DownCity Design

For many Providence teens, the opportunity to explore creativity, innovation, and design doesn’t come easily. That’s why the White Family Foundation’s support of DownCity Design is so transformative. By helping create the TACO / White Family Foundation Community Studio, the Foundation has provided a safe, inspiring space where students can discover their talents, build confidence, and imagine new possibilities for themselves and their communities. Programs in robotics, digital fabrication, and graphic design open doors that many of these teens might never have known existed—opportunities to learn, to lead, and to create.

The impact of this support is visible in every corner of the city. Students like Miliany brought their ideas to life at the Igliozzi Recreation Center, transforming an underutilized sloped yard into a vibrant outdoor space for children in afterschool programs. She reflected on the experience:

“Throughout this project, we’ve done so much… from building models, to measuring slopes, experimenting with Rhino, and using drills and tools to bring our ideas to life. It’s been hands-on, creative, and really rewarding. We came together as a group from different schools and learned teamwork, leadership, creativity, and vision—lessons that will stay with me my whole life.”

For teens like Laila, DownCity Design (DCD) has opened doors not only to creative skills, but to self-discovery and confidence:

“DCD has helped me grow into someone that can speak my mind and express myself. I’m even considering a career that lets me design full-time, like architectural engineering.”

Through the White Family Foundation’s support, every program, every workshop, and every project at DCD becomes more than a learning experience—it becomes a chance to imagine a future that might once have felt out of reach. Students gain hands-on skills, but they also gain pride, purpose, and a sense of belonging. They see that their ideas matter, that their creativity has value, and that they have the power to shape both their lives and their communities.

From transforming public spaces across Providence to helping teens envision careers in design, engineering, and the arts, the Foundation’s support is creating ripple effects that will be felt for years to come. Every success story, every proud student, and every community project stands as a testament to the transformative power of arts and design education—and to the White Family Foundation’s unwavering belief in Providence youth.

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