Crenshaw Middle School 7th and 8th graders examining 3D renderings of downtown Canton with Stark Library staff.

Crenshaw Middle Schoolers Collaborate with Stark Library Re|imagine

Stark Library’s Re|imagine 2.0 project envisions a new Main Library in downtown Canton, serving as a center for learning and knowledge, and a “third space” where people gather to relax, imaginations soar, and creativity grows.

Learning, imagination, and creativity are the sparks, fuel, and engine that power middle schoolers, so we partnered our Crenshaw Middle Schoolers in Creator Club with Stark Library to bring youth voice to their research and planning process.

Over 8 weeks, Crenshaw Middle Schoolers provided feedback, generated ideas, and pitched plans for how to make spaces in the new library a vibrant, welcoming hub that serves the entire community.

What is Creator Club?

TomTod’s Creator Club connects the imagination of middle schoolers with real opportunities to contribute to local organizations during their after-school or out-of-school time programs. Middle schoolers want to explore outside the classroom, create with their hands, and have their voices heard. During Creator Club, middle schoolers not only draw, build, and imagine through hands-on challenges but also have the opportunity to serve their community with their ideas, perspectives, and creations.

 

 

 

 

 

Crenshaw Middle Schoolers building Lego prototypes of their library design ideas

Activating Youth Voice in Research

What would it look like if we involved middle schoolers in community development and research? We think it would look like a thriving community! Because we believe middle schoolers’ voices bring value to community conversations today, not just some distant day in the future.

Youth Participatory Action Research is an innovative approach for promoting positive community change and youth development. Using principles from this approach, through an 8-week collaboration, Crenshaw students were introduced to library operations and an overview of the Re|imagine 2.0 project taking place from 2024-2028. 

Over those 8 weeks, middle schoolers provided feedback, generated ideas, and pitched plans for how to make spaces in the new library a vibrant, welcoming hub that serves the entire community.

Some of the questions they explored included:

  • How can we…
    • explore the current library’s services and buildings?
    • create a draft design for a new library tech and maker space?
    • create a draft design for a teen space that kids want to visit and has resources kids need?
    • draft designs for a usable and inviting outdoor space?

 

LEARN MORE ABOUT RE|IMAGINE 2.0

 

Presenting Their Ideas

During their 8-week exploration with the Stark Library team, students had the opportunity to sit down and jot down the best ideas that came to mind, filling their notebooks with innovative concepts, inspiring thoughts, and creative solutions.

Some of their favorite ideas were:

  • Immersively themed rooms for different genres
  • New and improved maker space
  • Gaming room for video game tournaments, VR experiences, board games, and card games

The students put together an idea book (check it out below!) that is being used by library leadership and HBM architects for planning the new Main Library campus.

 

 

 

 

Stark Library Idea Book by Zane Sanders

Partner with TomTod

Are you inspired by these middle schoolers?

Do you want to partner with a group of middle schoolers making real community change?

Whether you run a business, volunteer on a board, or just enjoy living and working in the community, your perspective is valuable to middle schoolers like these.

​Fill out the survey below to let us know what community you’d like to be involved in, your availability, and contact info. We’ll be in touch about future opportunities to answer any questions and tell you exactly what to expect!

 

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