This semester-long collaboration brought together Create Now, the University of Southern California (USC), and 180 Degrees Consulting at USC to answer that question.
Over the course of the project, a team of USC student consultants, working through 180 Degrees Consulting—the world’s largest university-based nonprofit consulting organization—partnered with Create Now to develop a comprehensive expansion strategy for bringing arts education, creative career pathways, and workforce development opportunities to youth throughout the Fayetteville community.
Through months of research, stakeholder interviews, and strategic planning, the team explored how Create Now can establish a lasting presence in Fayetteville by:
• Building meaningful partnerships with schools, nonprofits, and community organizations
• Identifying sustainable funding opportunities from local, regional, and national sources
• Developing a scalable expansion playbook that can be replicated in future communities
• Creating pathways that connect young people to careers in the arts, entertainment, technology, animation, design, filmmaking, music, and digital media
The recommendations presented in this project are rooted in extensive research, community interviews, and nonprofit strategy—all centered around one mission: ensuring every young person has access to transformative creative opportunities.
For nearly 30 years, Create Now has empowered thousands of underserved youth through free arts education and mentoring across Los Angeles. This partnership with USC and 180 Degrees Consulting marks an exciting step toward bringing that same impact to Fayetteville, North Carolina, while building strong local partnerships that will help the community thrive for years to come.
A heartfelt thank you to the incredible students at the University of Southern California, the team at 180 Degrees Consulting, our community interview partners, and everyone who contributed their time, research, and expertise. Your work has helped Create Now build a roadmap for sustainable growth and long-term impact.
If you’re a Fayetteville educator, nonprofit leader, business owner, elected official, philanthropist, or community member, we’d love to connect. Together, we can build a future where every young person has access to creativity, opportunity, and career exploration through the arts.
Learn more about Create Now:
https://www.createnow.org
If you’re interested in partnering with us or supporting our expansion into Fayetteville, please reach out through our website or connect with us on social media.
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