
Youth. Creative. agency.
WHAT WE DO.
Youth Design Center is a youth creative agency and innovation hub providing a gateway for young people to learn marketable hard skills in STEAM, access post-secondary education, achieve economic mobility, and engage in place-based community revitalization.
HOW WE DO IT
Modeled as a creative service agency, our projects teach design thinking, art, multimedia, tech and communication skills to give young people the technical and leadership tools they need to compete in the innovation economy and to be leaders in their community. YDC offers studios and mentorship in printmaking, fine arts, spatial and product design, fabrication, photography, coding, graphic design, video and animation. Design mentors collaborate with youth on projects that add value to their community as well as client commissioned creative projects.
QUARDEAN LEWIS-ALLEN
FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
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Quardean Lewis-Allen is the Founder and CEO of the nonprofit youth creative agency and innovation hub, Youth Design Center, which provides a gateway for young people in his native Brownsville community and beyond to access mentorship to tackle underrepresentation in STEAM professions, cyclical poverty, and to address the need for place-based community revitalization. He has over a decade of interdisciplinary design experience working across public and private sectors at the intersection of tactical urbanism and social activism through community-led design.
Lewis-Allen was an Adjunct Lecturer at City College of New York and NYU Tisch Interactive Telecommunications Program where he was also a Human-In-Residence Fellow. He serves on the Board of Brownsville Community Development Corporation and the Ocean Hill Brownsville Coalition of Young Professionals. He is an Emerging Leaders Fund recipient of Claneil Foundation, Crain’s Under 40, Forbes Under 30, America’s Promise Alliance’s People of Promise Awardee and an Echoing Green Black Male Achievement Fellow, amongst other accolades. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from SUNY Buffalo and a Masters in Architecture from Harvard Graduate School of Design.
Stephon Cronneitt
Operations Specialist
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Stephon Cronneitt, a dynamic operations-focused professional with 4+ years of experience facilitating high-impact workshops. Leadership team member for over 5 years with a 24 year strong youth arts and outreach program (DEAP). Skilled junior carpenter working with recycled wood to create sustainable designs, and an experienced mentor with 3+ years of experience guiding youth towards personal and creative development while combining strategic thinking with hands on approach to problem solving and logistics. He focuses on assisting wherever he can and is guided by the motto “Pain Is Temporary, Success is Mandatory”.
Ariel Portillo
Digital Media Producer
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Ariel Portillo is a dedicated Media Producer with a strong foundation in graphic design, audio, and video production. Known for a collaborative spirit and a passion for helping others, they thrive in team environments where creativity and learning go hand in hand. With a deep interest in storytelling and visual communication, Ariel is committed to producing meaningful, high-quality media that engages and inspires.
Lisseth Moreno
Educational Media Coordinator
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Lisseth Moreno Is a creative storyteller with a passion for sound design and digital media, Lisseth thrives on turning ideas into compelling content. Driven by curiosity and a deep belief in the power of storytelling, they are constantly exploring new formats and approaches. As an aspiring content creator, they are dedicated to learning, growing, and creating work that resonates with audiences in meaningful and memorable ways.
OUR VILLAGE
PAST Contributing Practitioners
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America on Tech, Web, podcasting
A+A+A Studio, 3D Design
Avilda Whittmore, Visual Artist
N Carlos Jay, Muralist
Self, Printmaking
Verneda Adele White, Apparel Designer
Current Alumni Freelancers
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Ana Frink, Graphic Design
D’angelo Heyward, Graphic Design, Web Design, Photography
Gerard Allison, Graphic Design, Screen Printing, Photo/video
Kwesi Johnson, Graphic Design, Photo/Video
Francisco Trevino, Graphic Design
Khaliyq Taylor, Graphic Design
Chidiogo Igboekwe, Photo/video
Darielle Santana, Photo/video
Ashley-Mae Brown, Graphic Design
Alex Johnson, Web Designer, Digital Media
Ariel Johnson, Photo/video
Raishan Bernard, Web Design, Digital Media
Yoruba Foster, Photo/video
Silvia Ahmad, Web Design
Micheal, Web Design, Digital Media, Photo/video
Past Teaching Artists
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Andrea Chiney, 3D Design
Brian Ho, 3D Design
David Forsee, Digital Media
Steven Clunis, Visual Design
Emmanuel Oni, 3D Design
Khaalid Rahman, Fabrication Lab
Karyn Westbrooks, Photo/Video
Jazmine Hayes, Muralist
Angela Hill, Printmaking
Nicolas Savvides, 3D Design
Lewis Thompson, Podcasting
Matthew Kenney, Coder
Elvin Santana, Apparel Designer
Jacqueline Martinez, Graphic Design
Desdemona Dallas, Photo/Video
Avilda Whitmore, Visual Artist
Aisha Jami, AOT Program Manager
April Harris, (Volunteer) Camp 1 instructor
Courtney la Prince, (Volunteer) Camp 2 instructor
Artist-in-Residence
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Jamal Jordan, 2017
Sewing Residents
Lionel Nichols, 2023
Daphne Lundi, 2023
Gerard Alison, 2023
Past Interns
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Rayshawn Levy
Shamroc Cook
Austin Kety
Stephanie Matthews
Mohammed Miah
Bryan Aucapina
Evan Hart
Aris Robles
Peter James
Markel Jordan
Our Board
Steven Clunis
Former Senior Manager, at The Walt Disney Studios
Jerry Blaine
Chief Executive Officer, LDI Color ToolBox
Rasmia Kirmani
Consultant | Board Chair
Julie Torres Moskovitz
Principal, FNA Studio
Ana Frink
Creative/Design Consultant | Founder of Cre8ve Studio | Alumni Board Member
Darian Dawkins
Alumni Board Member