Written by Juan Davila
Throughout the school year, GMCC provides after school programs to students at Anderson United Middle School. In each after school class, we work with 8-15 youth and provide them with quality programming in a range of topics that students show interest in. Our after school programs involve STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, & Math) related subjects. Students learn about technology by creating digital art, focus on wellbeing by taking bike rides through Minneapolis, connect with nature by gardening, and learn about local culture through field trips.
Minnesota weather can be unpredictable, but even in the winter, GMCC staff walk students from Andersen United to GMCC and back. We make sure youth bundle up with jackets, mittens, and hats before they walk outside (and even provide free winter gear for those who forget their own). We ensure youth feel welcome in our space by building relationships with them, remembering their individual interests, providing snack every class, and playing games as a group.
Art & Jams
Art & Jams was our Monday afterschool class for Spring 2025, led by Youth Program Manager Deeq Abdi and Youth Guide Juan Davila. It allowed students to listen to music while they created art inspired by what they heard. We explored different styles of music, including hip-hop, rock, motown, and music from Africa and Latin America.
“I like to listen to new music. This class is exposing me to music I otherwise would never have listened to.”
Art & Jams students painting and illustrating
Art & Jams has been a place where students can explore different art mediums, such as painting, drawing, perler beads, and clay. With facilitator guidance, students are encouraged to add to their art portfolios while also sharing and discussing their art with the group. Students are also encouraged to share their own favorite music with teachers and the class.
“I like Art & Jams because it allows me to practice my art skills.”
Students creating art while youth guide Juan DJs
Media Makers
Media Makers was our Wednesday after school class, led by Program & Communications Coordinator Len Sanqui and Guide Juan. Students shared their favorite media while exploring different kinds of multimedia art. Students have learned about 2D animation, digital illustration, graphic design, photography, game design, and webcomics. GMCC provided Wacom drawing tablets for each student to use.
Photography by Media Makers Students; portrait of teacher Len Sanqui (right)
“This class is so much fun. I get to use technology and work on things I enjoy.”
At the beginning of each class, we did “Media Show & Tell” where students & staff shared about the media they have been enjoying lately, including video games, shows, books, and online animations. Students bonded over their love for the same media such as Gravity Falls and Minecraft. The curriculum for every class was based on the preferences of the enrolled students. They were given multiple opportunities to provide feedback on topics and activities and choose between different options for creating, including surveys at the beginning and end of the class.
Collages students made on Canva depicting their favorite media & inspirations
Art on Wheels
Art on Wheels was a Thursday after school class led by Deeq & Juan, where students got to bike to different places, including museums, art galleries, and local businesses, to look at and appreciate art. The bicycles were provided by Stewart Park and the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board. Students practiced their cycling skills on Stewart Park grounds, before putting them to use on the Midtown Greenway Path and City of Minneapolis bicycle lanes. The group has biked to the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Lake Bde Maka Ska, and the All My Relations art gallery located in E Franklin.
Students biking and stopping to look at local murals
“I like this class. I get a chance to go to parks and museums I have never been to.”
When we couldn’t bike due to harsh weather conditions, we used a van provided by Deidre from the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to travel to our destination. We visited the House of Balls art gallery in South Minneapolis, got a tour from Artis’ studio Allan Christian, and also visited the Russian Museum of Arts & the Seward Community Co-Op during our program.
Art Around the Neighborhood
Art Around the Neighborhood was a Thursday after school class led by Deeq, Juan, and Deirdre, where students traveled to nearby destinations to draw scenery, nature, and art. We visited the Walker Art Center and made sketches inspired by different pieces in the galleries. Students also got to create mosaics at Semilla Center for Healing and the Arts.
Students making mosaics at Semilla Center
“I enjoyed making mosaics. It was a process that was tough at first but could be finished with the help of Juan, Deeq, Deidra, and Heather.”
Garden Club
Garden Club was our final Thursday after school class for the Spring 2025 semester. Led by Deeq & Juan, students started the class learning about the basics of plants, seeds, and repotting. They repotted strawberry and mint plants that they got to take home. On sunny days, they were able to walk 15 minutes to the Urban Ventures community farm to get some real world gardening experience. The farm even had live chickens they could play with, feed, and gather fresh eggs from to eat at home.
Garden Club students repotting and watering squash, beans, and corn with Program Manager Deeq
“I like gardening club because it reminds me of the work that goes into the food we eat everyday.”
On the Urban Ventures farm, they practiced tilling and fertilizing soil, digging holes, planting seeds, and watering. They planted squash, beans, and corn together (traditionally called The Three Sisters by Native Americans), and learned about the symbiotic relationship between the three plants: the corn providing a trellis for the beans to climb, beans providing nitrogen for the soil, and the leaves of the squash conserving moisture and suppressing weeds. They took extra plants to tend to at home, but GMCC staff will keep tending to the crops until they are ready for harvest after the summer.
Students on the Urban Ventures farm feeding the chickens and posing with Juan
Thank you to all our wonderful students, as well as Andersen United Middle School, Minneapolis Public Schools, the Beacons Program, Stewart Park, the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, Urban Ventures, and all the other organizations we were able to visit or partner with! We had a great school year and are excited to start again in the fall!
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