About CK CampuS
CK Campus is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization expanding access to Creative + STEM education through applied, real-world learning experiences.
We build workforce identity, digital fluency, and creative confidence for youth in grades 9th-12th by connecting hands-on skill development to real industry pathways.
Our work supports both prevention and re-engagement by strengthening identity and direction before long-term educational or career disconnection takes root.
At CK Campus, we reverse the traditional model.
Rather than adding creativity into STEM, we begin with creative identity and integrate STEM thinking as the structure that brings ideas to life. Students first see themselves as designers, problem-solvers, and makers. From there, we introduce the scientific, technical, and engineering principles that support their vision.
Rooted in STEAM principles, our model re-centers creativity as the catalyst for critical thinking, innovation, and long-term workforce pathways. We believe students are more likely to persist in technical fields when they first see themselves as capable creators.
At CK Campus, creativity is not separate from STEM. It is the entry point.
What Guides Our Work
Our Purpose
ACCESS OVER AWARENESS
We prioritize structured access, not just exposure. CK Campus connects students to tools, mentorship, and real-world applications that make Creative + STEM learning tangible and relevant.
LEARNING BY DOING
Hands-on, project-based experiences build confidence, problem-solving ability, and technical fluency. Students learn through creation, iteration, and public presentation.
INDUSTRY-INFORMED LEADERSHIP
Programming reflects real workforce pathways in design, digital media, and emerging technology. Industry engagement ensures relevance, rigor, and long-term career alignment.
COMMUNITY-RESPONSIVE DESIGN
We collaborate with schools, nonprofits, employers, and local communities to align creative learning with workforce realities, regional needs, and measurable outcomes.
Leadership
Meet the Founder
Cimone Key is the Founder and Executive Director of CK Campus and the Founder and CEO of CK Creative Agency, a multi-award-winning creative agency delivering experiential, branding, and digital innovation work for Fortune 500 companies, global brands, and public-sector partners.
Over the past decade, Cimone has led creative teams working at the intersection of design, technology, and applied problem-solving. Her professional experience directly informs CK Campus’s learning model, ensuring programs are industry-aligned, practical, and grounded in real-world workflows.
As a first-generation 4-year college graduate who navigated both under-resourced and highly resourced learning environments, Cimone founded CK Campus to expand access to the kinds of creative and technical exposure that shape long-term opportunity.
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Cimone’s leadership is shaped by lived experience navigating educational and professional environments that were not always designed with her in mind. Growing up legally blind, including throughout art college, required adaptability and alternative ways of thinking that reinforced her belief in creativity as a technical problem-solving skill.
Through CK Creative Agency, Cimone has hired, mentored, and collaborated with emerging creatives, designers, and technologists, many from historically marginalized backgrounds. She has designed and led hands-on projects that mirror professional workflows and emphasize collaboration, technical fluency, and career-aligned skill development.
As a parent, Cimone brings an additional lens to her work, deepening her commitment to building equitable, future-facing educational systems that respond to the realities students and families face today.