Teens Building the Future Together

Who: Teens ages 13 – 18
What: FREE program for teens (plus stipend). Teens are required to APPLY to participate, in addition to registration by parents / guardians*
Application Deadline: Thursday, September 17, 2026
*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)

In Teens Building the Future Together (TBFT), a FREE two-part program, beginning in the fall of 2026, a selected group of teens will develop technical skills while building a mobile “town square”, broaden their knowledge of potential career pathways connected to engineering and sustainability, and help 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 Counselor-in-Training (CIT) opportunity in our Summer 2027 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 2026, teens will learn technical building skills as they design and construct a mobile “town square”.
• In spring 2027, 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 “town square” 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 2026 Program Dates and Details:

• Fall 2026 Program Location: The KoKo Lot (440 19th Street (between 8th Avenue and Prospect Park West) Brooklyn, NY 11215)
• Program Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays 

Program Dates for Fall 2026: 9/29, 10/1, 10/6, 10/8, 10/13, 10/15, 10/20, 10/22, 10/27, 10/29, 11/3, 11/5, 11/10, 11/12, 11/17, and 11/19 (16 sessions total)

Dismissal Timing and Details:

For Fall 2026, we will have staggered dismissal times as sunset gets earlier.

Workshop times will be:

• September – mid-October, 3:30PM – 5:30PM
• mid-October – November, 3:30PM – 5PM

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

Other details about Fall 2026:

• 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 2027 Program Dates and Details:

Spring 2027 workshop sessions will take place on Wednesdays in March 2027 and on Saturdays in May 2027. More information about timing and location of these sessions will be shared closer to Spring 2027.

Program Info:

Teens will work under the supervision of KoKo NYC Teaching Artists to design and build the mobile “town square”. Our Teaching Artists represent a variety of arts experiences and backgrounds. Teens will lead the construction of the mobile “town square” 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 “town square”. 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 “town square” 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 “town square” 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.