allowing us to expand our program offerings and serve more youth as we fully transition into our facilities recently renovated.

To contact DownCity Design, email [email protected], call (401) 272-8070 or visit them on social media sites at @downcitydesign.

This article was originally published in the Providence Journal: DownCity Design Empowers Providence County Youth