For Detroit high school students
Before we ask what you want to do, we ask who you are.
DCADI is a Detroit based nonprofit creative development program that helps high school students understand themselves, explore creative industries, and discover where their interests, strengths, and ways of thinking may lead.
Inaugural cohort forming now.
Why DCADI exists
Young people are asked to choose a future before they've had enough opportunity to explore one.
Too many students are expected to make decisions about college, careers, and their futures with limited exposure to the possibilities available to them, and often before they fully understand their own interests, strengths, working styles, and creative potential.
For students with creative interests, that uncertainty can be even greater. The creative world extends far beyond the careers they most often see or hear about.
DCADI creates space for students to explore first, so the decisions that come later can be more informed, intentional, and aligned.
The DCADI difference
We don't ask students to pick a path. We give them a process for discovering one.
01
Discover
Understand your interests, strengths, working style, values, and creative inclinations.
02
Explore
Experience multiple creative disciplines, roles, environments, and ways of working.
03
Align
Recognize where your strengths, interests, environment, and creative identity begin to connect.
04
Create
Put discovery into practice through hands-on projects, collaboration, and portfolio ready work.
05
Launch
Leave with greater clarity, a Creative Identity Profile, and informed next steps for continued exploration, education, or career development.
The flagship program
A structured journey from curiosity to clarity.
DCADI's 8-week flagship experience combines guided self discovery with hands on creative exploration, industry exposure, mentorship, and portfolio development giving students space to explore before deciding where they want to go next.
8 weeks
Structured creative exploration
High school students
Designed for Detroit-area youth
Hands-on labs
Explore multiple creative disciplines and ways of working
Industry exposure
Meet creative professionals and discover roles students may not know exist
Portfolio development
Create work that begins documenting skills, interests, and creative growth
Creative Identity Profile
Leave with a clearer understanding of strengths, preferences, interests, and potential next steps
Who this is for
There's a place for you in what we're building.
Students & families
For Detroit area high school students ready to explore their creativity, understand themselves more deeply, and discover possibilities they may not have considered.
Explore for students & familiesSchools & educators
Bring DCADI's creative identity and career exploration experience to your students through school and educational partnerships.
Partner with DCADICreative professionals
Share your experience, perspective, and industry knowledge as a mentor, guest speaker, facilitator, or creative collaborator.
Get involvedDonors & partners
Help expand access to creative exploration, mentorship, materials, and opportunities for Detroit youth.
Support DCADIBuilding our first cohort
DCADI is preparing for its inaugural program year.
We are currently welcoming interest from students, families, schools, creative professionals, and community partners who want to be part of DCADI's inaugural program year.