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Arts Conservatory for Teens seeks $500,000 from city to expand programs, citing 100% high-school graduation rate among participants
Summary
ACT asked the council for $500,000 to scale programming that the group says serves roughly 860 enrolled students and improves graduation and college matriculation rates; councilmembers signaled support but requested proposal details and budget paths.
The Arts Conservatory for Teens (ACT) urged St. Petersburg City Council to expand city support for its after-school and workforce-preparation arts programs, asking for $500,000 to scale operations and deepen a research partnership intended to validate outcomes.
Dr. Alex Harris, founder and CEO of ACT, briefed council on the program’s growth and outcomes, calling the organization a ‘‘homegrown’’ pipeline for arts-based education and career readiness. He told council ACT now serves about 860 students in weekly programming and, counting community engagements, reaches several thousand more monthly. "Since our inception, ACT has maintained a 100% high-school graduation rate among all of our students who’ve come through our doors," Harris said.
Why it matters: Council members said arts education and workforce-readiness for teens can help close achievement gaps, boost local talent pipelines and support broader economic-development goals. Several councilmembers described the program as a proven local investment that aligns with the mayor’s pillars for education, equity and arts-driven economic development.
What ACT asked for: Harris requested $500,000 in city funding to expand satellite locations, provide transportation and wraparound supports, and formalize the research partnership led by Howard University researchers to track outcomes at scale. ACT said current annual program costs include fully-funded scholarships, transportation for students, teaching artists, and 41 staff (full- and part-time plus contractors).
Council reaction and next steps: Councilmember Gina Driscoll and others praised ACT’s outcomes and said they would support exploring budget options and a new-business item to formalize a funding request. Driscoll said she would bring a new-business referral and indicated the item could also be considered in the upcoming budget process. Councilmember Corey Givens and others signaled support and asked staff for budget breakdowns and a phased funding approach; ACT representatives said an initial $100,000 set-aside might be a first-year target while pursuing the longer $500,000 scale-up.
Voices from the community: Students performed in the chamber and parents and supporters spoke during public comment, highlighting confidence, school engagement and career-readiness benefits. Parent Regina Parks said her daughter’s confidence and pre-professional experience improved after joining ACT, and alumni and community leaders described ACT as an economic and social asset.
Ending: Councilmembers praised the organization’s 13-year track record and asked ACT to deliver a detailed proposal and budget that city staff and council could evaluate for either an immediate one-time allocation or inclusion in next year’s operating budget.
