Meet the creative minds behind some wildly inventive custom Converse designs — from painterly flora and fauna illustrations to all-seeing eyes looking towards an unknown future. Over the past two weeks, 32 ninth- to eleventh-grade students have worked with Converse volunteer mentors to design and create a pair of Chuck Taylor All Stars and t-shirts at The Possible Zone (TPZ), a Boston-based organization providing engaging, hands-on, and tuition-free entrepreneurship and experiential learning programs that prepare high-school students from under-resourced communities for life-long learning and careers. Now in its third year, the Converse 101 Deep Dive is part of TPZ’s broader Deep Dives program offering, which equips students with transferable skills and gives them a taste of Boston’s creative industry. Specifically, Converse mentors guide the student cohorts in bringing their unique inspirations to life, helping them navigate group collaboration and build professional skills. Converse Lead Color & Product Designer Kyle B. Hart, who has served as a design mentor for three years, says that seeing the kids show off their work at the end of the program keeps him coming back. “They're super hyped on it,” he says, “which makes me feel really thankful to be a part of the program. It helps me give back in a meaningful way. And my life is drastically improved when I'm of service to others. If we all just do our part, if we all just do a little bit, the lift becomes so much lighter.” But can a two-week program really move the needle? Absolutely, says Janet Hollingsworth, VP of STEAM and Innovation at TPZ. “Our young people to this day still talk about the folks that were in the very first Converse workshop. The students still remember their names; they still remember what they did; they still proudly wear their t-shirts and their sneakers. That shows that this has a lasting impact in our students’ lives. Even three or four years after the very first engagement, we are still seeing that connection, as strong as ever.”
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