"Wear your consciousness on your sleeve!"

In Fall 2007, a small group of community leaders and concerned residents gathered in Harlem to brainstorm creative ways to engage NYC youth in thinking about and acting to address pressing community issues. The planning group was guided by the philosophy that our youth, empowered with well-honed critical thinking and advocacy skills, are current and future leaders of our communities and thus essential partners in the movement for positive social change.

On a mission to “encourage NYC youth to play an active and creative role in strengthening our communities,” the planning group organized the first annual Conscious Gear Expo in July 2008. The event successfully engaged approximately 100 NYC middle and high school students in identifying pressing community challenges and creating thought provoking t-shirt slogan to raise awareness about those challenges.  For our final Expo of 2010 last August, Team CGE hosted a brilliant group of middle and high school students for a full day of critical thinking, community problem solving, t-shirt design and fun at Minisink Townhouse in Harlem!

Stay tuned for news about Conscious Gear Expo's exciting new programming for 2011!