Youth Engagement
Inspiring young artists
Thank you to The Fred and Eve Simon Charitable Foundation, Wells Fargo, and Richard Brooke Foundation for their generous support, which helps make The Union's Youth Engagement programming possible!
Thank you to our community partners No More Empty Pots and The Big Garden for enriching our culinary and small-scale agriculture curriculum!
The Union’s Youth Engagement program was created in response to neighborhood children who literally knocked on our door curious about the activity in our first home on Burdette Street. Recognizing a desire among neighborhood youth for hands-on art activities, we launched Art Club, an arts and culture enrichment program dedicated to providing a safe and welcoming environment for youth ages 8–16.
Today, we continue to offer free creative experiences for North Omaha youth, ranging from the visual and performing arts to urban agriculture and cooking. Since our founding in 2011, The Union has provided over 11,000 hours of creative and community-based programming for young people in North Omaha.
For questions regarding Youth Engagement, please contact Youth + Community Director, Jacquline Smith, at jacquline@u-ca.org.
Youth Programs
Art Club (September - May)
Art Club is an arts and cultural enrichment program for youth ages 8-12yrs. Each term provides opportunities to view and discuss exhibitions, visit cultural institutions, meet working artists, collaborate with peers, and explore the studio arts, alternating between 2D and 3D art mediums each year. Snacks are provided.
Created to serve families in North Omaha, priority enrollment is given to youth attending one of our partner schools or agencies. If you are interested in learning more about this program and other opportunities, please complete the interest survey below.
Union Youth Engagement Interest Survey
Action Brigade (September - May)
Action Brigade is a socially engaged art program that arms youth ages 12-16yrs with tools and strategies to address topics and issues in their communities. In addition to developing studio art skills, youth meet with community members to learn how a topic that interests them is impacting people locally and globally, and work with artists and peers to develop creative responses. Snacks are provided.
Created to serve families in North Omaha, priority enrollment is given to youth attending one of our partner schools or agencies. If you are interested in learning more about this program and other opportunities, please complete the interest survey below.
Culinary Arts
In partnership with No More Empty Pots, this program is offered as an extension to Art Club and Action Brigade programming and provides opportunities to gain food knowledge and cooking skills by working with a local chef.
Mentoring Young Artists (July to May)
The Mentoring Young Artists program is designed for young artists, ages 16-18 yrs who are interested in gaining hands-on experience as mentors and leaders for youth enrolled in our Saturday programs. This program offers opportunities to build professional skills and relationships with experienced artists, educators, and youth while supporting our goal to increase access to the arts for young people living in and around North Omaha.
Created to serve families in North Omaha, priority enrollment is given to youth attending one of our partner schools or agencies. If you are interested in learning more about this program, please email Jacquline Smith, Youth + Community Director, jacquline@u-ca.org
Meet Our Youth Peer Mentors!
Art Education
Field Trips
Tuesdays and Fridays (by request)
Grades Pre-K - 12 + adult chaperones
Cost: Varies
Offering both in-person and virtual tours of the Union’s current exhibitions as well as hands-on art making activities, these single engagement opportunities are aimed to increase accessibility for students, teachers, and alternative learners, while expanding the depth of inquiry to work by living contemporary BIPOC artists and artists exploring socially-engaged practices. If you would like to request a field trip for your group or a visit to your school/site, please email Jacquline Smith, Youth + Community Director, jacquline@u-ca.org
Community Engagement
Family Night
Families are invited to make art in The Union’s Youth Studios. Bring your loved ones for fun and creative play. Activities and materials may include: drawing, painting, printmaking, and more These events are FREE and open to the public. No registration required to participate.
- Wednesday, March 13: 5-7PM
- Wednesday, April 17: 5-7PM
- Wednesday, May 15: 5-7PM
- Wednesday, June 26: 5-7PM
- Wednesday, July 17: 5-7PM
- Wednesday, August 14: 5-7PM
- Wednesday, September 11: 5-7PM
- Wednesday, October 16: 5-7PM
- Wednesday, November 13: 5-7PM
Art in the Park
These activities are designed to engage neighborhood youth and their adult chaperones in creative and outdoor play. These community-focused opportunities take place during the summer months throughout North Omaha. If you would like The Union to host an Art in the Park event in your neighborhood, please email Jacquline, Youth + Community Director, jacquline@u-ca.org
