The Point CDC expands free after‑school arts programs for Bronx youth

Amanda Barreto, arts and education coordinator at The Point Community Development Corporation, told BronxNet that The Point’s free after‑school programs give local young people hands‑on arts and civic training. “We do offer after school programming,” Barreto said, and she described classes in photography, screen printing, visual arts, circus arts and community organizing.

Barreto said some classes run in the late afternoon and serve a broad age range. She described the photography program — developed with the International Center of Photography — as available to preteens and teens and said screen printing classes let students design and print shirts or tote bags that tie into community events.

The Point also runs Civic Theatre in partnership with Open Hydrant, Barreto said, where teens improvise and debate contemporary issues such as artificial‑intelligence tools and students’ classroom phone use to practice public speaking in a moderated setting. Barreto framed the program as a space for young people to explore topics that matter to them and to build presentation skills.

On the social‑service side, Barreto outlined Minds Empowered (an arts‑based mental health program) and Action (a youth activism program), saying students create banners and campaigns about neighborhood issues including clean‑air and local infrastructure. She emphasized accessibility: program registration is free, in person or via QR code at The Point’s Hunts Point location.

Why it matters: Barreto said the mix of creative skills and civic practice aims to help participants “build what you wanna be in future self,” offering both artistic training and community organizing experience for youth in the South Bronx.

Practical details: Barreto and host Rena Valente advised listeners to visit thepoint.org or follow The Point CDC on Instagram for schedules, and to come by the Hunts Point space for registration help.