named programs · 4 · from sources
What they call their work
Equipment Rental Program
Rental service for professional photo, video, audio, lighting, and grip equipment available to members and non-members.
Fabrication Lab
Hands-on making space with equipment for apparel design, digital fabrication (laser cutting, 3D printing), and woodshop activities, requiring training and scheduling.
Media Lab
Production space for photo shoots, podcasts, video content creation, and other media projects, available for rent to members and non-members.
The Corner by YDC
A creative coworking and event space offering access to media labs, fabrication labs, and shared workspaces for creators and entrepreneurs in Brooklyn.
activities · 9 groups
What they do
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Youth & Emerging Filmmaker Training 2 activities
- Digital media and technical skills trainingProvides youth with hands-on training in digital media production using professional cameras, audio equipment, podcasting tools, and Adobe Creative Cloud, supported by mentorship and access to the YDC Media Lab.
- Industry-standard software instructionOffers workshops and guided training in professional design software including Adobe Illustrator and Autodesk AutoCAD, taught by experts and integrated into project-based learning.
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Community Capacity Building & Leadership Networks 1 activity
- Brownsville Hub Cooperative leadershipCo-founded and serves as a lead partner in the Brownsville Hub Cooperative, a community-led initiative promoting economic growth, workforce development, and community ownership in Brownsville, Brooklyn.
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Youth Leadership Development Programs 1 activity
- Civic engagement and community projectsIntegrates civic participation into programming by supporting youth involvement in activism, environmentalism, and community service, including organizing volunteer events such as garden cleanups and replanting with local partners.
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Community Makerspace Access and Training 1 activity
- Fabrication and maker space accessOperates a fabrication lab with dedicated spaces for apparel design, digital fabrication, and woodshop activities, offering scheduled access, mandatory training, tool rentals, and support for members and non-members to develop hands-on making skills.
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Arts and Cultural Workforce Training 1 activity
- Paid apprenticeships and workforce developmentProvides paid project-based experiences, bi-weekly stipends, and internship/job placement opportunities through programs such as Design Without Limits, enabling youth to build professional portfolios and transition into the creative workforce.
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Community Art Education Workshops 1 activity
- Summer and short-term creative education programsOffers short-duration programs including a one-week summer studio and a one-week creative intensive for high school students focused on art, design, portfolio development, and creative college preparation, culminating in showcases with industry professionals.
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Community-Based Educational Programming 1 activity
- YDC EDU community-to-community learning programDelivers a culturally responsive, project-based learning curriculum to external communities through YDC EDU, extending the organization’s educational model beyond its direct participants.
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Hands-On STEM Education Programs 1 activity
- Youth STEAM and creative career training programsTrains youth in STEAM fields and creative disciplines including graphic design, digital media, and 3D design/architecture through a tiered Creative Apprentice Program (Exposure, Immersion, Experience) that combines hands-on learning, industry-connected training, and project-based work to prepare participants for careers in design, technology, media, and the innovation economy.
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Uncategorized 1 activity
- Creative equipment and space rentalsGenerates revenue by offering photo/video equipment rentals and memberships to The Corner by YDC, a creative coworking space in Brownsville, Brooklyn, featuring a Media Lab, Fabrication Lab, and shared workspaces for creatives and entrepreneurs.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$475K
Contributions & grants$624K131%
Program service revenue$33K7%
Investment income$18K4%
Other revenue$-200K
expenses
Total expenses$277K
Program expenses95%
Admin / overhead5%
Fundraising0%
Salaries & benefits$454K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$1.24M
Cash$413K
Investments$25
Liabilities$256K
Net assets$988K
Liquid reserves17.9 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -47.7%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quardean Lewis Allen | Executive Director | 40 | $127K |
board members · 10
- Adenike Huggins — Treasurer
- Darian Dawkins — Member
- Irianna Frink — Member
- Jerry Blaine — Member
- Julie Torres Moskovitz — Member
- Justin Garrett-Moore — Member
- Mark Gardner — Secretary
- Monica Williams — Member
- Rasmia Kirmani — Chair
- Steven Clunis — Member
relationships · 32
Who they work with
- Brooklyn Org Funder — Funded the launch of The Corner by YDC and awarded Youth Design Center a $100,000 Spark Prize.
- Brownsville Community Justice Center Partner — Collaborates as a lead partner in the Brownsville Hub Cooperative to support community-led economic development in Brownsville, Brooklyn.
- Brownsville Hub Cooperative Partner — Co-founded and serves as a lead partner in the Brownsville Hub Cooperative to advance community-led economic development in Brownsville, Brooklyn.
- Candid Network — Profiled on Candid (GuideStar) as a recognized nonprofit with transparent financial and impact reporting.
- Carnegie Hall Partner — Partner institution where Youth Design Center projects have been exhibited.
- Central Brooklyn Economic Development Corporation Partner — Collaborates as a lead partner in the Brownsville Hub Cooperative to promote economic growth and wealth-building in Brownsville, Brooklyn.
- Charity Navigator Network — Profiled on Charity Navigator as a trusted charity with strong fiscal stewardship.
- Comcast NBCUniversal Partner — Partner organization in projects led by Youth Design Center.
- Community Board 16 Partner — Collaborates as a lead partner in the Brownsville Hub Cooperative to support economic growth in Brownsville, Brooklyn.
- Councilmember Chris Banks Funder — Supported funding for The Corner by YDC.
- Design Without Limits Partner — Collaborates to provide internship and job placement opportunities for advanced apprentices.
- ENY Farms Partner — Collaborated with YDC on a community garden cleanup and replanting event in Brooklyn.
- IDEO.org Partner — Partner organization in projects led by Youth Design Center.
- JPMorgan Chase Partner — Partner organization in projects led by Youth Design Center.
- JobsFirstNYC Partner — Partners with JobsFirstNYC, which served as an intermediary to document the achievements of the Brownsville Hub Cooperative.
- Jodi-Ann Harrison Partner — Alumna who participated in YDC's design program and reported expanded perspective and skill development.
- Lily Auchincloss Foundation Funder — Awarded $60,000 to support impactful youth programs.
- Mallory Thatch Partner — Client who has utilized YDC's design and community engagement services on multiple occasions.
- Meta Partner — Partner organization in projects led by Youth Design Center.
- Microsoft Funder — Awarded a $300,000 multi-year community skills grant to Youth Design Center.
- Museum of Modern Art Partner — Partner institution where Youth Design Center projects have been exhibited.
- NBCUniversal Funder — Committed $210,000 to Youth Design Center as part of a social justice initiative.
- New York Urban League Funder — Awarded $45,000 to Youth Design Center to support youth programs.
- Parsons School of Design Partner — Provides faculty instruction through a Parsons professor facilitating the Summer Portfolio Intensive.
- Peerspace Partner — Partners with Peerspace to list and manage bookings for The Corner's event and co-working spaces.
- PepsiCo Foundation Funder — Contributed $50,000 in partnership with Doritos SOLID BLACK® Initiative.
- Rayshal De Riggs Partner — Alumna who credits YDC programs with helping her unlock previously unrecognized skills.
- Red Nose Day Funder — Awarded a $350,000 grant to Youth Design Center.
- Robin Hood Funder — Receives funding from Robin Hood’s Mobility Labs Initiative in support of the Brownsville Hub Cooperative.
- Target Partner — Partner organization in projects led by Youth Design Center.
+ 2 more
strategies · 3
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.
- Equity-Centered STEAM Pathwaysmethodology: equity-centered-pathwaysBy integrating STEAM education with workforce development in historically underinvested communities, we produce economic mobility and close racial wealth gaps, because access to creative and technical careers is fundamentally shaped by early, community-rooted opportunities.
- Human-Centered, Project-Based Learningmethodology: project-based-learningBy using human-centered design and project-based learning within culturally responsive curricula, we produce deep engagement and community impact, because youth are more motivated and effective when solving real problems in their own communities through iterative creative processes.
- Youth-Led Creative Agency Modelmethodology: youth_led_creative_agencyBy engaging youth in real client projects through a creative agency framework, we produce professional experience and competitive portfolios, because authentic, production-based work builds industry-relevant skills and confidence that traditional training lacks.