EPACENTER ARTS
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Mission Statement
EPACENTER is a creative youth development nonprofit that amplifies the creative potential in every young person. EPACENTER's mission is to increase opportunities for youth to discover and amplify their talents, realize their potential, and impact the world through creative expression. EPACENTER envisions a future where all young people in EPA can become creative innovators, and enjoy economic and social success in their community.
About This Cause
Providing free programming to vulnerable youth, ages 6-25, in East Palo Alto since 2018, EPACENTER offers age-differentiated programs, led by practicing artists and designers, and professional health and wellness teachers, along three programmatic pathways: • ARTSCOOL: Animation, art, music, dance, design, film, technology, and theater classes offered after-school, on weekends, and during the summer with a goal of helping students, ages 6-18, develop their 21st Century skills like creativity, teamwork, and perseverance • ARTWORKS: Job training programs in creative fields, like audio engineering, interactive design, digital art, filmmaking, and animation offered after-school year-round for interns, ages 16-25, that close gaps in skills and build competencies • ART & SOUL: Wellness programs for students that focus on their physical, emotional, and nutritional health EPACENTER is dedicated to serving economically vulnerable youth in East Palo Alto. Applicants must live in a household that qualifies for free or reduced lunch during the current and previous calendar year, or live in a low-income household as defined as a household income that is 80% or below the area median income level for San Mateo County. They must also have an established residence in San Mateo County and live in East Palo Alto, Redwood City, or East Menlo Park, or must meet the California residency requirement as a homeless person or foster youth in East Palo Alto, Redwood City, or East Menlo Park. EPACENTER was created in part by the youth of East Palo Alto. From 2010-2016, and with the guidance of researchers at the Gardner Center for Youth and their Communities at Stanford, EPA youth used a community-research process to document the lack of comprehensive creative development programs in EPA, conduct focus groups of their peers and other community members, and envision an organization like EPACENTER. They then selected the land for the EPACENTER building, worked with the architect on the design, and selected the programming that the facility would offer. The LEED Platinum-certified, 25,000-square-foot EPACENTER building opened in early 2022. The building includes visual, dance, and recording studios, a maker space, digital media labs, music practice rooms, a black box theater and an outdoor amphitheater. EPACENTER is the only facility dedicated to arts and culture in East Palo Alto. The new building is the realization of EPA youth’s hopes and dreams.