On average Arts Street serves over 180 unique young adults, ages 14-24, over 7,000 contact hours each year, with 98% self-reporting as low income and 92% reporting BIPOC. Youth are primarily referred to programing through community partners including Denver Housing Authority, Denver Public School Career Launch and Colorado High School Charter and come from underrepresented and marginalized communities.
Evaluations: Throughout our programing we utilize multiple evaluations tools to assure that we are providing the best training and social emotional opportunities to each participant. Our main evaluation results come from a survey tool created by Corona Insights for the Colorado Alliance for Creative Youth Development. Arts Street participants complete this survey at the end of programming, and it is submitted anonymously. In addition, we measure long-term impact at 3-months post program completion, around education and employment outcomes.
However, we believe our biggest impact can’t be measured with statistics but is from the words of some of our participants.
“Arts Street helped me understand who I am as a person.”
“I love the opportunities they provide. Arts Street has helped me grow in almost every way possible: artistically, mentally, and financially. I now feel more confident in myself and my skills.”
“What I like best about coming to Arts Street is being able to be creative and express myself through the projects we do.”
“[What I like about coming to Arts Street is] Being able to create great memories as well as having the creative freedom to work on many types of mediums and having a safe space to come when things at home are rough.”
Impact:
Arts Street@Youth Employment Academy had an outstanding year in 2025 providing innovative opportunities for 186 unique youth through our creative industry academies, internship, and mentorship programs. Our youth identify as 92% BIPOC and 98% low-income with many residents from our affiliate organization, Denver Housing Authority.
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• Our creative industry academies served 182 youth with a 95% completion rate and 93% demonstrating an increase in industry skills. One highlight was our partnership with Denver Public School Colorado High School Charter Osage, Denver Parks & Recreation at La Alma Recreation Center and the Equity in Arts grant program. Through this partnership young artists explored their personal and community identity through photography, culminating in an exhibition celebration and installation of a permanent public art piece in La Alma Recreation Center- all while they earned credit towards graduation. Our summer academies worked with over 60 youth who learned about issues in affordable housing, community gardens and mental wellness. They focused on large-scale public art projects including painted pavers and signage design for DHA’s Columbine Community Gardens and two painted indoor murals at DHA’s Thomas Bean Towers with a large community celebration. In addition, they created digital designs and traditional artwork in college, painting, and photography for our clients. 91% said Arts Street helped them learn new skills and 96% said because of Arts Street they work hard when something is important.
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•Our internship program worked with 25 young adults who earned stipends while working on projects for our real-world clients. Client projects included digital designs used by DHA’s Communications Department for social media, a wall mural made from carpet tiles and a t-shirt design that will be sold at Steamboat Resort. 100% of our interns completed their internships and 96% showed an increase in industry skills. One intern said, “This program helps prepare for my future by identifying who I am and what I want to do.”
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•Our mentorship & mental wellness programming thrived with all youth participating in mental wellness workshops, and many working 1:1 with our Youth Advisor, Destini Montez. Many got to be part of special experiences such as seeing The Wiz at DCPA and our art and wellness retreats to Colorado Springs & Steamboat Springs. All received support in guidance towards their goals of education, employment, and mental wellness. 100% of our high school students stayed in school or graduated and 87% said that because of Arts Street they are better at taking responsibility for their actions.
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• Arts Street is also privileged to work with so many amazing Denver artists who teach their skills and mentor our young artists individually and in community. Our projects highlight this work led by these outstanding creatives; Adama Bamba, Jess Early, Juan Fuentes, Lilian Lara, Chelsea Romaniello, Devin Urioste and Jasmine Wynter. 99% of participants said that “Arts Street staff care about me.” One Arts Street participant said, “I have learned that it is okay to be yourself and express your own ideas. I now know I can do hard things and help the community.”
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Real-World Experience:
• 100% of our youth artists completed the client projects.
• 93% of participants said that coming to Arts Street helped them understand the importance of arriving to appointments and work on time.
Creative Industry & Academic Skills:
• 93% of students improved their industry skills with many learning totally new software that will be useful in the creative industry and in schoolwork.
• Based on self-evaluation results, 99% said they gained a new artistic skill.
• 3 months post program, 100% of high school students stayed in school or graduated.
Social and Emotional Skills:
• 96% of participants said that because of Arts Street they feel better about their future.
• 99% of participants said because of Arts Street they are better at taking responsibility for their actions.
• 99% of participants said that Arts Street helped them have more respect for young people of other cultures, races, and ethnic groups.
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