THEN THEY’RE EXPECTED TO RETURN TO EARTH BY APRIL 10TH. THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE IS SUPPORTING WAREHOUSE 505 MISSION TO PROVIDE YOUTH PROGRAMING YEAR ROUND FOR FREE. AN ADDITIONAL $300,000 WAS APPROVED FOR THE 2027 BUDGET. THAT WILL GO TOWARDS HELPING PROVIDE A SAFE SPACE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS THE DUKE CITY, THEIR FULL FLEDGED ARTISTS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCE, THEY’RE PROFESSIONAL, THEY HAVE THE NETWORK, THEY HAVE THE SKILLS, THEY HAVE THE RESILIENCE, THEY HAVE THE CREATIVITY. AND THEN YOU ADD THOSE KIDS TO THE WORKFORCE OR JUST PUT THEM IN A UNIVERSITY TRACK, THEY’RE GOING TO FLOURISH, AND THAT IS GOING TO HELP ALBUQUERQUE IN THE LONG RUN. I DO BELIEVE THAT THE CITY REALLY LIKES US FOR THAT. WAREHOUSE 505 LET’S YOUTH FIND THEIR TALENTS, BUILD SKILLS AND OFFERS EAR
City steps up to support Warehouse 505 youth programs
The nonprofit is fundamentally an after-school program, executive director Robert Stokowy said.
A nonprofit offering free programming to help young people to get a head start in life has gotten recognition of its success in the most tangible way: $300,000 from the City of Albuquerque’s 2027 fiscal year budget. Warehouse 505 provides a safe space for teens and young adults to find and develop their talents on the way to higher education or an early job opportunity, or both, said W505 executive director Robert Stokowy.”They’re full-fledged artists that have experience. They’re professional. They have the network. They have the skills. They have the resilience. They have the creativity,” Stokowy said. “And then you put them in a university track. They’re going to flourish, and that’s going to help Albuquerque in the long run. I do believe the city really likes us for that.”The W505 program isn’t in a rush, either, Stokowy said. “The students who, at age 21, age out of this program and have been with us for two years, three years, sometimes six years, sometimes eight years, even — those kids actually go out there and they’re ready for the workforce,” Stokowy said.Warehouse 505 is fundamentally an after-school program, Stokowy said, with “classes” from 4 to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays for anyone who wants to be there.”They can come in here also just to hang out, because first and foremost, we are a third space, which is much needed in the city, and we are a safe space. Once they’re in here, they feel like they’re safe, they’re protected, they make friends,” Stokowy said.The classes include DJ, band, mural arts, sewing, screen printing, photography. The list is long. Stokowy came to Albuquerque from Germany to teach, but also had his hand in myriad activities: sound engineering, photography, art. That makes him a good person to lead this multifaceted enterprise.The program has been indirectly impacted by a reduction in federal funding, which makes the city’s support especially opportune. Meanwhile, program participants are using the screen print shop to make merchandise whose sales will support the program. Also, a benefit next Saturday at the Marble Brewery will have DJs, dancers, bands, as well as youth entrepreneurs, W505 board members, instructors and staff.”It’s a perfect opportunity for everybody to just come by and get to know us,” Stokowy said.
A nonprofit offering free programming to help young people to get a head start in life has gotten recognition of its success in the most tangible way: $300,000 from the City of Albuquerque’s 2027 fiscal year budget.
Warehouse 505 provides a safe space for teens and young adults to find and develop their talents on the way to higher education or an early job opportunity, or both, said W505 executive director Robert Stokowy.
“They’re full-fledged artists that have experience. They’re professional. They have the network. They have the skills. They have the resilience. They have the creativity,” Stokowy said. “And then you put them in a university track. They’re going to flourish, and that’s going to help Albuquerque in the long run. I do believe the city really likes us for that.”
The W505 program isn’t in a rush, either, Stokowy said.
“The students who, at age 21, age out of this program and have been with us for two years, three years, sometimes six years, sometimes eight years, even — those kids actually go out there and they’re ready for the workforce,” Stokowy said.
Warehouse 505 is fundamentally an after-school program, Stokowy said, with “classes” from 4 to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays for anyone who wants to be there.
“They can come in here also just to hang out, because first and foremost, we are a third space, which is much needed in the city, and we are a safe space. Once they’re in here, they feel like they’re safe, they’re protected, they make friends,” Stokowy said.
The classes include DJ, band, mural arts, sewing, screen printing, photography. The list is long. Stokowy came to Albuquerque from Germany to teach, but also had his hand in myriad activities: sound engineering, photography, art. That makes him a good person to lead this multifaceted enterprise.
The program has been indirectly impacted by a reduction in federal funding, which makes the city’s support especially opportune. Meanwhile, program participants are using the screen print shop to make merchandise whose sales will support the program.
Also, a benefit next Saturday at the Marble Brewery will have DJs, dancers, bands, as well as youth entrepreneurs, W505 board members, instructors and staff.
“It’s a perfect opportunity for everybody to just come by and get to know us,” Stokowy said.
