We partnered with the Equity and Inclusion team at the Annie E. Casey Foundation to surface the specific elements of places, institutions, and systems that produce a sense of belonging for Black and Indigenous young men. By engaging with youth-serving organizations in Atlanta and Albuquerque, we facilitated a futures thinking process that empowered young men aged 14–24 to reimagine key systems in ways that affirm their sense of safety and love. These sessions were designed as high-energy laboratories where participants built the worlds they want to inhabit through tactile exercises and immersive world-building. Young people are rarely asked to articulate their own visions for institutional change — this process put that expertise at the center.
The core of this work involved a hands-on design challenge where the young men conceptualized a youth center entirely responsive to their needs. They moved through every layer of institutional design: drafting mission and values, determining staff roles, and defining their own leadership within the space. Using free-form figurines and physical materials, participants built out these environments and inhabited their designs — visualizing how their community would move, interact, and thrive. To deepen the emotional landscape, participants also documented their current lives through a photo diary project: local spaces used for healing, environments where they lacked safety, the people who made them feel belonging, and the motivations driving their goals.
The process resulted in design principles and insights that define what an environment of belonging truly looks like — as articulated by the young people themselves. We synthesized these findings into a report and workshop series shared with a national coalition of youth-serving organizations, providing adults with a roadmap for designing alongside young men of color. The foundation is now equipped to build institutional spaces that reflect the wisdom and vision of the people they serve.
Gallery
