Youth Empowerment Through Education

Start to Finish: The Design School at PUP

At People for Urban Progress (PUP), we believe in the power of young people to shape a better, more sustainable future. That’s why we created Start to Finish: The Design School at PUP, a hands-on learning initiative designed to support, inspire, and empower the next generation of changemakers.

Our commitment to youth development is deeply intertwined with our environmental mission. Through immersive, project-based programs, we provide teens in Indianapolis with creative and practical learning experiences that prepare them for success in school, in their careers, and in life.

Students who participate in our programs gain:

• Real-World STEAM Skills
  Training in science, technology, engineering, art, and math through hands-on design and fabrication projects.

• Design Thinking & Product Creation
  Exposure to the full creative process—from ideation to prototyping to final product—using sustainable and repurposed materials.

• Social-Emotional Learning & Leadership Development
  Activities and mentorship that build confidence, communication, teamwork, and resilience.

• Environmental Awareness & Action
  Opportunities to work on real sustainability challenges that impact their communities and the planet.

Through initiatives like the TeenWorks Summer Skills Training Camp and our partnership with the Christel DeHaan School West, we provide the tools, space, and support that young people need to become creative problem solvers, thoughtful leaders, and lifelong changemakers.

This is more than just skill-building—it’s a movement to cultivate empowered, curious, and compassionate youth who are ready to design a better world from start to finish.