Do you love Film? Photography? Animation?
Ever dream of directing your own movies or being on TV?
At Youth Beat you can learn digital skills from industry professionals and work with other creative YOUTH to make awesome media—for free & year round!
2026/2027 AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING
paid, project-based, accredited courses in film and animation.
This upcoming 2026 school year we will continue to offer you a dynamic learning experience in the media arts while forming community, making friends and having fun. We follow the OUSD school calendar and are now accepting applications for year round after school FREE & PAID programming. Students earn 5 OUSD Elective Credits Per Semester including during our summer program.
The programs are based at KDOL-TV (286 East 10th Street in Oakland), next to MetWest High School.
We Provide stipends, Bus Passes & Snacks!
Future Filmmakers I
TUES/THURS 4:30-6:30PM, Starts Sept 1st 2026
stipend: $250 per semester based on attendance
Learn the fundamentals of video production while becoming a part of a vibrant supportive community of other young filmmakers from Oakland. The class lasts for the full school year and by the end of it you will walk away with a portfolio of work you can use towards a future career, internships and college applications. By participating in Future Filmmakers you are eligible to apply for the Youth Beat Advanced Program. Provides 5 art or elective credits through the Oakland Unified School District per semester.
Future Filmmakers II
TUES/THURS 4:30-6:30PM, Starts Sept 1st 2026
stipend: $500 per semester based on attendance
For this program we are currently accepting applications from students with previous experience in filmmaking and video production and who can submit examples of media already created.
Provides 5 art or elective credits through the Oakland Unified School District per semester.
After Effect & Some Motion Graphics
MON/WED 4:30-6:30PM / Starts Sept.2nd 2026
stipend: $500 per semester based on attendance
For this program we are currently accepting applications from students with previous experience in animation and who can submit examples of media already created or second year students who’ve participated in Animators 1.
Provides 5 art or elective credits through the Oakland Unified School District per semester.
Animators I
MON/WED 4:30-6:30PM / Starts Sept.2nd 2026
stipend: $250 per semester based on attendance
This course covers the fundamentals of stop motion and computer animation. This class lasts for the full school year, or can be taken as a single semester. Once enrolled you will receive a tablet and computer to work with. This will enable you to dive deeper into learning software such as Adobe Photoshop and Adobe After Effects.
Provides 5 art or elective credits through the Oakland Unified School District per semester.
Future Filmmakers II & After Effects applicants must have been with YouthBeat for one year of programming or have 1-2 years experience in an OUSD Media Pathway.
Video Producer Pre-Apprenticeship 2026/27
Prerequisite: Must be a rising 11th or 12th grader, 2.0 GPA, interested in getting a media job after graduation and must commit to the entire 6 month program. The KDOL Cohort will include the most advanced Video or Animation students from throughout the OUSD with priotiy given to current or former YouthBeat students.
TIME: 2x/week (6-8+ hours/week); YouthBeat / KDOL Cohort Schedule TBD
ORIENTATION: September 18, 2026 - all participants must attend
DATES: September 28 2026-March 24 2027 (6 months)
PAY: $6000 stipend total
YouthBeat invites OUSD students interested in media + getting a media job after graduation to apply to the Pre-Apprenticeship Program. We will take on a cohort of 30 youth across 5 different OUSD sites to prepare for careers in digital communications while creating content geared towards increasing student engagement, attendance and enrollment for their school. All five cohorts will come together for a Capstone project at KDOL to produce a Live Broadcast Show!
This Pre-Apprentice program will prepare students for careers in: Multimedia Production, A/V Technician, and Motion Graphics /Animation.
What the program offers:
Paid work experience, developing job-ready skills
Portfolio and body of work
Industry connections and apprenticeship opportunities
Summer 2026
no longer accepting applications - to join the waitlist please email academy@youthbeat.org
Spend your summer creating short films, learning animation, making friends from throughout OUsd and having fun!
june 15th - july 23rd, Monday - thursdays 12-5pm (No Program on Juneteenth & July 4th)
We are very excited to flex our creative muscles with you this summer. We remain dedicated to continuing our dynamic programming. Designed to keep you engaged and expressing yourself through media arts while forming community, making friends and having fun.
Our FREE & PAID Summer Intensives take place over six weeks and culminates in a community celebration and screening. We have six focused cohorts running simultaneously; Future Filmmakers 1 & 2, Animators 1 & 2, YB CAB & YB Next Alumni Internship. Participants choose their cohort based on their personal interest and level of experience.
We are an OUSD ECCCO Internship Site - $1000 Stipend
We are proud to partner with the OUSD’s Exploring, College, Career, and Community Options Program (ECCCO) as a 2023 Award Winning Internship Host Site. Any OUSD student coming from a participating school can earn a $1000 Stipend. In order to qualify for the $1000 stipend you will have to go through the necessary application steps. APPLICATIONS DUE: April 16th, 2026
Attend an information seminar at your school.
Apply for the Internship through the GroupTrail Common App. You will receive a link to this after you attend the information seminar.
Respond to all emails and attend a zoom interview with a representative from YouthBeat.
If you are selected you will be informed by April 18th through email and GroupTrail.
Agree to attend all summer sessions including the additional Friday Seminar hosted by your Linked Learning Advisor, fill out necessary paperwork, and respond yes to acceptance!
Join us for an awesome summer internship!!!
Youth Beat Student Advisory Council 2026
application will open in august 2026
If you are a current student or Teaching Assistant with Youth Beat you are invited to apply to join our Student Advisory Council. This council is a body of current YB students and recent alumni leaders who help shape the course of Youth Beat culture, programming, events, outreach & recruitment, educational equity, events and more. Our objective is to create a space where students, alumni and mentors can keep in touch, collaborate and have a voice in Youth Beat’s mission. Stipend available.
Youth Beat School Site Programs
We are proud to partner with the following schools to offer a wide array of media arts programming taught by industry professionals trained in creating SEL environments. Our programming includes Dual Enrollment Video Production Courses, Photography, Animation, Digital Media, Photography, Podcasting and more. Interested in bringing Youth Beat to your school? Email sagesse@youthbeat.org! Check out our Classroom Stories HERE!
