Lessons on Style & Grace
FEATS is a ten week program tailored to local middle school students. We work carefully with educators to bring our Design & Pitch competition to life. Students are nominated by their teachers and represent various walks of life. At the end of 10 weeks, we will recognize and award one grand prize winner. Each student will be tasked with creating a design that best represents them. They will learn and be tested on their ability to incorporate and articulate their use of colors, textures, add ons, and design techniques.
“What we're doing is special. This may be one of the only places where it's okay to wear your emotions.”
— Creator, Oluwatoyin Salami
PROGRAM HISTORY
The Sneaker Ball Atlanta in conjunction with nonprofit organization, Picking Up the Ball, have partnered for years to produce various community workshops for Atlanta youth. In 2020, we created and piloted what has become our signature program FEATS. Our two organizations work in tandem to execute an intimate group experience using sneaker art therapy. Through this program, our goal is to strategically use sneakers and dynamic speakers to assist a group of ten students in navigating the social & professional landscape around them.
Over the program course they will learn from the industry’s best and brightest talent representing lifestyle and fashion. They will attain tangible sneaker customization skills that they can turn into a lucrative hobby or career, but they won’t just make shoes. This program empowers all students, not just the winner. We will incorporate The Five Core SEL Competencies which are Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Responsible Decision-Making. All students will gain invaluable social emotional tools and technical skills that they can take into their futures.
“Our goal is to use sneakers to teach necessary life skills to the students nominated for participation. ”
