Converse’s All Stars programme is an engine for youth opportunity

The footwear giant is expanding its All Stars mentorship programme across the globe to guide young creatives in their careers.

It’s never been more difficult for young creatives to follow their chosen career paths. The pandemic hasn’t made an already tumultuous path any smoother, with limited budgets, fewer paid opportunities, and a rise in competition now common across every profession. It’s not all bad news however, as brands like Converse are working to get new talent noticed. The footwear company has just launched a campaign titled All Stars – named after its signature shoe – that will see its current mentorship programme updated and expanded.

CMO Jesse Stollak describes All Stars as ‘an engine for youth opportunity’ that’s designed to position young voices front and centre. ‘We know there’s massive inequalities in access to careers with creativity,’ she explains. ‘If we create new pipelines of experience, we can give creatives across all mediums opportunities to accelerate and amplify the impact they are trying to make for themselves and for their communities.’

Converse has in fact been heavily involved in expanding its grassroots global platform for over two years, sourcing 3,000 emerging frontrunners in a vast range of fields from sports to culture since 2018. During this period, the ­initiative has traversed 27 countries across the globe, from Lima to Los Angeles, as part of the brand’s goal to facilitate a capacity-building ecosystem that helps youths to thrive in art.

The brand’s latest campaign aims to democratise and add greater transparency to the programme. Inviting a maximum of 250 creatives to join over the next few months, each member will be given the chance to participate in upcoming All Star Series events which offer one-of-a-kind workshops, conversations, and performances facilitated by Converse’s expansive creative curriculum. It’s previously featured an impressive variety of top-tier talent including Virgil Abloh, Lay Zhang, Tobe Nwigwe, and Issa Rae.