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
![DN2.0_Fall18_2 Data Navigator 2.0](https://www.provlib.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/DN2.0_Fall18_2-landscape-11c0e165a6904dea454ac5e6ab2c0af3-5ef62ca620969.jpg)
Data Navigators 2.0
![IMG_6663 Rhode Coders 2.0](https://www.provlib.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/IMG_6663-landscape-08c4158084ec0f2d69058691e6c45a93-5ef62ca62096d.jpg)
Rhode Coders 2.0
![PPL Logo Pattern in light blue PPL Logo Pattern in light blue](https://www.provlib.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/light-blue_logo_bg-landscape-27775dafefeac34d876e15077b5d92f3-5ef62ca620973.jpg)
Middle School Book Club
![IMG_20191218_160751161 IMG_20191218_160751161](https://www.provlib.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/IMG_20191218_160751161-landscape-0612865b52d498f8895f6f00a62880e8-5ef62ca620977.jpg)
Data For Good Summer Employment
![Marieme Marieme](https://www.provlib.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Marieme.jpg)
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
![Teen Squad members working in a kitchen Teen Squad members working in a kitchen](https://www.provlib.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/IMG_20170421_133437-landscape-70d389973d4aa05e753120738ef23e5a-59ee0b0b70ce7.jpg)
Spring 2017
Teens engaged in a two week hands-on culinary arts training led by professional chefs from the Genesis Center.
![Teen Squad Digital Media Playlist program participants Teen Squad Digital Media Playlist program participants](https://www.provlib.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/HosannaKLesley2-landscape-d4f7cbbb6886a360b51553aaaefbb8d9-59ee0b0b70e17.jpg)
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.
![Teen Squad On The Rhode program participants Teen Squad On The Rhode program participants](https://www.provlib.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/20161022_1128101-landscape-46285755401816d2b62d3c1e767d72d8-59ee0b0b70efc.jpg)
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.
![Teen Squad Selfie Project Teen Squad Selfie Project](https://www.provlib.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/teen-squad-selfie-landscape-93382fbfb994765da58e5e26292b13db-59ee102307954.jpg)
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.
![Teen Squad - Turbans to Tiaras photo Teen Squad - Turbans to Tiaras photo](https://www.provlib.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/IMG_4686-landscape-172ec1e87d611fb10dfebbb7689646d4-59ee102307b2e.jpg)
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.
![Teen Squad - Turbans to Tiaras photo Teen Squad - Turbans to Tiaras photo](https://www.provlib.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/IMG_4564-landscape-0d71570b61e29037c4b2794201281589-59ee102307ce6.jpg)
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.
![Teen Squad participants in the Game On! program Teen Squad participants in the Game On! program](https://www.provlib.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/20160719_143338-landscape-b6cb82203fa088d91ffcb0ef1a4cdc79-59ef7ab32e9f1.jpg)
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.
![A participant in a teen program designs a dress on a miniature dress form A participant in a teen program designs a dress on a miniature dress form](https://www.provlib.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/IMG_4448-1-landscape-f1858e7f22db8f4ece743fe78a6f926f-59ee13269f1a3.jpg)
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.
![Teen Squad - Turbans to Tiaras photo Teen Squad - Turbans to Tiaras photo](https://www.provlib.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/IMG_4677-landscape-79896f41c0f37519d1c2296035a649c5-59ee13269f3cf.jpg)
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.
![Teen Squad members look at a window display at Nordstrom Teen Squad members look at a window display at Nordstrom](https://www.provlib.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/20160509_160817-landscape-e3e569951b888463b1e184adeeccb3e4-59ef7c97263b7.jpg)
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.
![Teen Squad Music Venues Project thumb Teen Squad Music Venues Project thumb](https://www.provlib.org/wp-content/uploads/bb-plugin/cache/music_venues-landscape-05680a89a6769c484de3e00e2085c95d-59ef7c972658f.jpg)
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.