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    We believe in the power of the arts and young people.
    Learn About Us
  • Featured Video

    Violence broke her childhood home, but music gave her a new one.
    Watch Livy's Story
  • Featured Video

    A hospital nurse discovered her creative talent; ARTS nurtured it.
    Watch Jessica's Story

About Us

Creative Youth Development (CYD) is a holistic approach to deeply engaging young people through the arts and creativity to promote personal well-being and support them in reaching their full potential.

In order to fully support young people in creating positive change in themselves and their communities, Creative Youth Development programs need the right resources. Unfortunately, CYD organizations are systemically under-resourced and under-capacity because of inequities facing the field.

That’s where we come in.

The San Diego Creative Youth Development Network is a coalition of Young People, Providers, and Partners dedicated to harnessing their collective strength to build the field of creative youth development to maximize impact for youth.

We achieve this by:

Building public awareness of the impact of youth arts programs as drivers of personal and community change.

  • Initiate and conduct field research & evaluation
  • Launch communications & campaigns
  • Convene Community Stakeholders

Sharing expertise and best practices with youth arts programs.

  • Provide leadership & professional development
  • Provide networking & peer learning opportunities
  • Offer technical assistance

Cultivating new pathways of support that benefit all local youth arts programs.

  • Advocate for policy & systems change
  • Grow diversity in funding
  • Pursue collective funding opportunities

Our Partners

Who is San Diego Creative Youth Development Network?

Meet the individuals and organizations dedicated to strengthening creative youth development programs in San Diego. Together, we help young people in our communities reach their full potential.

Clare Rose Foundation, a Founding Funding Partner of SDCYDN, builds the capacity of non-profit leaders and organizations for them to have an even greater impact on those they serve.

ARTS supports youth and young adults in reaching their full potential through the transformative power of creativity.

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Presenting exceptional chamber music concerts to the general public, simultaneously educating and exposing diverse audiences to classical music.

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A Step Beyond provides underserved youth with opportunities that greatly expand their expectations and ambitions through dance education, academic support, and family services.

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The AjA Project is cultivating creativity and empowerment through photography in historically underserved communities.

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Arts for Learning San Diego offers programs that inspire young people to achieve their full potential through the arts.

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David's Harp Foundation is to educate, inspire and empower system affected youth to achieve academic success through music education, sound engineering, and multimedia production.

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Izcalli's mission is to transform the lives of Chicana/o and Indigenous communities by promoting cultural consciousness through the arts, education, and community dialogue.

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La Jolla Playhouse advances theatre as an art form and as a vital social, moral and political platform by providing unfettered creative opportunities for the leading artists of today and tomorrow.

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Media Arts Center's mission is providing new media tools and channels to create equitable and engaged communities where underserved voices are heard.

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The Old Globe Arts Engagement Department's mission is to make theatre matter to more people and to strengthen the connections between our neighbors and our institution.

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The Playwrights Project's mission is to advance literacy, creativity, and communication by empowering individuals to voice their stories through playwriting programs and theatre productions.

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The Rock N Roll Camp for Girls is empowering girls through music.

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The San Diego Opera's mission is to deliver exceptional vocal performances and exciting, accessible programs to diverse audiences, focusing on community engagement and the transformative power of live performance.

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The San Diego Symphony is changing lives through music.

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The San Diego Youth Symphony's mission is to instill excellence in the musical and personal development of students through rigorous and inspiring musical training experiences.

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To guide youth in underserved San Diego communities to transcend barriers, expand their ambitions, and create positive change for themselves through dance and performance.

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Inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to explore the joy and lifelong value of music through education, performance and community engagement.

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Denise Montgomery is a leading researcher, consultant, and author on high quality Creative Youth Development and out-of -school time programming.

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RISE Research leads measuring the impact of the San Diego Creative Youth Development Network members through evaluation and research.

Featured Stories

Briana From
A Step Beyond

Watch Briana's Story

Beto From
AjA Project

Watch Beto's Story

Andrea From
transcenDANCE

Watch Andrea's Story

Join Our Movement

The San Diego Creative Youth Development Network meets online every other Friday 10-11:30am. All CYD Practitioners and Partners are welcome! Email Shayla James at sdcydn@gmail.com for information about joining these meetings, and the other spaces we hold.

Sign up for the San Diego Creative Youth Development Network email list to receive weekly updates, resources, and opportunities directly to your inbox every Friday.