At Rhode Island School of Design’s Project Open Door (POD), creativity becomes a pathway to opportunity. This inspiring program opens RISD’s doors to more than 150 high school students each year—many from Rhode Island’s urban core schools—offering them a place to explore art and design, develop new skills, and plan for their futures.

For many teens, POD is their first real introduction to the world of art. What begins as curiosity often blossoms into passion and confidence, revealing talents they never knew they had. Over the past six years, every POD student has graduated from high school, and nearly nine in ten have gone on to higher education. For those who commit to the Saturday Portfolio Program throughout high school and are accepted to RISD, the reward is extraordinary—a full scholarship to attend the college.

With support from the White Family Foundation, Project Open Door continues to transform lives, proving that when young people are given access, encouragement, and creative tools, they can imagine—and achieve—a brighter future.