Youth Empowerment Programs

Every year, The Crucible connects with more than 5,000 young people through a range of programs. Our engaging and inspiring workshops, summer camps, Oakland Public School collaborations, pre-professional trainings, and leadership programs help youth solidify STEAM concepts, build confidence, explore artistic and industrial career pathways, and develop problem-solving skills they can use in all aspects of their lives.

Our Signature Programs

The Crucible’s Youth Program provides our most engaged students with meaningful pre-professional training, mentoring, and career counseling. Through a graduated learning structure, youth progress through different programs, projects, and classes, culminating—for our most motivated students—in paid positions in the Fuego Youth Leadership Program and/or Pre-Apprentice Program.

The Fuego Youth Leadership Program provides opportunities for high school students to deepen their technical, artistic, and leadership skills for four weeks each summer.
The Pre-Apprentice Program provides youth with training in metalworking and the arts, networking opportunities, and collaborations on public art projects that prepare them for future job opportunities in the trades.
Our Bike Program includes drop-in and scheduled activities designed to engage youth—primarily from West Oakland—with the basics of bike mechanics, welding, and engineering.
The Crucible’s free Field Trips offered to Oakland public schools and Title I schools are often a young person’s first exposure to the industrial arts and art making.
We work with youth to inspire the creation of site-specific art installations that emphasize collaboration and connection with our industrial arts education programs.

Classes & Access

Throughout the year, we offer weekend and after school classes in the industrial arts, as well as weeklong camps during spring and summer for youth, ages 8-18.

Where else can a 12-year-old pour molten metal, forge a steel hook, and bend glass into an illuminated neon sign?

In order to ensure our classes are accessible as possible, we provide over $100,000 in youth scholarships annually, holding 20% of all youth class spaces for scholarship students.

You Can Make Our Youth Programs Happen

Give Oakland’s Next Generation A Creative Future

Where The Student Becomes The Teacher

A West Oakland staple for over fifteen years, we have watched young people grow up in our Youth Programs, explore their creativity and begin to master their artistic disciplines. Some discovered a true passion and now—as adults—have joined The Crucible’s regular faculty. Read more of their stories on our blog.

“Five or six years ago, I wasn’t even able to make eye contact or speak with people. Now I am constantly explaining things, because fortunately I was put in an environment where I could grow.”

– Robert Collins,
Welding instructor

“Because of all of the support I have been given, I am in a place to give that support back to many other students. I want to be a role model to some of the high school girls. It will make me feel better to know I inspired some girls to do what I do.”

– Katia Navidad Rallon,
Woodworking instructor

“It taught me to push forward, even when I might feel uncomfortable. I was the only girl in the Pre-Apprentice Program, but I had female teachers who were so badass and strong, that I was inspired to get my hands dirty.”

– Jazzy Schwinges-Williams,
Welding Instructor

“I’m an artist at heart, but I also love teaching. It’s awesome to see somebody I’ve taught become inspired to do more art. It’s great to have that sense that somebody is looking up to you.”

– Adrian Rodriguez,
Blacksmithing Instructor

Questions? Contact Us

youth@thecrucible.org
(510) 444-0919 x127