Since its beginnings nearly 25 years ago, The Clubhouse: Where Technology Meets Imagination has been a resource for thousands of young people to explore their own interests, develop skills, and build confidence in themselves through the use of technology. The Clubhouse is at once an inventor’s workshop, design house, sound stage, hackerspace, music studio, and programming lab. At The Clubhouse, underserved youth unleash their creative talents, engage in peer-to-peer learning, and develop a unique voice of their own to express themselves through “STEAM” – STEM and the arts. Walk into a Clubhouse and you will find groups of young people making 3D models and animations, producing and editing films, building robots, creating graphics and websites, designing computer games, writing and recording music, and much more. Whether working alone or collaboratively, youth learn to take a project from early concept to final product, develop the ability to express the steps they have taken to achieve their desired results, and assist other youth in following the same path. In the process, they become inspired about learning and about their own future. Young people who might have become apathetic about school find a sense of purpose at the Clubhouse and become re-engaged in their own success.
Though technology has changed greatly since the first Clubhouse opened its doors in 1993, the mission of The Clubhouse remains the same: To provide a safe, creative after-school learning environment where young people from under-served communities work with adult mentors to explore their own ideas, develop skills, and build confidence in themselves through the use of technology.
In support of that mission, The Clubhouse Network supports community-based Clubhouses around the world by providing start-up support, professional development, new technology innovations, evaluation and assessment, partnership opportunities, and access to an online community for youth, mentors, and staff.
Today, The Clubhouse Network is a global community comprised of 100 Clubhouses in 19 countries, providing 20,000 youth per year with access to resources, skills, and experiences to help them succeed in their careers, contribute to their communities, and lead outstanding lives.
Learn more at theclubhousenetwork.org.