Workshop Houston is a youth-driven community center where young people learn that education is the means to change their lives. We work primarily with middle school students, an age group that faces many changes and challenges and is just figuring out what kind of adults they want to become.

Our programs – the Middle School Program (creative skill-building and academic support for 6th-8th graders), the High School Program (individualized projects and mentoring for 9th-12th graders) and the Summer Leadership Institute (academic preparation and service-based internships for 8th grade graduates and high school students) – are based out of our four shops. The shops are fully-equipped resource studios where youth can access tools, instruction and equipment unavailable anywhere else.

The learning environment at Workshop Houston is transformative for our students – many of whom have had negative experiences in traditional educational venues – helping them find their own path towards educational attainment, expanded opportunities in their lives, and a definition of success that is based in values of life-long learning, community engagement, social justice and self empowerment. Our after school and summer programs use the shops’ resources to bring education out of the classroom and into all aspects of students’ lives in a tangible and exciting way, as well as fostering a positive peer and mentor community that helps youth define and reach their goals in school and beyond.

“Workshop Houston has affected my life because I have place to go after school.  I know how to make beats now.  I know how to build stuff using tools.  I can come to here so I won’t get in trouble out there.  It gave me a chance to do something I like to do. I have become a better person. I have changed the way I think.” Vanard, 7th Grade.