Collaboration Spotlight

Just A Start, The Loop Lab, and The Huntington
One of CNC’s goals is to encourage collaboration in the local nonprofit sector. We are excited to highlight a recent collaboration between Just A Start and The Loop Lab, both Cambridge nonprofit organizations; and The Huntington in Boston. Chris Hope, Executive Director of the Loop Lab and Nate Bae Kupel, Managing Director of Youth Programs, YouthBuild at Just A Start, spoke with us about this partnership, which started late last year.

The Project
The goal is to create a scalable AV training curriculum that includes certifications, hands-on training, and exploration of career pathways in the AV field, particularly in live theater and related sectors. YouthBuild alumni will pilot the program with the aim to eventually secure a larger implementation grant to expand it. The project will include a needs assessment to understand industry requirements. They will gather input from industry experts to ensure the pilot curriculum aligns with the job market.
 
Value of the Partnership
Chris notes that the collaboration is a great trifecta, working together to meet both organizational and industry needs. Youth Build has the infrastructure and the support system to train young people as well as a pipeline for trained AV workers and support, and was seeking a way to expand their footprint into teaching audio-video technology. The Loop Lab is already involved in such work, providing that expertise to Youth Build while it makes use of YouthBuilds’ infrastructure. The Huntington theater can provide hands-on training, particularly in sound work, while also benefiting from the access to trained AV workers, and the possibility of restarting their internship program.

How did this idea come about?
Nate Bae Kupel, of Just a Start YouthBuild credits Chris Hope with identifying Liberty Mutual’s grant opportunity which funds multiple nonprofits to collaborate and develop programs and services that they couldn't do individually, as well as the Huntington theater as a potential partner. Nate shared that YouthBuild had previously experienced challenges in transitioning graduates easily to career roles, and this project offers a scalable alternative career path for youths.

The Loop Lab
Chris Hope, explained that the Loop Lab is guided by its mission to train, mentor, and coach young adults from historically marginalized communities in the media arts industry. They also focus on individuals with disabilities, providing free training, and ultimately job opportunities within the media industry. Currently, the Loop Lab runs a one-year media apprenticeship program. This new collaboration with the Huntington Theater, and Youth Build, which is funded by Liberty Mutual supports its mission to address the underrepresentation of Black and Brown people and women in the audio-video industry.

Just A Start YouthBuild
Nate Bae Kupel, explained that Just A Start’s YouthBuild program serves 16-24-year-olds, many of whom face challenges including not completing high school. The program provides educational and leadership training and workforce development for these young people. High school equivalency preparation, and career development focused on construction and retail entrepreneurship are key parts of their existing programs. In the past, YouthBuild participants had been introduced to the Loop Lab’s media apprenticeship program as a career pathway to music, recording, and media work. That relationship forged the path for the current AV collaboration.

The Huntington
Marisa Jones, Associate Director of Education & Practical Learning, explained that the Huntington Theater runs nationally renowned programs in education and new play development and serves the Boston local theatre community. It also runs the Huntington Academy, which offers classes and programs for all ages. The theater previously had a robust apprentice program which ended due to lack of funding. This collaboration will allow them to combine their expertise in theatrical sound operation with their partners’ comprehensive programming serving local youth and their families. The Huntington will benefit from recruitment programs the other partners have in place, and plan to leverage the collaboration to begin to re-launch the Huntington apprentice program.