We believe if you bring young people together from different racial, cultural, and socioeconomic backgrounds and challenge them to develop their own solutions, they will respond with energy, imagination, commitment and action.


In 1985, cultural activist Laurie Meadoff founded CityKids as a non-profit, multicultural youth organization located in New York City. She began by working with a group of 10 young people from across the City.  Since then, the CityKids Foundation has grownt to service over 650 youth directly in CityKids programs every year, led by CityKids staff and senior youth participants. CityKids performances, workshops, and mass media productions touch the lives of an additional 75,000 young people annually.


Our Mission & Vision are accomplished through employing basic but powerful principles: