ABOUT DARK STAR UNIVERSE
Dark Star Universe is an independent arts and media organization with a focus on education through science-fiction/Afrofuturism that promotes community building, nation-building and creating narratives of black self-determination for youth.
Our vision: Young people will experience narratives which reflect the importance of community power, organization, and identity through the arts. Our goal: To nurture imagination and instill a life of creativity among young people. What we do: We encourage young people to use their imagination through finding ways to upcycle e-waste and other discarded materials into amazing works of art. We create stop-motion animated short films promoting the power story telling. We host workshops for youth to learn how to build dioramas from upcycled materials and enlighten young people about different African architectural aesthetics in a fun creative format. Why it matters: When young people are immersed in creative activities, the results are profound. Students improve skills in critical-thinking, problem-solving, collaboration and communication. They develop a great deal of confidence and self-esteem from the experience of accomplishing a project and being able to talk about their process with their peers. Finally, as recent studies have shown, integrating arts into core curriculum areas not only encourages engagement in subject matter but also can be linked to overall student achievement. |