The College Fellows Program
We welcome our new cohort of paid alumni at Urban Arts. Our free College Access Program has piloted the College Fellows Program, pairing new high school seniors with a trained college mentor among Urban Arts alumni. These Fellows guide Game Academy seniors with step-by-step assistance with applications, essays, financial aid, and more, keeping them on track and motivated in the overwhelming college application season. College Fellows join the Alumni Teaching Assistants programâtwo options for alumni to give back, offer near-peer expertise, and get paid while going to college.
College Access Field Trips! Joelle Blackstock, our Director of Post Secondary Success, has planned exclusive college visits for our seniors, including visiting the campuses of Columbia University, CCNY, NYU and virtually visiting Rochester Institute of Technology. The field trips are free.
Weâre committed to earning $100M in college scholarships by 2030. Support us here!
Weâre committed to launching 100 Seniors this June. Follow along @urbanartsorg
When an Intimidating Goal Transforms
By Philip Courtney, CEO, Urban Arts
In 2015, I joined YPOâthe worldâs largest leadership community of chief executives, with 38,000 members worldwide. As the head of a nonprofit, I often felt out of place. The conversations and challenges of the for-profit world seemed so different from those in mine, and I began to wonder if YPO was truly the right fit for me.
Two years ago, during a forum meeting, I shared that while Urban Arts was performing well, it felt stagnant. We were looking at another year of incremental growthâsteady but uninspired. One of my forum mates challenged me to think differently: What would it look like to 3X your business in three years?
At first, the idea felt impossible. Tripling revenue in a nonprofit setting seemed wildly unrealistic. But as I dug into the concept, I realized 3X didnât have to mean dollarsâit could mean impact. The question became: what would it look like to 3X the number of students graduating from our Game Academy each year? Not just students served, but students who completed the program and earned college scholarships.
That shift in mindset changed everything. What started as an intimidating goal unleashed new creativity and strategic focus across our team. In Year 1, our graduates earned $8 million in college scholarships. In Year 2, that number jumped to $21 million. And now, in Year 3, with three times as many seniors on track to graduate, weâre poised to reach even greater heights. A big thanks to the Urban Arts team for making this happen.
What Iâve learned through YPOâand through this 3X journeyâis that the greatest growth doesnât happen when you chase whatâs realistic. It happens when you dare to imagine whatâs possible. Follow Philip here.
Upcoming
Inspiring Future Innovators Summit at Epic Universe đ˘ in Orlando âď¸ is a three-day summit filled with fun, learning, networking, and growing. Our students will participate in an all-expenses paid challenge using Epic Universe as a research lab.
The 2nd Annual Minecraft âď¸ Build Challenge with Urban Arts and Booz Allen!
Teacher PD: The City College School of Education, in collaboration with Urban Arts, the NYCPS Division of Information and Instructional Technology, and the Harlem Gallery of Science is offering free PD where teachers explore how games, game creation, and gamification can transform classroom learningâboosting student academic performance, engagement, and attendance. November 4th! Interested in joining? Tap here!
An exclusive webinar about Interning at Nintendo of America Webinar, hosted by Lidia Hernandez, Senior Recruiter at Nintendo of America, to explain their internship program and how students can best apply.
Urban Arts Opens a Google-Powered Studio Space, Designed by Award-Winning Producer IMAKEMADBEATS. This new sound booth offers mentorship, professional training, and creative opportunities for our students! Stay tuned for the big reveal.
SAVE THE DATE Color Ball April 30, 2026 #IYKYK
