Teen Squad
PPL is committed to providing engaging learning opportunities for teens through the Teen Squad.
Teen Squad programs are driven by youth interests while focusing on work readiness and 21st-century skills development. Through diverse community partnerships, PPL offers interactive and engaging competency-based programming that builds relationships, expands minds, and connects teens to workforce development opportunities.
Teen Squad News
Data Navigators 2.0
Rhode Coders 2.0
Middle School Book Club
Data For Good Summer Employment
PPL and the My City, My Place summer employment program taught me a lot of valuable skills and really helped me to discover that public speaking is something I’m good at.
Participant in the My City, My Place program
Past Teen Programs
Spring 2017
Teens engaged in a two week hands-on culinary arts training led by professional chefs from the Genesis Center.
Spring 2017
PPL received a $50,000 grant from Digital Media and Learning to create highly engaging playlists that integrate technology and career skill development. A group of 20 beta testers worked through the designed playlists to help PPL determine the challenges and successes of each playlist.
Fall 2016
On the Rhode was a three-part writing workshop in conjunction with Write Rhode Island, a short story competition presented by School One and Goat Hill. The workshop offered an introduction to short fiction for students in grades 8-12.
Summer 2016
This four-session workshop explored the key factors that affect positive body image and self-esteem. Teens created a series of selfie-portraits that meaningfully depicted their own identity, using fashion and theater techniques to present themselves to the world in the ways they wanted to be seen.
Spring 2016
In this course, PPL collaborated with RISD|CE to teach teens how to forecast the future of fashion by looking at both past and current fashion trends. As part of PPL’s exhibition and program series Portals: The History of the Future, these fashion design classes integrated interest-driven exploration with historical content and 21st century skills.
Spring 2016
Part of PPL’s exhibition and program series Portals: The History of the Future, teens created glamorous, wearable headdresses inspired by the opulence of the roaring ‘20s, using a variety of materials – including rich, velvety lamé fabrics, beading, feathers, and “jeweled” embellishments – to mimic the styles and flair of the period.
Summer 2016
In this class, teens learned the basics of creating their own game art using professional software. Participants’ completed designs were placed in a game engine to see how their work looked in a real game environment. This program was a hybrid of actual gaming and workshops covering tech skills including Photoshop, Concept Art, 3D Modeling, and Animation.
Spring 2016
Part of PPL’s exhibition and program series Portals: The History of the Future, teens looked at vintage 1920s flapper style and addressed the concept of “casual chic” during the time period portrayed in The Great Gatsby and Downton Abbey.
Spring 2016
Part of PPL’s exhibition and program series Portals: The History of the Future, teens explored what defined fashion in the 1950s by looking at iconic “fashionistas” from the era like Audrey Hepburn and Marilyn Monroe, and noteable changes to the status quo like Christian Dior's “New Look” and Coco Chanel's suit.
Spring 2016
Part of PPL’s exhibition and program series Portals: The History of the Future, teens created glamorous, wearable headdresses inspired by the opulence of the roaring ‘20s, using a variety of materials – including rich, velvety lamé fabrics, beading, feathers, and “jeweled” embellishments – to mimic the styles and flair of the period.
Summer 2015
As a part of PPL’s program and exhibition series, Don't Stop the Music, teen participants created digital videos about two emblematic and historic music venues, Providence Performing Arts Center and Trinity Repertory Theater.