Programs
CCLL's events, master classes, and creative challenges introduce students to the myriad opportunities within the creative careers landscape. These initiatives are specifically designed to unlock youth potential and equip students with essential career and leadership skills. The Lab’s programs provide a platform for students to showcase their classroom learning and validate their competency proficiency while facilitating their growth as creatives.
By participating in these programs, students gain valuable real-world creative industry experience, setting them on a path toward success and opening doors to future endeavors. Through these enriching activities, CCLL aims to equip teachers with the tools and resources they need to inspire and guide their students, fostering a new generation of creative thinkers and leaders who will shape the future of the industry.
Student Showcase
My Future Matters
My Future Matters Leadership Development Curriculum is a transformative program designed to grow the next generation of student leaders. We recognize the critical importance of character education, service learning, and leadership development, and are working to fill this often overlooked gap by equipping students with the skills and resources necessary to thrive in our complex and rapidly changing world. This comprehensive course integrates activity-based lessons, student-led service projects, presentations, and public speaking, blending modern educational practices with innovative business approaches.
Through engaging in problem-solving, relationship-building, communication, and collaboration activities, students are encouraged to explore their personal strengths and make positive contributions to their lives and communities. They gain a deeper understanding of their responsibilities as active global citizens, along with the tools to create meaningful impact.
We recommend delivering the curriculum on a weekly basis for one semester, with each lesson plan adaptable for completion in a single session or through multiple activities spanning several days, allowing for flexible delivery approaches.
Industry Challenges
We provide Industry Challenges led by professionals in the field, offering students invaluable real-world experiences that contribute to the enhancement of their skills and understanding. The challenges are meticulously crafted to help students achieve a variety of objectives, prompting them to think critically about meaningful subjects, creatively showcase their knowledge, and directly apply their skills to industry projects. Through collaboration with fellow students, community partners, and educators bringing relevant expertise, students have the opportunity to delve into industry-specific projects advancing both their creativity and subject matter expertise.
Our Industry Challenges are structured in a well-defined format to ensure effectiveness and accessibility. They are presented as concise lesson plans, featuring performance tasks centered around a single prompt. To cater to diverse skill levels, the challenges are divided into Novice, Intermediate, and Advanced tiers, allowing students to engage with appropriate levels of complexity. Each challenge can typically be completed within a timeframe of two to four hours.
GRID Summits
The GRID Summits are events celebrating creativity, community, and learning. Summits facilitate networking, connecting students with experts; career panels offer insights, while workshops and education sessions enhance skills and entrepreneurial acumen
The Regional GRID Summits unite students from different schools, providing valuable growth opportunities. These events go beyond competitions, fostering collaboration among winners of the Creative Industry Challenges to participate in team-based Creative Challenges where industry professionals evaluate their collective efforts. Winners from regionals advance to the statewide GRID Summit, showcasing talents on a broader platform. It's a holistic experience celebrating achievements, promoting learning, networking, and personal growth.
The GRID Statewide Summit represents the pinnacle of success in the CCLL community, gathering students and the winners of Creative Industry Challenges in a day of exploration and learning. It offers workshops, interactive sessions, and project showcases led by industry professionals. The event cultivates a supportive community, fostering collaboration and inspiration. The GRID Summit propels students toward their aspirations, empowering them to make an impact. It embodies CCLL's mission to nurture creative thinkers, leaders, and innovators, celebrating talent, creativity, and possibility.
Speakers Series
The virtual speaker series serves as an eye-opening experience for high school students, immersing them in the world of creative industries and providing valuable insights into diverse career paths. Through interactive sessions with professionals from the media, entertainment, technology, and arts sectors, students have the opportunity to engage directly with industry experts. These accomplished speakers generously share their experiences, wisdom, and advice, offering invaluable perspectives on how to succeed in the creative industry.
The virtual Speaker series caters to students who are interested in pursuing creative careers and are eager to explore the vast array of opportunities available to them. By hearing directly from professionals in the creative industry, students gain invaluable insights that go beyond textbook knowledge, providing them with a realistic understanding of the industry and the skills required for success.
Creative Careers Online
Creative Careers Online is a career navigation tool designed to inspire youth to discover, prepare for, and pursue careers in the arts and creative industries. This resource introduces young people to a variety of creative careers, provides information about what is needed to land their first job, and features diverse professionals who speak frankly about how to succeed in these fields.
This no-cost online tool is specifically tailored to support those who are underrepresented in the creative sector, identifying important steps for actively pursuing high-growth creative careers. Individuals are directed to local training and educational opportunities that will allow them to confidently pursue their creative career dreams. Through guided resources and success stories from real professionals, young people can work toward their desired career goals and accelerate equity in the creative industries.
It demonstrates a shared commitment to an inclusive and empowered workforce, providing individuals with the tools and knowledge to pursue their creative passions successfully.
Creatives in Residence
CCLL introduces the Creatives-in-Residence program, redefining creativity beyond traditional art contexts. Acknowledging its importance across disciplines, we offer a trans-disciplinary residency program within the school day. Our goal is to expose students to creative professionals and their practical applications of creativity. Inspired by artist-in-residence programs, our diverse group of "creative fellows" work in schools, transforming the learning environment. Students interact with these professionals, expanding their understanding of creativity through mentorship and dialogue.
In collaboration with forward-thinking schools, we assign creative fellows to campuses for an academic year, providing stipends and space for their work. They create collaborative environments, fostering innovation and idea exchanges. Schools become catalysts for change and creative development without integrating elements into their curriculum. Creative fellows gain validation and act as mentors and collaborators. Students gain exposure to creativity, applying new ways of thinking to their school work, and community involvement.
Digital Badges
Digital badges serve as a valuable means for educators to recognize students' achievements by awarding virtual badges. These badges hold significant weight as they can be displayed on portfolios and resumes, signaling to industry professionals that students possess the necessary skill set to excel in the competitive creative industry. The badges are awarded to students upon successful completion of technical assignments directly aligned with their chosen creative pathway.
By endorsing trend micro-credentials, these badges provide validation of skill development, enhancing students' resumes and demonstrating their proficiency in specific areas of expertise. The digital badges offer a tangible representation of students' capabilities, bolstering their credibility and increasing their competitiveness in the job market. They offer a powerful way for students to showcase their achievements and dedication to their chosen creative field, setting them apart from their peers and opening doors to opportunities within the industry.
GRID Student Showcase
The GRID Student Showcase is a highly anticipated event where students have the opportunity to submit their creative projects in the form of video and image files. This annual showcase brings together schools and students, allowing them to share their work with peers and fellow creatives. The submitted projects are not only viewed by peers but also evaluated by a panel of industry professionals who provide valuable feedback to participants, encouraging their continued growth and creativity.
The Student Showcase features a range of awards, including the coveted Student's Choice Award for each pathway, where students have the chance to recognize their peers' outstanding work. Additionally, a panel of creative professionals selects the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place awards for each pathway, recognizing exceptional achievements in various creative fields. These awards serve as a testament to the students' dedication, talent, and innovation, motivating them to further explore and excel in their chosen creative pathways. The Student Showcase is a platform highlighting the exceptional creativity and accomplishments of students, encouraging their creative growth and confidence.