13th Annual Neutral Zone Golf Classic

Neutral Zone



The Neutral Zone is a diverse, youth-driven teen center dedicated to promoting personal growth through artistic expression, community leadership and the exchange of ideas. Neutral Zone began in a small warehouse back in 1998 and now, 16 years later, they have become a role model for teen centers across the country as well as wholly integrated in Ann Arbor and the surrounding communities. They offer over twenty programs in music, leadership, education, literary and visual arts.

Music

 

The ultimate goal of NZ’s Music programs is to provide teens an opportunity to develop their artistic skills and knowledge through mentorship, training, live performances, recorded releases, and entrepreneurial endeavors. The Neutral Zone offers unique, youth-driven programs in music and performing arts, rooted in a positive youth development approach and supported by professional staff with real-world experiences. Neutral Zone hosts a concert venue, recording studio, and workshops in performance technology, DJing, and emceeing with a focus on entrepreneurship. Through performance and technology, NZ helps teens generate, perform and distribute original music This is the complete package for teens to discover their talents and engage in the music industry.

 

 

Leadership

 

Through Neutral Zone’s leadership programs, youth have genuine opportunities to participate and engage in opportunities to improve their community. Building on their own interest and passions, youth identify needs, set goals, create plans, and work together to create community change.Neutral Zone’s Leadership Programs provide teens the opportunity to realize their role to create positive community through service, social justice actions and dialogue. Teens build a more conscientious community, advocate for a cause, and develop valuable leadership skills.

 

 

 

Education

 

Neutral Zone’s education programs offer academic support, mentorship and personalized attention. Neutral Zone’s S.C.O.R.E. program (School and Career Opportunities aRe Endless) is a graduated process of structured and coordinated steps for academic and job success. Supported by The Stranahan Foundation, The Anderson Family Foundation, and The Princeton Review.

 

 

 

Literary Arts

 

Neutral Zone’s Literary Arts Programs engage teens in writing, reading, critiquing, and performing poetry and fiction. Youth create and perform their own original work in weekly writing workshops, perform their works at community readings and poetry slams, release publications and chapbooks of original youth works, and attend an intensive weeklong summer writing workshop. The goal of the Literary Arts Programs is to provide opportunities for youth to develop their writing and reading skills, furthering their academic and personal growth. With a notebook, pen and a passion for writing, Neutral Zone’s Literary Arts Programs discover the voices of young people through the written word. Amongst a community of creative writers, engaging workshops and constant encouragement, everyone’s creative talents are realized.Supported by the Julius Kass Family Foundation, ELMA Philanthropies, and the J Ferrantino Charitable Foundation.

 

 

Visual Arts

 

Neutral Zone does more than simply offer art classes. Here, teens find the opportunity to take full leadership of all of the visual arts programs, projects and collaborations. In addition, teens fuel their creative passions as well as discover and explore college and career paths in the visual arts.Neutral Zone facilitates an authentic community space where teen artists can come together to design and host regional art shows, take classes, use our studio resources for independent art projects, go on field trips to see galleries and museums, and engage in the community through art. The focus is for teens to develop their skills as creators, innovators and leaders. The Visual Arts program provides teen artists with a digital lab, silk screening press, and an opportunity to use multiple artistic media in an open studio. .