Ministries: The Matter Project
What is The Matter Project?
The Matter Project is a dynamic after-school outreach for high school students in the greater area of Centennial, Colorado. We offer structured classes and activities that youth are able to participate in at little, to no cost. The majority of our programming is geared towards the arts, however, all programming is structured to develop specific and quantifiable skills and talents as we allow our youth to develop their voice through creative application. In practice, this means that every activity demonstrates an applicable skill that can either be applied in the youth’s future educational and vocational career, or be incorporated within the realm of a healthy lifestyle.
Why an after-school program? National studies show that the peak hours for juvenile crime are between 3pm and 6pm. Also, students who participate in after-school programs are 60% more likely to graduate from high school, and are three times less likely to experiment with drugs, alcohol, and sexual activity. It is vital that youth have a positive outlet in which to spend their after-school hours productively.
Our aim is that involvement in our program would result in increased attendance at school, lower drop-out rates, and decreased experimentation with drugs and alcohol. We are here to engage the community in assisting our youth to become dynamic contributors of our society at large, while also helping to develop key skill-sets that will set them on a path to confidence and success.
The Matter Project: A Place to Grow. A Place to Matter.
Upcoming Sessions
The Matter Project, a ministry of St. Andrew, continues its mission of providing free, creative-based classes that teach our youth gainful vocational skill-sets, while also enhancing and validating the voice of every participant. In the coming months, we have four primary courses that study particular individuals who have made a name for themselves in the fields of graphic design, music production, culinary application and promotion & marketing. Each week will be spent dissecting what makes these entities successful, through both hands-on creation of similar work, while also providing each participant the opportunity to create their own work based on the tested methodologies of others.
Upcoming classes include:
- Learn How to Design like Shepard Fairey
- Learn How to Produce like Pretty Lights
- Learn How to Cook like Bobby Flay
- Learn How to Promote like Rise Records
These sessions are open to any youth 13-18. We are able to accommodate a variety of needs and experience, and even if your child has yet to delve into the arenas listed above, we'd love to have them present. We only ask that you please RSVP to nicholas@thematterproject.org, as we'll want to ensure that we have enough materials on-hand for each course.
The Matter Project strives to create an environment in which creative aptitude encourages community and future-planning on behalf of our youth.
The Matter Project 2012 Q1 Calendar