FLAGSHIP YOUTH PROGRAM
Southwest Academy DC
An immersive summer experience where young Ambassadors build real skills in technology, media, and leadership — for themselves and their community.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Building the Next Generation of Ambassadors
Southwest Academy DC is TRUST STEAM+’s flagship youth technology and workforce development program. Based in Southwest Washington, DC, the Academy gives young people an immersive summer experience built around technology, audio and visual production, financial literacy, life skills, professional exposure, and community leadership. Participants are known as Ambassadors — because they’re expected to develop skills they can use not only for themselves, but in service to their families and neighborhoods.
Ambassadors learn through a weekly rhythm that blends interactive classroom instruction, professional empowerment, field experiences, and hands-on projects. Recent cohorts have operated youth-led social media and community help desk teams — gaining real experience in customer service, content creation, troubleshooting, and project ownership across more than 160 hours of learning each summer.
WHAT AMBASSADORS LEARN
A Full-Spectrum Learning Experience
Computer hardware & software fundamentals
Website development
Cybersecurity essentials
Artificial intelligence & prompt engineering
Graphic design
Audio engineering, music & video production
Financial literacy
Health & wellness
Résumé writing & professional skills
Conflict resolution & workplace readiness
Youth-led social media team
Community help desk experience
OUR IMPACT
Four Summers of Growth
58
Ambassadors Served
640+
Hours of Learning
70+
Supporters & Mentors
$100K+
Raised for Programming
COMMUNITY IMPACT
A Launchpad Rooted in Community
Southwest Academy DC is more than a summer program — it is a pathway that connects young people to mentors, employers, and institutions that believe in their potential. Ambassadors leave with new skills, a stronger sense of purpose, and a network that continues to support them long after the program ends.
Every cohort strengthens the ties between youth and the neighborhoods they call home, turning curiosity into capability and participants into leaders who give back.
GET INVOLVED
Help Us Build the Next Cohort
Whether you want to mentor, partner, sponsor, or enroll — we would love to connect. Reach out and become part of the Southwest Academy DC story.