Youth Design Center
Stories of Impact
Quardean Lewis-Allen founded Youth Design Center ten years ago with a clear vision, which he describes as being guided by “a simple and powerful mission: to close the racial wealth gap for young creatives in the Brownsville community where I’m from, and beyond.”
Over the past decade, Youth Design Center has made great strides towards that mission, working with more than 1,000 BIPOC youth ages 14-24 years old to lower their barriers to entry into STEAM professions and increase their experience in the innovation economy.
With programs that expose participants to the graphic design, digital media, and 3D design fields, Youth Design Center helps young Brooklynites sharpen their skills and build portfolios in preparation for careers in creative industries. Program participants are also encouraged to apply their new skills to address community needs throughout the course of their training.
Youth Design Center extends heartfelt gratitude to Brooklyn Org for recognizing our unwavering dedication to bridging the racial wealth gap among youth in the vibrant Brownsville community and throughout the Borough.Quardean Lewis-Allen, Founder and Executive Director of Youth Design Center
As a 2024 Brooklyn Org Spark Prize Winner, Youth Design Center benefits from a $100,000 ‘no strings attached’ grant for their work to advance racial justice and better the lives of our neighbors across Brooklyn. Lewis-Allen shared that this award comes at a “pivotal moment” for his organization, as it is “fueling the evolution of our new maker space into a cutting-edge facility for creative exploration, truly befitting the aspirations of our youth.”
Youth Design Center’s creative solutions are critical to closing the racial wealth gap for young Brooklynites — and we are proud to partner with them to build a future that reflects the unmatched brilliance and vision of our communities.