Design Your Neighborhood teaches middle school youth how to problem-solve neighborhood issues, such as transportation and affordable housing while building awareness and exposure to the world around them.
This takes form as a project-based curriculum that can be easily integrated and sustainably embedded into classrooms under Tennessee state standards. The projects are aligned with social, emotional learning as well as STEAM requirements. Each project has a community-action component that our staff and volunteers help facilitate!
Youth Programs
Middle School
“I owe the Civic Design Center everything. I was a participant in their Design Your Neighborhood program. It kind of set forth my journey into architecture and what I’m doing now. They helped me discover my potential, they helped me discover my creativity, and also my interest in making sure that my community’s voice is heard.”
— Shanese Brown, Anecdote Architectural ExperiencesHigh School
The Nashville Youth Design Team does outreach with youth across Nashville, collecting data to learn about different needs, specifically how their needs relate to wellness. From this data, the Team creates actionable change for young people through short-term design and advocacy projects.
This is a paid high school internship program that can be a continuation of the knowledge gained from Design Your Neighborhood projects done in middle school. We accept applications for new members each spring.
