New Kids on the Block
The 10,000-square-foot Youth City Lab will house FYB’s bike repair and skill-building shop, Big Buddy’s workforce readiness classes and mentoring meet-ups, performance and event space for Humanities Amped spoken word open mic nights and a mock barber shop/salon where kids can try their hands at barbering under the direction of Line4Line founder O’Neil Curtis. And that, say the founders, is just the beginning.
Humanities Amped Prepares for Mid City Expansion
Humanities Amped made local news in late 2020 as one of four nonprofits that will take over the former Sarkis Rug Store on Government Street to create the new Youth City Lab facility. Along with Front Yard Bikes, Big Buddy and Line 4 Line, Humanities Amped will transform the iconic Mid City building into a one-stop-shop for youth to build their confidence and skills.
Over its seven-year history, Humanities Amped expanded from McKinley to work in five schools.
Volunteers collaborate to create Youth City Lab
As community leaders looked at a former church-turned-rug store on Government and Wiltz, they saw promise of a center where children in Baton Rouge's mid-city area would be able to safely learn and play.
YCL opens for White Light Night
A former church in Baton Rouge that was renovated and redesigned to serve as a home away from home for young people in the capital area is opening its doors to the public Friday.