ACT St Pete

05/28/2026

If you’re going to be creative, you have to be in a state of play.

You can’t play if you’re being careful—if you’re trying not to make mistakes. It destroys creativity completely.

Because if you have a new idea, you can’t immediately say that’s a mistake until you have explored it.

At ACT, we strive to create a safe environment where students feel supported to explore, take risks, and grow creatively.

👉🏼 Explore your creativity with ACT. Learn more at ArtsConservatoryforTeens.org

05/26/2026

We are loving all of these red carpet moments from our 15th Annual Champions for ACT Breakfast Celebration ✨ What an amazing community that showed up to support ACT. Thank you to each and every person who joined us, supported us, and believes in our mission.

The first photo features our incredible ACT leadership team, from left to right: Darnel Butler, Director of Programs & Curriculum; Ana Moss, Program & Community Partners Coordinator; Alex Harris, Co-Founder, CEO & President; and Tiffany Miller, Executive Assistant.

This is the team helping make everything happen behind the scenes — from youth programming and community partnerships to events like our annual Breakfast Celebration. Their passion, dedication, and commitment to our students are a huge part of what makes ACT what it is today.

Because of this team, our supporters, sponsors, teaching artists and community partners, we are able to continue impacting the lives of so many young people through the mission of ACT ❤️

05/25/2026

Today, we’re wishing you a meaningful Day.
We remember and honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Gone, but never forgotten.

In that spirit, we’re proud to share this behind-the-scenes moment featuring a few of our YCA students, who had the incredible opportunity through to film America the Beautiful. Their performance was then transformed into holograms, which played every hour at the Florida State Fairgrounds

A beautiful tribute, and a meaningful reminder of the power of the Arts to honor, remember, and bring people together. 🇺🇸

05/20/2026

We’re taking in the beautiful paintings and visual art pieces our students showcased at this year’s Champions for ACT Breakfast ✨

Thank you to our photographer for capturing these incredible paintings.

Our students are unbelievably talented, and their work deserves a moment of appreciation 👏🎨

05/19/2026

Congratulations to our 2026 Scholarship Recipients: Jayla Stubbins, Phoebe Robinson, Makena Kovacs, and Evan Gibbons (not pictured in the Breakfast photos) 🎓✨

Each student was awarded a $2,500 scholarship toward their undergraduate studies — two through the Mark & Linda Berset Family Scholarship and two generously sponsored by BayFirst Bank.

✨ Evan Gibbons: Evan is graduating from Lennard High School and will attend the University of Central Florida to pursue a BFA in Film. Funnily enough, Evan was in the bathroom when his name was called at the Breakfast — honestly, a pretty perfect representation of how humble and unassuming he is.

✨ Phoebe Robinson: Phoebe is graduating from Northeast High School and will attend the University of South Florida, where she plans to double major in Personal Financial Planning and Musical Theatre.

✨ Makena Kovacs: Makena will graduate from PCCA at Gibbs High School and attend Salve Regina University on a pre-med track majoring in Biology.

✨ Jayla Stubbins: Jayla is graduating from PCCA at Gibbs High School and will attend Ringling College of Art and Design to study Illustration. At the Breakfast alone, she sold six paintings — an amazing reflection of both her talent and the way her work connects with people.

Please join us in celebrating these amazing students and wishing them the very best in this next chapter 💙

05/18/2026

More BTS moments from our 15th Annual Champions for ACT Breakfast Celebration, because we seriously can’t get enough of these 📸!

It was a beautiful morning filled with student performances, inspiring remarks, scholarship presentations, delicious food, a live auction, and even a special performance from our CEO, Dr. Alex Harris.

Thank you again to all of our sponsors, supporters, teaching artists, staff, and community members who helped make this celebration possible. Because of your support, this year’s Breakfast was an incredible success, and it allows us to continue impacting the lives of young people through the Arts. Cheers to many more years, many more opportunities, and many more lives transformed through the mission of ACT ❤️

05/14/2026

A Heartfelt Thank You from Our Founder and CEO:

Dear ACT Family and Friends,

On behalf of the students and families we serve, as well as our Board of Directors and dedicated staff, thank you for your extraordinary support of the 15th Annual Champions for ACT Breakfast, held on the beautiful waterfront campus of the University of South Florida St. Petersburg in downtown St. Petersburg.

We are deeply grateful to the many friends, partners, and champions who joined us in person, and to those who supported from afar. Although some were unable to attend physically, your love, encouragement, and generosity were felt profoundly.

Because of your support, Arts Conservatory for Teens continues to transform lives every single day. Each week, ACT serves more than 1,500 students across 28 program locations throughout Pinellas County and Hillsborough County. Together, we are equipping young people with the artistic, academic, and life skills they need to realize their fullest potential socially, intellectually, academically, and pre-professionally.

At ACT, we are committed to preparing students not only for success today, but for meaningful and purpose-driven lives tomorrow. Through our rigorous curriculum and nurturing environment, students are empowered to dream boldly, work diligently, and step confidently into their futures.

This life-changing work is only possible because of a caring and committed community like you. Your investment in our students affirms that their voices matter, their gifts are valuable, and their futures are bright.

From the bottom of our hearts to yours, thank you for believing in our mission and for helping ACT continue to inspire, educate, and transform thousands of young lives.

With deepest gratitude,

Alex Harris
Founder and Chief Executive Officer

A huge thank you to our sponsors: BayFirst, University of South Florida, Raymond James, City of St. Petersburg, Florida, DeBartolo Family Foundation, Smith & Associates Real Estate, On Point Behavioral Health, Florida Department of Education, Jacarlene Foundation, Duke Energy, Culture Builds Florida, East Bay Insurance Agency, Think Big For Kids, Drybar , Compass Land & Title, LLC, Suncoast Credit Union, Comegys Insurance Agency, Find Your Light, Tampa Bay Lightning, Community Tampa Bay, St. Petersburg Police Department, Joiner Architecture, LLC, Kahwa Coffee Roasters, The Burg BID, Chick-fil-A

05/06/2026

05/06/2026

Tomorrow is the day! 🚨 We hope you join us for our 15th Annual Champions for ACT Breakfast on May 7th at 8:30 AM!

Be in the room where creativity, growth, and opportunity come to life.

Support ACT’s mission and experience live performances from young artists stepping confidently into their future through the arts.

Get your last-minute seat: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/15th-annual-champions-for-act-breakfast-tickets-1985392413153?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_tld=true