YAP CyberWorx: Transforming Troubled Teens into Web Designers

In the summer of 2017, a unique opportunity landed in my lap that would combine my technical expertise with meaningful community impact.

When Michelle Heim and Bob Swanson from Youth Advocate Program approached me about creating an afterschool program teaching website design to troubled teenagers, I immediately saw the potential to change lives through technology.

What caught my attention wasn’t just the technical challenge, but the chance to create something transformative. These weren’t typical students – they were young people who needed not just skills, but a path forward.

The project would require me to translate complex technical concepts into engaging, practical lessons that could open doors to future careers.

Project Snapshot

Challenge: Design and implement a 12-week web design program for at-risk teens with no prior technical experience, culminating in professional-quality websites for local nonprofits

Solution: Created a hands-on curriculum combining WordPress development, client communication skills, and professional development, supported by individual WordPress instances for each team

Tools Used: WordPress, custom subdomains, selected themes, project management tools, presentation software

Results: Successfully guided multiple teams through creating professional websites, hosted a formal gala event, and provided students with marketable skills in web development and client relations

The Situation

The project began as a collaborative effort between several prominent organizations: the Red Cross, United Way, Lebanon Valley College, and Youth Advocate Programs. While the vision was clear – teaching troubled teens marketable web design skills – the execution would require careful planning and coordination.

During our initial meetings at the YAP facility in Lebanon, PA, I noticed that we needed more than just technical training; we needed a program that would build confidence, professional skills, and real-world experience.

What others might have seen as just another training program, I recognized as an opportunity to create a comprehensive learning experience.

These students needed more than just technical skills – they needed to understand client relations, project management, and professional presentation.

The Work

When my initially assembled team departed early in the project, I found myself solely responsible for developing the entire program. Rather than scaling back, I doubled down on creating a robust, multi-faceted curriculum.

My first technical challenge was setting up 13 independent WordPress instances using subdomains – a cost-effective solution that gave each team their own space to work.

I structured the program around biweekly meetings at Lebanon Valley College, where I would introduce new concepts and provide hands-on support. The curriculum I developed went beyond basic web design:

• Students had to select and work with actual nonprofit clients, learning professional communication skills
• Teams learned about content strategy by creating detailed content extraction plans
• I introduced them to design thinking through carefully selected WordPress themes
• Each session included lessons on cybersecurity and password management
• Remote work skills were emphasized throughout the project

What made this approach effective was its real-world application. Instead of theoretical exercises, students were building actual websites for real organizations.

When some teams took initiative and purchased their own themes, I knew the program was succeeding in fostering independence and creative thinking.

The Impact

The Short Term:

• Multiple teams successfully created professional-quality websites for nonprofit organizations
• Students gained practical experience in client relations and project management
• Teams demonstrated initiative by going beyond provided resources to achieve their goals
• The program culminated in a professional gala event where students presented their work

The Long View:

• Students acquired transferable skills in web development, professional communication, and project management
• The program created a replicable model for technology education in youth advocacy programs
• Youth Advocate Partners published an article highlighting the program’s success
• The project established valuable partnerships between educational institutions and community organizations

What makes me particularly proud about this project is seeing the transformation in these students. They didn’t just learn to build websites – they learned to present themselves professionally, work with clients, and manage complex projects. Many arrived with limited technical knowledge and left with the confidence to pursue careers in technology.

This project reinforced my belief that technology education can be a powerful tool for social change. By combining technical skills with real-world application, we can create educational experiences that don’t just teach, but transform.

It showed me that my path forward might include more educational initiatives, as the satisfaction of developing courseware and mentoring students revealed a new passion I hadn’t anticipated.