Mission Statement
The mission of the Teen Fellows, developed by participating youth, is to explore the past, experience the present and design the future. As a dedicated community of hands-on learners, Fellows question and identify how the built environment applies to their lives.
This 15-month program is offered at no cost to selected participants, and gives Chicago sophomores, juniors and seniors the chance to explore architecture and design careers, earn college credit and work alongside industry professionals. During the program, Fellows:
- Attend college courses at Harold Washington College (HWC), earning credits from City Colleges of Chicago
- Explore Chicago’s built environment and how it changes over time
- Work with physical models using various materials
- Develop design projects and begin building personal portfolios
- Develop digital designs using the following software: Sketch-up, AutoCAD, Rhinoceros, Revit, Illustrator, InDesign and Photoshop
- Visit architecture firms and architecturally significant sites
- Earn a stipend, to allow youth to prioritize program participation, regardless of financial status
- Intern at a local architecture or design firm in the final summer of the program (paid internship, pending program performance)