Mission Urban Arts

Program Mission: To provide comprehensive after school programming in an environment that is structured, and safe, and facilitated by caring and nonjudgmental adults and paid youth advisors within the program, for at-risk youth in the Mission District and the city and county of San Francisco. We provide free, bilingual (English/Spanish) instruction to youth ages 13-19, Monday thru Friday, 44 weeks a year. Youth receive access to over eight urban arts classes, academic tutoring, mentoring/counseling, youth leadership, field trips, and workshops.

The Mission Urban Arts after school program offers youth the opportunity to become paid youth advisors within the program. The youth advisors undergo trainings in conflict resolution, communication, workshop/meeting facilitation, and more. MUA youth advisors assist our urban arts instructors with their classes, with program development, fundraising and act as liaisons between the youth and the staff. Youth leadership is very important to MUA, and we are proud of our Youth Advisors and the impact they make in the direction and mission of our program.

History: MUA began in October 2003 as a small arts after school program offering classes three days per week to about 15 youth each session. In January 2005, we began a partnership with Horizons Unlimited of San Francisco of San Francisco to expand the program. Within weeks of this new partnership our enrollment numbers increased significantly. In collaboration with Horizons, we now offer urban arts classes, academic enrichment services, counseling services, and leadership development to over 250 youth each year, five days each week.

contact:helen@cellspace.org