Boys & Girls Clubs of Carson Digital Arts

K-12 STEAM education

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Whatever field a young person chooses to pursue today and into the future, they will require STEM knowledge and skills. Science also is and will continue to be key to some of the world’s most impactful issues, from pandemics to climate change, transportation to communication. STEM occupations are growing at 17%, while other occupations are growing at 9.8%. It is clear that most jobs of the future will require a basic understanding of math and science but we still see lagging interest in STEM particularly among under-served youth. In addition, 85% of California schools fail to provide arts education. Students with an arts education are five times less likely to drop out of school, four times more likely to be recognized for academic achievement, four times more likely to receive a bachelor’s degree, and 30% more inclined to pursue a professional career. The proposed program will address both issues and ignite enthusiasm for both STEM and the arts in some of LA's most vulnerable youth.

BGCC's Digital Arts program, created in partnership with Apple and Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), combines computer skills, creative self-expression, and visual arts through a historical and cultural lens. Youth will learn about different art movements and their inspiration as well as cultures here at home and around the world. They then will learn and hone digital skills in creating their own artwork in the vein of that day's subject but expressing their own thoughts and creativity. The program will run for an hour twice per week. Themes might be anything from pop art to the works of Aminah Robinson, an American artist who represented Black history through art. At the end of each 12-week program, BGCC will create a temporary exhibit or mini-art gallery to display this melding of art and technology. We also are considering taking the works from the screen to real life through mixed material projects and paintings including murals.

BGCC piloted the Digital Arts program last school year in partnership with Apple and BGCA. We now hope to expand the program from its initial two sites, at our standalone Main Street Clubhouse and Club site at Bonita Elementary school to include Markham Middle School, and Rancho Dominguez Preparatory middle/high school. From there, the program can be scaled not only for the other 22 Boys & Girls Clubs across Los Angeles County but other youth-serving organizations and potentially LAUSD. We believe an intersectionality between technology, the arts, and cultural education will help LA County students engage creatively with technology and think about the world around them more expansively leading to increased classroom and even community participation in the form of public art displays. Youth who feel daunted by creating physical artworks might find it easier once they have created a virtual version.

Last year, we served 149 youth in the Digital Arts program at our Main Street Clubhouse and Bonita Elementary School. Results included: 84% of BGCC members reported grades of mostly As or Bs
82% said they like participating in STEM projects
72% said they get excited about STEM
88% said they are able to express themselves at the Club Data collection includes:
- Sign-in sheets track daily attendance and program participation - Member Tracking database maintains live records
- School transcripts and report cards
- Case management files track youth interests, challenges, strengths, improvement in competencies and behaviors, self-esteem, and perceptions on a weekly basis
- Pre- and post-program surveys
- Partnerships with school educators and faculty track youth behavioral achievements and challenges
- BGCA's annual National Youth Outcome Survey measures youth perceptions of the Club while indicating youth achievements