Teens Building the Future Together

Who: Teens ages 13 – 17
What: FREE program for teens (plus stipend compensation). Teens are required to APPLY to participate, in addition to registration by parents / guardians*
Application Deadline: Thursday, September 18, 2025
*Registration instructions will be sent via email to parents / guardians of teens accepted into the Program
When: Various (see below for more info)
Where: Various (see below for more info)

Apply for KoKo NYC’s TBFT Program (2025 – 2026)

In Teens Building the Future Together (TBFT), a FREE two-part program, beginning in the fall of 2025, a selected group of teens will develop technical skills while building a mobile classroom, broaden their knowledge of potential career pathways connected to engineering and sustainability, and help to teach other kids how to build through free teen-led building workshops in their own neighborhoods. 

This program will also prepare participants to be a part of the paid Counselor-in-Training (CIT) opportunity in our Summer 2026 workshops for kids at the KoKo Lot.

Through TBFT, teens will build their skills, learn about a variety of career paths, and gain the opportunity for paid training in the future through a two-part program:

  • In the fall of 2025, teens will learn technical building skills as they build a mobile classroom.
  • In spring 2026, participants will learn about different careers and build skills by participating in 4 career exploration workshops with industry experts. They will also lead 4 weekend workshops with the mobile classroom in their community.
  • Teens will receive a stipend for their participation in the fall ($200) and spring ($150) seasons. The following summer, all teens who successfully complete the TBFT program will be eligible to participate in KoKo NYC’s existing CIT program at the KoKo Lot.

Teens are REQUIRED to participate in all sessions during both seasons! (Minimum 80% attendance expected.)

Registration priority will be offered to participants from:

  • Park Slope Collegiate (Middle or High School)
  • John Jay School for Law
  • MS 88
  • City-As-School
  • Sunset Park High School
  • other teens with demonstrated economic need

This program is generously funded by The Pinkerton Foundation.

Fall 2025 Program Dates and Details:

  • Fall 2025 Program Location: The KoKo Lot (440 19th Street (between 8th Avenue and Prospect Park West) Brooklyn, NY 11215)
  • Program Days: Wednesdays and Thursdays 

Program Dates for Fall 2025: 9/25, 10/1, 10/8, 10/9, 10/15, 10/16, 10/22, 10/23, 10/29, 10/30, 11/5, 11/6, 11/12, 11/13, 11/19, and 11/20 (16 sessions total)

NO Workshops on: 9/24 or 10/2

Teens participating in TBFT will be allowed to self-dismiss at the end of each workshop session.

Other details about Fall 2025:

  • This program takes place at the KoKo NYC Lot located at 440 19th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215, between 8th Ave and Prospect Park West
  • The program will take place fully outdoors
  • There is a port-a-potty onsite for bathroom use
  • Teens will use handsaws, battery-operated drills, and other tools in this program

Spring 2026 Program Dates and Details:

Career Exploration Workshops:

  • Wednesday, March 4, 4 – 5:30PM
  • Wednesday, March 11, 4 – 5:30PM
  • Wednesday, March 18, 4 – 5:30PM
  • Wednesday, March 25, 4 – 5:30PM
  • Locations: To be announced

Teens will lead community workshops with the mobile classroom on Saturdays (2 – 4PM) in May 2026 (Locations to be determined).

Community Workshops:

  • Saturday, May 2, 2 – 4PM
  • Saturday, May 9, 2 – 4PM
  • Saturday, May 16, 2 – 4PM
  • Saturday, May 30, 2 – 4PM
  • Note: There will not be a community workshop on Saturday, May 23.

Program Info:

Teens will work under the supervision of KoKo NYC Teaching Artists to design and build the mobile classroom. Our Teaching Artists represent a variety of arts experiences and backgrounds. Teens will lead the construction of the mobile classroom while getting a front row seat to learning how our Teaching Artists guide, support, and work with kids. 

The fall season will focus on designing and building the mobile classroom. Each week we will tackle a new element. Throughout, teens will be asked to consider architectural design and engineering questions, adjusting with each building challenge encountered. After the mobile classroom is built, we will move on to painting and adding fun features.

In the spring season, we will bring in special guests to discuss careers that benefit from the skills being taught by KoKo NYC, which may include: architecture, engineering, sanitation and recycling, or renewable energy. From construction workers to architects, the participants will learn how all professions can benefit from a skill set that prioritizes critical thinking, perseverance, collaboration, and confidence.

On Saturdays in the spring season, we will bring the completed mobile classroom to the communities that teens live in to provide free workshops for families led by the teens themselves, with support from KoKo NYC Teaching Artists.

Questions? Please ask.