4C LAB is a 501(c)3 arts organization based in Los Angeles, California, that provides arts immersion programming led by professional teaching artists and centered around the four C’s: CREATE, COMMUNICATE, COLLABORATE, and COMMUNITY.
OUR MISSION
Our roster of Teaching Artists reflects the diverse spectrum of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. A team that can relate to the life experiences of the communities we serve allows for trust-building, deeper understanding, and a connection to the youth in our programs that supports authentic storytelling and uplifts our communities.
The 4C LAB pedagogy always starts with story, facilitating a safe space for our youth to process their experiences through creative and artistic practice and connect those experiences to the larger movement for social change. Research shows that creative youth development programs are most effective when they center the lives of young people within a curriculum that promotes healing, social-emotional wellness, and opportunities for community advocacy. Our programs have been proven to improve participants’ positive mental health, self-confidence, and social thriving, and to connect them to career paths in the creative economy.
4C LAB programs initiate dialogue and bring awareness and attention to social issues that promote critical thinking to address structural and systemic injustices, and provide a platform for young people to be the leaders not just of tomorrow, but of today.
OUR STORY
In Marissa's experience working with high school and early college-aged youth, she observed that many students were starting to find their voice through the arts in high school or early college, just as many of them were aging out of no-cost public arts programming. She saw a need for more arts programming for teens and young people.
Marissa's vision and passion for creating original multi-disciplinary work seeks to amplify personal and social issues through the lens of young people in our communities to inspire necessary dialogue as a way to move the needle towards social justice.
The work of 4C LAB isn't just "art for art's sake." We strive to give our young creative visionaries and emerging community leaders the safe space to share their stories through the arts. We provide tools for self-care, mental health, mentorship, and support to thrive in their emerging creative careers. Ultimately, creating a sense of "family" is at the heart and soul of everything we do.