Transitions is a program specifically designed for youth in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade.  Middle school youth in Humboldt Park will be challenged for 8 weeks, Monday through Thursday with a variety of mediums and projects.  Participants will engage in writing, theater work, and visual arts in various media.


The ages of 11 to 14 are times of transition in the lives of youth.  A space where youth are safe, encouraged to ask questions and to both independently and collectively explore this time in their lives is essential.


While in this intensive class, youth will create collaborative art that will encourage them to reflect and think critically about themselves, their communities, and their role as members of the community at large.  They will explore issues that affect them directly, contributing to an ongoing dialogue about how to work for social justice.

This program is greatly informed by the work of Paulo Freire, specifically ideas outlined in his book Pedagogy of Freedom: Ethics, Democracy, and Civic Courage (1998).

“…[a] correct way of thinking that goes beyond the ingenuous must be produced by the learners in communion with the teacher responsible for their education.  At the same time, it is necessary to insist that the matrix both of ingenuous and critical thinking is the same curiosity that characterizes all human vitality” (Freire, p. 43).

This 8 week workshop will allow youth to engage in a critical learning environment where interactions and communication, through critical discussions with peers and facilitators are essential.  Youth will not only be learners, but teachers and leaders, establishing a learning environment for themselves, other participants, and the community, therefore empowering them as such.

As a group, youth will investigate aspects of life unique in their community and the social impacts digital media technologies have in their community.  They will learn how to initialize concepts by teaming up with an experienced mentor throughout the process.  Youth will intensively learn basic technical aspects of the creation of media, and will lead the creation of projects in the form of moving picture or sound to promote awareness of an issue important to them.  They will learn how to make choices about interviewing, recording behavior, narration and dialogue, and visual composition before shooting.