When an urban youth "drops in" at the Computer Clubhouse, what he or she sees is not the classic computer classroom lab mostly equipped with desks and monitors but the ingredients of an artist's studio, TV newsroom, robot workshop, music studio, and inventor's garage.

From its founding in collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Laboratory in 1993, the Computer Clubhouse is a magnet for more than 1,500 inner-city youth who have artistic talent but little experience with computers. With the Clubhouse's high-end technology, professional tool-based software, and the support of adult mentors who work alongside participants as catalysts, coaches, and consultants, young people learn to use technology for creative expression. In the process of designing their own animations, writing and illustrating interactive poetry, building kinetic sculptures and robotics construction, or designing their own Web pages, they find a voice for their experiences and ideas, become excited about learning, fluent with new technologies, and experienced in managing a complex project from start to finish.

Steve Osemwenkhae's experience is not atypical. "I didn't know anything about computers," he says of his first visit to the Clubhouse as a high school student. He was soon exploring his talents through technology. Recently, he applied for a graphics internships at a top-notch PR firm in Boston. "They seemed to really like my portfolio. I hope I get the job, but even if I don't, it gives me something to shoot for."

Working in collaboration with arts- and community-based organizations, including Boys & Girls Clubs, the Clubhouse is fulfilling its vision as a network of neighborhood-based Clubhouses where young people can feel safe to experiment and explore. Seven more have opened in inner-city Boston communities as well as eight in other cities around the world. In 1997, the Clubhouse program was chosen from more than 200 programs nationwide to receive the prestigious Peter F. Drucker Award for Nonprofit Innovation - for making a difference in the lives of the people it serves, having measurable outcomes, and providing an innovative, effective model that can be replicated by others.