Finishing 2024 Strong: Youth Creativity and Impact in December’s Final Weeks

The youth at The COOP Concept finished the year successfully. In 2024, they showcased their creativity, dedication, and teamwork. December was full of hands-on projects that strengthened their skills and also reinforced the values of craftsmanship, sustainability, and community impact. The COOP youth employees crafted unique jewelry, upcycled new furniture, and expressed gratitude through handmade thank-you cards.

With the guidance of their mentors, the youth employees utilized their skills to upcycle furniture, craft unique jewelry, and express gratitude through handmade thank-you cards.

Upcycling Furniture: A Lesson in Sustainability and Creativity

On December 21, 2024, Tina Dierna, the COOP Concept Founder and Managing Director, collaborated with Victoria Nazario, Lead Youth Design Manager and MSW Student at Adelphi University, to introduce an exciting new project to the youth employee team: upcycling furniture. The project aimed to teach the youth employees how to transform old, worn-out furniture into renewed, functional items, promoting sustainability and creativity.

The project began with the youth employees watching an educational video about furniture upcycling. They learned how repurposing and refinishing furniture can reduce waste and give old items a new lease on life. They applied what they learned and put it into action.

Youth upcycling furniture!

With great enthusiasm, the youth employees upcycled, primed, and painted donated furniture pieces that Tina sourced from the local community. Through this hands-on experience, they honed their artistic skills and learned valuable restoration and design techniques. The process also instilled a sense of accomplishment as they witnessed each piece transform from worn-out to revitalized.

Youth upcyclng a chair!

Beyond Furniture: Artistic Expression and Community Connection

In addition to their upcycling efforts, the youth explored their creativity through other artistic endeavors. They handcrafted beautiful clay earrings, each uniquely designed and carefully molded. These pieces became more than just jewelry—they represented the youth's growing confidence in their artistic abilities and contribution to The COOP Concept's mission.

To further showcase their creativity, the youth crafted watercolor thank-you cards, a heartfelt gesture to express appreciation to those who support The COOP Concept. These handmade cards, filled with thoughtful messages and artistic designs, added a personal touch to the organization's donor appreciation efforts.

The youth also undertook a structural project by assembling a jewelry stand to display their handcrafted earrings. This endeavor allowed them to apply practical skills and emphasize the importance of presentation and organization in showcasing their work effectively.

Closing the Year with Dedication and Purpose

On December 28, 2024, during the last Saturday session of the year, a small group of dedicated youth employees returned for extra hours to complete various ongoing projects. Their commitment to finishing strong was evident as they diligently worked on finalizing the clay earrings, organizing the earring display for the office, and adding the finishing touches to the upcycled furniture.

Beyond their creative projects, the youth took the initiative to sort through existing inventory and improve office space organization. Doing this enhanced their sense of responsibility and reinforced the importance of maintaining a structured and efficient work environment.

Don't you want a pair?

Reflecting on Growth and Looking Ahead

December was a month of outstanding achievements, reflecting the youth's dedication, resilience, and teamwork of The COOP Concept. From refurbishing furniture to crafting unique jewelry and heartfelt thank-you cards, their contributions have left a lasting positive impact on the organization.

As the new year 2025 approaches, we are excited about new opportunities, projects, and continued youth engagement.

Stay connected to our blog to learn about our upcoming 2025 youth projects and learn about opportunities to support our mission at The COOP Concept. You can order online or connect with Victoria to place an order on Saturdays at thecoopconceptllc@gmail.com