Today’s Teens; Tomorrow’s Leaders
Scroll through this page to see creative work from teens, hear their stories, and read about opportunities helping shape our youth into tomorrow’s leaders.
8th Annual Teen Winter Challenge
Every Winter, Chicago Public Library’s Teen Services Department hosts the Teen Winter Challenge, an art competition open to all teens between the ages of 13-18 living in the city of Chicago. This past Winter’s competition, 82 teen artists submitted their work from 56 different neighborhoods across the city.
Take a look at some of the work from our future generation of artists and see the full catalog of artwork here.
Next Generation of Podcasters
Chicago’s teens are making their voices heard. Listen to the latest teen beats and insightful podcasts about immigration, green energy, and youth organizing on SoundCloud.
Stories from Chicago’s Youth
With CPL’s robust programming and internship opportunities, teens are introduced to various career pathways from fashion to gaming to construction and trades. Read stories from the branches and hear firsthand from teens how CPL exposes them to new interests, careers, and hobbies.
Meet Glenn, a Gamers Universe Intern
Career Days for Teens at CPL
Pride at the Library: Queer Radical Fair
Build Our Teens’ Momentum
Across 29 teens-only spaces and online platforms, YOUmedia has offered nearly 4,000 teens opportunities to get creative, connect with peers, and build leadership skills.