A recent BuzzFeed video profiles Made in Brownsville (MiB), a nonprofit that helps disadvantaged youth in Brownsville, New York, learn the design and technical skills they need for careers. In one project, the participants design and craft urban furniture with the goal of promoting social interaction in public spaces. Initiatives like this, says MiB Founder and CEO Quardean Lewis-Allen, help young people unlock their talent and stake a claim in their community. Referring to a sleek youth clubhouse the group built on a housing-project lot, Lewis-Allen notes that the kids who took part can look at the finished product and say, "'I made this. I brought this to life.' That's powerful." Watch here.
