The Adler Youth Group


The Stella Adler Youth Group is a free after-school program that serves low-income NYC teens who do not have arts access. The program's goal is to empower young people through craft. Outreach is completely free of charge to students.

Prospective students must complete an application and interview. Students receive 108 classroom contact hours, meeting twice a week, 4 hours per week. This is a one-year program with an optional second year. Since 2004 Outreach has served over 2000 kids from all five boroughs, 200 of those via Adler Youth.

Every semester ends with performances through which student growth is evaluated. All performances are followed by audience Q&A sessions designed to empower students. Carlos Caldart, Director of Outreach, is the primary instructor.

The Center for Arts Education reports a correlation between the percentage of students receiving free lunch (the level of student poverty) and lack of arts participation and instruction, with the most severe lack of access being in theater programming. In 2009-2010, 95% of the population served via the Adler Youth Group lived near or under the poverty level ($22,050/year for a family of four). The Outreach Division's Adler Youth Group addresses this injustice and makes it possible for students to have access to high quality arts training that should be a central part of every citizen's education.


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