Dawn Stueckle
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Dawn has worked with young people in San Francisco for more than two decades, starting campus-based girls’ support groups at Lincoln High School and A.P. Giannini Middle School in the early 1990s and co-founding in 1992 the organization that would later become Sunset Youth Services. In addition to providing leadership for the nonprofit, managing staff, connecting with donors, and building relationships with young people served by Sunset Youth Services, Dawn partners with numerous community coalitions and city agencies as an advisor, change agent, and voice for the disenfranchised youth of the city.
In 2018 Dawn was elected to co-chair the Juvenile Justice Providers Association (JJPA)–– a consortium of community-based organizations that she helped establish in 2004 and which plays an important role in local policy-making, youth advocacy and has a strong voice in how funds are used to meet the needs of vulnerable youth.
ARTS & ENTERPRISE
Our Arts & Enterprise Program thrives on hands-on, project based learning that blends creative expression with real-world skills. Youth gain experience in music production, graphic design, apparel making, and digital media, while also developing entrepreneurial and workforce skills. The program is built on strong, trusting relationships, where youth are supported by mentors who understand their experiences and guide them through both creative and personal growth. Opportunities for paid work and professional development ensure that participants see a tangible pathway from their creative talents to economic empowerment.
COHORTS
RECORDING & ARTIST DEVELOPMENT
A program where youth learn the intricacies of being a music artist, including songwriting, beat making, promotion, and music business. This group also has access to four recording studio spaces during the program.
COOKING
This group is focused on cooking and culinary skills. Youth have the opportunity to gain hands-on restaurant-readiness training on hygiene, food preparation and handling, knife skills, cooking, baking, and grilling techniques. They are also trained on indoor and outdoor event set up and placement of food and beverages to maximize visual appeal and customer satisfaction at pop-up opportunities and festivals.
CONTENT CREATORS
This group focuses on video production, podcasting and photography. Youth learn camera operation & editing by completing personal film/audio projects and documenting environmental aspects of our city. This group also has the opportunity to exhibit their work on social media and an end-of-the year showcase.
SOUND & STYLE (DESIGN & FASHION)
In this cohort, youth learn how music and fashion go hand in hand. They get the chance to explore music production and clothes making. They learn the fundamentals of fashion, branding, & entrepreneurship and get access to Adobe applications to design and heat press images on garments.
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SUNSET SOUND ACADEMY
OTHER EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
We also employ young people in a variety of odd jobs and short-term projects that include providing live sound at community festivals and youth events, writing grants for youth-led ideas—such as open mic nights, arts festivals, and a young women’s empowerment party—and acting as skatepark custodians.
ARTS & ENTERPRISE PROGRAM STAFF
Joel Tarman
Director of Digital Arts
Vicky Fashho
Director of Outreach and Employment
Anthony Flores
Creative Lead
Jason Wu
Creative Lead