named programs · 7 · from sources
What they call their work
CityKids Coalition
Peer leadership program providing training in safe space facilitation, conflict resolution, and community organizing for youth activists.
CityKids Repertory Company
Youth performing arts program training young artists in music, drama, dance, creative writing, and multimedia to create original performances addressing social issues.
DJ Girls
Leadership program training girls and gender-expansive youth ages 9-18 as creative DJs and social media activists through a four-week boot camp.
Geoversity's School of Biocultural Leadership
International program in Panama training youth alongside Indigenous leaders in climate change activism and biocultural sustainability.
Homebase Program
Core youth development initiative creating safe and brave spaces for multicultural youth to build leadership skills and collective voice.
Keith Haring Banner Tour
National tour activating social justice conversations through the legacy artwork "CityKids Speak on Liberty," created with Keith Haring in 1986.
Sharpen Up
Virtual culinary education workshop teaching healthy eating and cooking skills to youth in BIPOC, AAIP, and LGBTQIA communities across the U.S.
activities · 5 groups
What they do
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Youth Leadership Development Programs 2 activities
- Offers leadership development and community engagement programsEquips youth with leadership skills through structured dialogues, peer learning, and community projects focused on social justice, mental health, and youth empowerment. Alumni are trained to bring SafeSpace/BraveSpace models into schools, businesses, and communities.
- Trains youth in climate activism and sustainabilityProvides youth with knowledge, tools, and hands-on training in climate change activism through collaborations with organizations like Geoversity, including international programs in Panama and co-creation of advocacy materials such as the Vela Mola Sail displayed at COP26.
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Youth Cultural and Educational Travel Programs 1 activity
- Conducts national and international youth tours and virtual gatheringsOrganizes a 10-city national tour featuring performances and workshops on youth-defined freedom, social justice, and safe space creation, alongside regular virtual and in-person gatherings for youth and alumni to connect, collaborate, and support peer learning.
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Community-Engaged Public Art Projects 1 activity
- Facilitates youth-led creative projects and public artEngages youth in creating large-scale public artworks, murals, and performance-based projects in collaboration with professional artists, including past collaborations with Keith Haring and Johnny Matos. Projects include the co-creation of the "CityKids Speak on Liberty" banner and community murals in the Bronx.
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Youth & Emerging Filmmaker Training 1 activity
- Produces youth-centered media and performance contentProduces original television series, films, and digital content created and performed by youth, including the award-winning short film "Conquer All," the TV series "Chat the Planet," and collaborations with Jim Henson Productions, reaching millions of viewers globally.
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Youth Theater Arts Education 1 activity
- Provides arts and educational programs for urban youthOffers free training in music, drama, dance, creative writing, multimedia, and technical production to youth aged 13–21 through an audition-based repertory program, operating in New York City and expanding through outreach in other areas. The program uses performance and art to address social issues such as self-esteem, violence, and discrimination.
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financials · form 990EZ · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$125K
Contributions & grants$119K95%
Program service revenue$6K5%
Investment income$60%
Other revenue—
expenses
Total expenses$256K
Program expenses90%
Admin / overhead10%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$45K
Grants paid out—
Largest expense lineProfessional Fees
balance sheet
Total assets$24K
Cash$150K
Investments$0
Liabilities$77K
Net assets$-63K
Liquid reserves7.0 mo
6 years on record · 2019–2024 · YoY revenue -65.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 2
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAURIE MEADOFF | PRESIDENT | 40 | $40K |
| TERRY HUMMEL | CHAIR | 10 | $1K |
board members · 9
- AMBER PAQUETTE — DIRECTOR
- BC BIERMAN — DIRECTOR
- CATHERINE PHILLIPS — DIRECTOR
- CENOPHIA MITCHELL — DIRECTOR
- DON HOFFMAN — DIRECTOR
- JAMAL JOSEPH — DIRECTOR
- JOHN FUENTES — DIRECTOR
- PATRICK FREEMAN — DIRECTOR
- ROBERT SHERMAN — DIRECTOR
relationships · 23
Who they work with
- A Better Life Foundation Partner — Partners with CityKids Foundation to deliver the Sharpen Up virtual culinary education program
- Bronx Envision Academy Partner — Partner school whose students participated in the creation of the Boone Ave Mural.
- Chopra Foundation Partner — Collaborates with CityKids Foundation on the Global Mental Health Task Force
- CityKids Repertory Company Network — Youth performing arts and leadership program operated by CityKids Foundation.
- Crash One Partner — Collaborated on the Boone Ave Mural project, co-leading youth engagement and artistic direction.
- Crash One of Tats Cru Partner — Partnered with CityKids Foundation on a mural project, bringing hip-hop cultural expertise to youth-led artistic expression
- Creative Intelligence Agency Partner — Collaborates with CityKids Foundation on the Global Mental Health Task Force
- Deepak Chopra’s Alliance for the New Humanity Partner — Collaborated on producing major events that brought together global leaders for shared dialogue.
- Deluca, Magnolia Funder — Funded the Boone Ave Mural project.
- Elite Productions Partner — Partner organization in the Boone Ave Mural project, supporting youth art and community engagement.
- Geoversity Partner — Collaborates with CityKids Foundation to produce the Vela Mola Sail for COP26
- Geoversity Partner — Collaborates with CityKids Foundation to train youth in climate change activism in Panama
- Global Partnerships Forum Partner — Collaborates with CityKids Foundation on the Global Mental Health Task Force
- Jim Henson Productions Partner — Collaborated on the production of the "CityKids" TV series, providing Muppet segments and creative integration with youth performers.
- Keith Haring Partner — Collaborated with CityKids in 1986 to co-create the "CityKids Speak on Liberty" banner, engaging youth in a large-scale public art project.
- Keith Haring Partner — Collaborated with youth to create a public artwork in 1986.
- Lower Eastside Girls Club Partner — Hosts CityKids Rep and CityKids Coalition programs in shared space to support youth development.
- Nickelodeon Partner — Sponsor and partner of CityKids Foundation
- Nike Partner — Sponsor and partner of CityKids Foundation
- Pepsi Partner — Sponsor and partner of CityKids Foundation
- TheSocialArchitects Partner — Collaborates with CityKids Foundation on the Global Mental Health Task Force
- Wendy Finerman Partner — Supported CityKids youth artists in the production of the award-winning short film "Conquer All" at the Tribeca Film Festival.
- renowned performing and visual artists Partner — Collaborates with professional artists to co-create performance events with youth.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Artivism for Youth Empowerment and Social Changemethodology: artivismBy integrating art, performance, and activism (artivism), youth are empowered to express themselves, address social issues, and catalyze community dialogue, because creative expression fosters self-empowerment and civic engagement more effectively than traditional education models.
- Multicultural Bridge-Building Through Dialogue and Storytellingmethodology: multi-cultural bridge buildingBy facilitating cross-cultural dialogue, storytelling, and multilingual leadership programs, the organization dismantles biases and builds shared understanding, because structured intercultural exchange fosters empathy and collective agency among diverse youth.
- Transformative Healing Through Arts-Integrated Leadershipmethodology: healing-centered engagementBy combining arts training with leadership development and healing-centered practices, youth transform personal pain and identity challenges into purposeful action, because integrating emotional healing with skill-building produces resilient, socially conscious leaders.
- Youth-Led Public Art as Civic Actionmethodology: youth-led public artBy engaging youth in large-scale, collaborative public art projects inspired by historical artist partnerships, they develop agency and contribute to community change, because ownership of public creative expression strengthens identity and motivates sustained civic participation.
- Youth-to-Youth Peer Learning in Safe and Brave Spacesmethodology: SafeSpace/BraveSpaceBy creating SafeSpace/BraveSpace environments and facilitating youth-to-youth communication through peer relationships, the organization enables authentic dialogue and personal growth, because psychological safety combined with structured vulnerability increases engagement and learning retention among urban youth.