“The TPC was an amazing program. It teaches teens awareness of environmental issues in a very unique way. The guest speakers come from different backgrounds and teach us so many different things about the environment. I have definitely changed. I learned how to meditate, unlock my artistic abilities and appreciate nature more. Everyone should care about Rising Earth’s work because they’re literally doing it to help everyone.”
Calling all artistic teens in LA and NYC!!
If you’re eager to reconnect with the natural world, make sure to apply for our TPC internship and be part of your city’s ecological healing!
Deadline to apply is Tuesday, May 28th, 2024.
Internship dates: July 1st - August 7th, 2024.
Get ready for an invigorating blend of creativity, community, and care for the extraordinary plant world--all while experiencing what it's like to work in a collaborative space where the thoughts of youth are honored, encouraged, and amplified! In order to create materials and programs that are engaging and relatable for youth, we team up with you to make sure they are!
Over 6 weeks, we’ll embark on a series of immersive meet-ups in nature, not too far from home. From rolling up your sleeves for hands-on service learning experiences to meditating and sketching amongst the trees to hiking through scenic trails, each exploration is sure to reconnect you with the joy the natural world has to offer in your city. But that's not all – flex your creative muscles in this summer’s exciting work project: each participant will design a powerful environmental justice/awareness poster about the plant world and community organizations that support its health--all while amplifying our summer's mission of "getting local and getting vocal." This brand new poster project is part of a fall pilot program, and we need your feedback this summer before we launch!
Plus! You'll convene each week in our virtual zoom sessions with peers from both NYC and LA for our amazing lineup of guest speakers! Be inspired by award-winning, visionary artists like Jackie Fawn to beekeeper extraordinaires. We'll delve into their stories, learn from their experiences, and utilize them as guest critics to strengthen your work.
A visual expression after a meditation practice.
Nature hike, exploring our different senses in the natural world.
Defend the Sacred poster by Jackie Fawn, one of our guest speakers.
Service trip to Billion Oyster Project.
Zoom meeting with a beekeeper guest speaker (Lola Sanchez) about giving personal narrative to nature.
Barefoot on the Grass (2019). How one urban teen connected with nature during an awareness exploration.
Zoom meeting with journalist Angely Mercado, a guest speaker about addressing your audience.
Soul Fire Farms (2021). Art from former TPC member.
Nature hike, shifting one’s worldview of the natural world.
Lessons learned from foraging training in nature.
XIUHTEZCATL MARTINEZ, one TPC member’s studies for a potential book character.
Zoom meeting with guest speaker, artist Nguyen Tran, about composition.
Meetup in nature to learn Earth Living skills.
“What makes the Teen Production Council great is the fact that it changed my mind about how I thought about environmental things ... And my opinions and artwork were actually being valued and considered. To me, that’s something that I really feel proud of. I feel like I’ve been much more confident in what I believe and do.”
—Layton (11th Grade)
“This is the first internship where people truly wanted to know my opinion because I provided a unique insight as a teen. I'll definitely encourage people this year to apply to this internship because it really changed the way I view myself and how I affect the earth.”
—Luna (10th Grade)
“I certainly believe that I’ve changed as a result of this program … making me a better student, leader, and even a better human being. I truly felt empowered by this program.”
—Jerome (10th Grade)
“I loved the Teen Production Council because it allowed me to combine two of my passions: the environment and art. I have found confidence finding my voice and as an artist.”
—Kate (11th Grade)
WITHIN THIS INTERNSHIP YOU WILL:
Gain experience in the art of poster design by creating an environmental justice/awareness poster of your own! In our final week, we will have a showing party with your printed posters. You will receive professional prints to hang up in your community, and one winner from each city will have their design printed at a large size.
Get coached by environmentalists and professional artists and designers through group discussions and individual feedback.
Enhance your knowledge of our ecological issues and solutions while focusing on a topic of personal interest and conducting research, both informational and visual.
Participate in the different stages of the creative process, which includes brainstorming design concepts and mid-process critiques with peers.
Experience nature within your city as we meet up with foragers, Earth living skills educators, beekeepers, composters, and a bunch of amazing nonprofits that are helping to regenerate urban landscapes.
Bond with peers from your city as well as teens from the other side of the country.
Participate in different mindfulness activities and reflective practices that will help you explore your relationship within nature and explore your own environmental footprint.
Explore aspects of Indigenous worldviews, and acknowledge the importance of Indigenous peoples in our ecological repair.
Receive an art journal and plant to nurture, and hopefully, they will help nurture you, too. (Not to worry--we got a plant guy coming in with tips for how to keep your plant thriving!)
REQUIREMENTS:
Must be a high school-age student in the New York City or Los Angeles area.
Must commit to approximately 10-12 hours per week. (More hours are available upon request.)
Have a passion for art. We are open to different art styles and mediums! Note: the application includes an option to submit 3-5 samples of your artwork. Everything from journal sketches to final work are welcome!
Able to work remotely with access to a computer and internet.
Able to travel one or two days a week to a location in your area. (Times of meet-ups vary depending on the activity. For LA applicants: Please state in your application if you will have difficulty traveling to in-person activities and our team will reach out to you!)
This program is a hybrid of weekly virtual meetings and 9 required in-person days.
SCHEDULE:
Zoom Meetings - 9am PT/ 12pm EST:
Tuesday, July 2
Tuesday, July 9
Tuesday, July 16
Tuesday, July 23
Tuesday, July 30
Tuesday, Aug 6
In-Person Meetups (Times Vary):
Monday, July 1
Monday, July 8
Wednesday, July 10
Monday, July 15
Wednesday, July 17
Monday, July 22
Wednesday, July 24
Monday, July 29
Wednesday, Aug 7
Contact Us if you’d like more information.
Here is PDF flier to print out and share!
**Note: This is an unpaid internship unless you live in NY and have applied for SYEP (Summer Youth Employment Program). If so, you’ll need to inform us of your providers.
**Upon completion of our program, interns will receive a signed acknowledgement letter with a logged number of hours for either work-based learning or community service hours.
***Interns will also have the opportunity to join our Alumni program the following year, which is a paid internship.
Last year, we piloted our first ever Graphic Short Story Contest to all teens in NYC and LA. 4 winners each received an award of $500! Below is a sampling from our graphic short story gallery. Read them in full here.
“The Teen Production Council was so great because it helped me truly understand the importance of my voice. I have become much more educated on environmental issues and more confident in my capabilities to advocate for them. And I feel more connected to nature than I have ever been.”
