So many ways to get your youth involved this year. We'll be inparting lessons in love, respect and honor for themselves, their family and community in all we do with them this year. For 2026 we have adapted YMAM, Youth Matter, Arts Matter Mini Youth Camp, free to the community. This camp combines multiple arts tracks to produce one amazing experience, celebrating our 50th Anniversary. Youth will work in their choice of 4-5 skill tracks, mentored by community leaders in various fields.
The Youth Matter, Arts Matter (YMAM) Summer Program is a free two-week youth enrichment and workforce development initiative designed to provide hands-on learning opportunities for young people ages 13–20 throughout Stockton and surrounding communities. Hosted in partnership with Stockton Juneteenth (San Joaquin Juneteenth Foundation – SJJF), the BMMAC Center, GO STEM, Hatching Chicks, LLC, and community partners, the program combines creativity, leadership development, technical training, and real-world experience through three engaging educational tracks: Film & Media Production, Culinary Arts & Hospitality, and STEAM Innovation & Graphic Design. Meet some of our instructors!
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Culinary Arts
The Culinary Arts Track provides students with hands-on instruction in kitchen safety, food preparation, hospitality operations, teamwork, customer service, and event support. Under the guidance of culinary mentors and community professionals, students will gain practical experience preparing meals, learning kitchen organization, understanding hospitality services, and supporting community events connected to the summer program and gala activities.
Film & Media
Capturing your story and Audience
The Film & Storytelling Track focuses on creative media development, digital storytelling, and content creation. Students participating in this track will learn the fundamentals of filmmaking, interviewing, scriptwriting, directing, camera operation, video editing, audio recording, and storytelling techniques while producing short films, documentary segments, interviews, public awareness campaigns, and digital media projects. This track emphasizes creativity, communication, storytelling, and visual expression while teaching students how to develop meaningful content from concept to final production.
Live Production
The Live Production Track focuses on the technical and behind-the-scenes aspects of producing live events and performances. Students in this track will receive hands-on training in live camera switching, lighting design, stage management, sound engineering, event coordination, production setup, livestream operations, and backstage communication. Participants will work directly on real-world event production experiences connected to community showcases and the SJ Golden Gala, gaining practical workforce skills used in concerts, conferences, theater productions, broadcasts, and live entertainment industries.
S.T.E.A.M.
The GO STEM STEAM Track provides students with hands-on learning experiences in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics through interactive experiments, engineering challenges, coding activities, innovation labs, environmental science workshops, and digital creativity projects. Participants will explore graphic design, animation, futuristic concept art, and collaborative invention challenges while developing critical thinking, teamwork, leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills. The track is designed to introduce youth to creative and technology-based career pathways while encouraging innovation, imagination, and real-world learning through engaging project-based activities and student showcases.