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Studio 416 After-School Program
In partnership with The Art Room’s Studio 416, we led a semester-long after-school program for queer teens living with mental illness. Participants explored critical media literacy and creative production, culminating in an original music video premiered at the community open house.
Guided by a near-peer model of mentorship, participants worked alongside university students to apply what they learned in a culminating creative project: producing an original music video. The video was shared at The Art Room’s community open house, offering participants an opportunity to showcase their creativity, amplify their voices, and contribute to the larger mission of The Art Room—fostering healing, empowerment, and belonging through the arts.
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This project demonstrates how critical media literacy and creative production can intersect with art therapy principles to create safe, inclusive spaces for expression, connection, and advocacy. It also highlights the potential of after-school programming to support youth well-being, leadership, and self-confidence through collaborative, equity-centered design.