Venture:
Youth Design Center (formerly Made in Brownsville)
Founder:
Quardean Lewis-Allen, advised by Professor Justin Garrett Moore ’04GSAPP
Industry:
Education and creative services
Venture Type:
Nonprofit
What is the social or environmental issue being addressed?
There is a high rate of youth unemployment and a cycle of poverty in Brownsville, Brooklyn. At the same time, there is a huge lack of diversity in the design and technology workforce. Only 4% of the technology workforce is Black, and 5% is Latino. Only 3% of scientists and engineers are Black, and 4% are Latino. 2% of licensed architects identify as Black, and 1% of technology founders are Black compared with 87% that are White.
Innovation:
Youth Design Center is a youth creative agency creating economic mobility for under-resourced Brownsville youth through apprenticeship in design and technology. Youth Design Center aims to incentivize young people to foster their talents and harness the keys to economic mobility through the provision of creative services to their neighbors and business community.
Read More:
- Leader to Leader: Quardean Lewis-Allen
NYN Media
October 20, 2020 - Tackling Architecture’s Diversity Problem Starts With Students
ADPRO, Architectural Digest
September 25, 2020 - Brownsville Youth Honor Black Lives Matter with New Mural
BKReader
September 4, 2020 - Brownsville Creative Youth Hub Launches Paid Apprenticeship Program
BK Reader
January 4, 2019 - Creative Youth Agency Launches First Community Design Lab ‘Made in Brownsville’
BK Reader
September 20, 2018 - Quardean Lewis-Allen, 30
Crain’s
April 11, 2018 - How Made In Brownsville Is Tackling Youth Unemployment In Brooklyn
Forbes
December 21, 2017 - No ‘Inner City’ in Brownsville, Brooklyn, Just Overlooked Strengths
The New York Times
March 30, 2017 - Meet The 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneurs Bringing Change In 2017
Forbes
January 3, 2017 - Connecting Brooklyn’s Disconnected Youth to STEAM Professions
Next City
June 27, 2016