Projects

Community Engagement

Career Fair

Programs

Territory offers programs for youths from 14–24. These are opportunities for youths to make a difference in their neighborhoods through hands-on urban design projects. Youths have the opportunity to learn and practice design through discussion, drawing, and prototyping. In the process, youth to grow their skills in collaboration, communication, empathy, and creativity.

Territory Urban Design Team

TUDT is an intro program for high school students interested in gaining new skills doing urban design, public art and community engaged planning projects. TUDT teaches the principles of design and collaboration through small hands on projects.

Age:

Pay:

Session:

Requirements:

14–16

After School Matters Stipend

Fall, Spring, and Summer

Territory Application and After School Matters Application

Territory Advanced Design Studio (TADS)

TADS is for young people ages 16-18 who have design or community experience through Territory or other programs. TADS participants are planning and building Territory projects and taking leadership roles in their community.

Age:

Pay:

Session:

Requirements:

16–18

After School Matters Stipend (Fall, Spring), Hourly Wage (Summer)

Fall, Spring, and Summer

Territory Application and After School Matters Application

Territory Internship for Design Equity

TIDE is the program for youths who are in their first few years after graduating. It is ideal for students interested in design fields like architecture, planning, and other related fields to Territory projects. TIDE provides opportunities for mentorship and networking with career professionals by providing a survey internship of Territory design partner firms and associates and a built in design development and proposal process.

Age:

Pay:

Session:

Requirements:

18–24

Hourly Wage

Summer

Territory Application and Youth Outreach Service Applicaiton

Stewardship

This program supports a small cohort of teens who will develop ownership, stewardship, and creative leadership of our Creating Space project and Territory as a teen-led organization. Participants will engage in site care, community engagement, and teen-led design projects that reflect their vision for the space.

Age:

Pay:

Session:

Requirements:

14–18

Hourly Wage

As-needed Basis

Territory Application

About Territory

Mission

Territory is a place-based urban design studio where young people are building better futures for themselves and their communities through the practice of design. Territory is located in the Austin neighborhood on Chicago’s West Side. Doing projects in public spaces, young people use their lived experience, gain civic problem-solving skills, discover transformative career pathways in design, and advocate for including young people in the design and planning of Chicago.

Our Values

Youth Agency

We elevate young people as leaders and advocates through relevant, hands-on, place-based action.

Collaboration and Teamwork

We nurture safe, judgment free spaces to connect with peers, community partners, and city-wide to increase our shared effectiveness and be accountable.

Design Equity

We use the design process to empower young people, and we reimagine the practice of design to be inclusive of young people with a focus on those populations most often excluded from design.