[10 Years, 10 Stories of Impact series]
image: Six Points Innovation Center (6PIC) exterior prior to renovation
Once an auto body shop, now a youth innovation center. In 2017, a storefront along a commercial boulevard in Highland Park was transformed into a space for young people to realize their potential, design their ideas, and connect with the community.
The Engagement & design
After many years of community engagement, Storefront staff and community partners helped build an implementation plan with the Highland Park Quality of Life group. One of the goals of the plan was to “Strengthen Neighborhood Youth” including the specific objectives of establishing a youth steering committee, engaging youth with service opportunities in the community, and engaging youth in academic and leadership activities.
The vision of a youth innovation center soon became a reality. With a generous investment from the Robins Foundation’s Community Innovation Grant, funding for the renovation of the Boaz & Ruth-owned building was made possible. Awarded in 2015, Storefront collaborated with community partners to create a new space that would operate at the intersection of design education and community engagement.
image: youth collaborating with volunteers and community partners to design the 6PIC space
Six Points Innovation Center, which is now well known as 6PIC, was designed by the youth for the youth in a 4,000 square foot building at 3001 Meadowbridge Road. Storefront staff, volunteers, and youth collaborated with a myriad of residents and partners in design, architecture, grassroots, and non-profit organizations to create the vision and design the space for 6PIC. Participants provided an abundance of ideas like filling the parking lot with hammocks for reading, but everyone seemed to agree on one thing: don’t build any walls here.
A video from the early project stage discusses program goals and neighborhood demographics
“It was truly a blessed experience working with the youth and other Executive Directors getting the center funded and up and running. May we continue to be a lighthouse for the youth and the Highland Park area! ”
image: (top) concept sketch of 6PIC’s space; (bottom) 6PIC exterior after building renovation
The Impact
In June 2017, Storefront opened the doors to 6PIC, the first youth innovation center in Richmond. Since then, 6PIC has provided an engaging hub, or coworking space, for community revitalization, youth activities, and non-profit collaboration and has built itself upon being flexible and evolving to meet the needs of the youth and the community. The center has served an average of 20 youth and young adults per day in scheduled youth programming provided by Storefront and partner organizations.
The space has also welcomed organizations, businesses, and city residents to host events and bring people together to incubate ideas. Since 2017, the space has served over 500 community members per year. With the increasing demand for virtual engagement, 6PIC has become a consistent and reliable physical space to gather and engage in the Highland Park neighborhood for youth with the community's support.
“By being actively engaged in youth-friendly spaces, young people can feel like they have investment in their community and they can develop a strong sense of ownership in these places.”
image: 6PIC partners and youth participants pose for a photo outside of the building
“I joined 6PIC at age 16. I learned responsibility and coping skills which helped to prepare me for the real world. It was a comfortable and safe place to go after school.”
“I joined 6PIC in 2017 and participated in almost every program. The space means a lot to me. I have been able to help build and work with my hands and that is the best way for me to learn.”
“I was in 10th grade when I came to 6PIC. I was able to build a relationship with a prominent figure in the city who inspired me to achieve my goals. I wish there were locations like this in every district.”
WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!
We can only continue because of your generous support that makes it possible for Storefront to engage youth and communities in strengthening our neighborhoods. In honor of our 10th anniversary and to ensure future funding, we are laying the foundation for the next 10 years of community impact. Money raised will be invested in a variety of ways that, taken together, are designed to increase Storefront's mission and programming that will bring positive change to Richmond communities over the next 10 years.
10 YEARS, 10 STORIES OF IMPACT
Follow Storefront for Community Design’s 10 Years, 10 Stories of Impact series to learn more about our impact over the last ten years and check out a timeline of milestones for an overview of our work.
01 | Storefront is Born
02 | Ms. Thompson’s Kitchen
03 | mOb + Storefront = ❤️
04 | Recovery by Design
05 | A Celebration of Community Design
06 | Designing an Innovation Center
07 | Building a Brave Space
08 | General Demotion / General Devotion
09 | Community Driven Design Process
10 | A Vision for the Future