Fuego Youth Leadership Program
The Fuego Youth Leadership Program is an opportunity for high school students to deepen their technical understanding of the industrial arts and build leadership skills by supporting The Crucible’s Youth Summer Camps. Fuego Leaders progress from immersive creative classwork to the exploration of possible career opportunities in the arts.
2023 Fuego Youth Leadership Applications are now closed.
Meet Our Fuego Youth Leaders
Each year, up to ten high school students, including returning participants, are selected for our Fuego Youth Leadership Program. During the four-week program, youth are paired with a faculty mentor who helps them develop technical and artistic skills while completing a project of their own.
Fuego Youth Leaders also support instructors during summer camps, performing demonstrations and assisting youth students during class time. Fuego Youth Leaders are encouraged to return for a second consecutive summer.
Commission Our Leaders For Your Next Project
Our Fuego Leaders design, create, and fabricate community and public art—from welded bike bridges to community chicken coops. We make sure Oakland is built by Oakland.
What They Have To Say

“The Crucible has broadened my horizons. There are so many different people and when you meet people your working with them or learning from them it’s a good way to get your self out there and find new opportunities.”
– Rocky Boikanyo

“My art is a way of finding a happy place, but also to see the reality of the world and what people go through. I want my art to show things that words can’t explain.”
– Bri Medina

“At school I am rather limited in the media I can use, but at The Crucible I can expand my skills and my work. The facilities here give me an opportunity to make art I would not be able to otherwise, and that opportunity is incredibly valuable to me.”
-Rowen Sanford-Eckhaus

“Glass is a white, male dominated art. I haven’t seen myself represented in Glass Flameworking very often, so just being here and being me is important.”
– C’Zarriah Davis-Smith

“Thanks to Fuego, I really developed my leadership skills. If I ever need to take control of a situation, I can.”
– Alex Orcutt

“I am very quiet person. Teaching the classes has really helped with public speaking skills and not getting really anxious when I have speak in front of a group.”
-Sabrina Brickner