Overview
Launched in June 2006, Adobe Youth Voices is the Adobe Foundation's global signature philanthropy program designed to provide youth in underserved communities with the critical skills they need to become active and engaged members of their communities and the world at large. The Adobe Foundation invests nearly US$7 million per year in the Adobe Youth Voices program, primarily through training, educational resources, and grants. The program also leverages software donations and employee volunteers from Adobe Systems Incorporated.With a focus on empowering youth, Adobe Youth Voices supports young people in and out of school and encourages the use of cutting-edge multimedia tools to communicate and share their ideas, demonstrate their potential, and take action where they live.
The Adobe Youth Voices global network currently includes more than 500 sites and a large, expanding number of grantees and organizations in 32 countries. Since its inception, Adobe Youth Voices has engaged over 27,000 youth and 1,500 educators in schools and out-of-school programs.
See a broader overview of Adobe Youth Voices here >
See the Adobe Youth Voices global network >
A program with three guiding principles: Engage, enhance, exhibit
Engaging young people in exciting and meaningful new ways, Adobe Youth Voices provides an unparalleled opportunity for middle school and high school youth to communicate their concerns, aspirations, and vision. Young people who may have been feeling disengaged learn how to think creatively, communicate effectively, and work collaboratively — all critically important skills that can help them attain a competitive edge in school, their careers, and life.Enhancing educators' skills and resources, the program provides comprehensive professional development in teaching strategies that incorporate cutting-edge digital tools. Those who work with youth can learn new ways to encourage the use of 21st century communications skills in telling stories that make a real impact.
Exhibiting participants' work is a key element of the Adobe Youth Voices program. The program provides youth with forums in which to share their vision and voice for a public purpose — via traveling art exhibits, film screenings, and festivals; on the Internet; in publications; and through other local and global venues.
Learn more about Adobe Youth Voices resources for educators >
Multilevel support to empower youth to create with purpose
The Adobe Youth Voices initiative includes four components:Adobe Youth Voices sites engage talented educators of middle- and high school-age youth - in both school and out-of-school programs - in a yearlong professional development and support program. Educators enhance their teaching strategies, gain new skills, and collaborate with like-minded educators and youth media experts to enable youth to express themselves using digital tools and to create media with a personally meaningful purpose.
In collaboration with Network Partners, Adobe Youth Voices helps bring the benefits of this program to a wider network of educators and young people worldwide. Current Network Partners include iEARN, OffScreen Education Programme, American India Foundation, Computer Clubhouse Network, 4H, Free the Children, Chicago Public Schools, and 21st Century Learning Centers Massachusetts.
Adobe Youth Voices grants support leading youth-focused programs and organizations — through a competitive grant process — to engage youth in breakthrough learning experiences using digital tools to express themselves and to create with purpose. Grantees develop a specific Adobe Youth Voices project and then make the completed youth-produced media available for widespread distribution by Adobe Youth Voices.
Adobe Youth Voices Teacher Training Centers have been established in San Francisco, San Jose/Silicon Valley and Seattle for educators to receive Adobe software training that is consistent with the Adobe Youth Voices philosophy and methodology. In collaboration with Bay Area Video Coalition, Krause Center for Innovation/RAFT and the Puget Sound Educational Service District, this training provides educators with the technical skills and methodology to engage youth in deep critical thinking to produce media with personal and social impact.
Adobe Youth Voices Essentials is a set of open curricula and resources based on the best practices of the Adobe Youth Voices program. It includes downloadable sample curriculum and activities for video, multimedia, digital art, web, animation, or audio projects. Adobe Youth Voices Essentials is open to all educators to take advantage of a set of proven curricula and resources without the application process.
See current sites and partners >
