This past summer, June 3, 2025, Destiny Outreach launched its Dreams & Destiny® Program – Entertainment Industry Apprenticeship Program (EIAP). This Film/TV immersive workforce pilot program funded by Illinois Department of Human Resources (Phalanx Family Services) and Greenwood Archer Capital places apprentices, ages 16 to 24 into Tier I (union) and Tier II (non-union) entertainment jobs across the city of Chicago.

Founder Danita Patterson, Hollywood Producer for over 30 years, had a vision and a dream decades ago of impacting the next generation. This summer, in 90 days, twenty 21 Apprentices (Cohort 1) were engaged in fifty (55) hours of intensive trainings before being placed in paid hands-on job experiences at CineCity Studios Chicago, Central City Productions’ Stellar Awards, CAN TV, Theater 47, RGE Entertainment/APC Theater, Taste Media Group (TMG) and TCG Collective. Cohort 1 graduated on September 21, 2025 at the Chicago Cultural Center's Claudia Cassidy Theater hosted by DCASE | Chicago Film Office.

On November 4, 2025, Danita Patterson launched her second Cohort of 26 Apprentices, who've already created two short films, and participated in a field to The Fields Studios, Balloon Museum and to IATSE local 476 for an immersive day with below-the-line and above-the-line industry veterans who have worked on Movies and TV Series like Transformers, The Dark Knight, Ali, Widows,The Clark Sisters, Chicago PD, Chicago Fire, Empire, The CHI, and more...

DESTINY OUTREACH

Mission/Vision

Founder, Danita Patterson's charitable organization, Destiny Outreach's (DO!), mission is to empower, inspire and equip cross culture teens (ages 12-17) and young adults (18-35+) with navigational tools in an engaging edutainment environment to achieve their ultimate potential in life, school and work. DO! exposes Dreamers to the proven "Dream & Destiny®" curricula and careers in the Entertainment, Technology and Business industries through our successfully launched Entertainment Industry Apprenticeship Program (EIAP). www.DestinyOutreach.org

Life-Transforming Learning

Empowering youth ages 12-17
Supporting young adults 18-35+
Creating pathways to success in life, school and work

Meeting the Need

Committed to enhancing the awareness of serving cross culture and socio-economic communities in Chicago, Los Angeles and nation-wide since February 14, 1997. Destiny Outreach (DO!) is an innovative 501c3 non-profit organization led by Visionary Film/TV Producer and Youth & Family Advocate, Danita Patterson.

The DO! approach of "edutainment" learning technologies proactively combats "social ills," such as substance abuse, violence, gangs, teen pregnancy, and other social peer pressures exacerbated by educational and vocational inequities and hopelessness, which prevent youth and young adults from achieving their ultimate potential in life, school, and work.

After conducting extensive research and development within public/private schools, civic centers, and the urban communities of Chicago and Los Angeles, Ms. Patterson's findings revealed a need to:

Provide effective supplementary programs to support youth's personal (social and emotional) and vocational development;
Pay attention and positively impact the unhealthy dramatic influence and consumption of media entertainment (film, music, TV, digital);
Empower youth and young adults with a sense of purpose, meaningful goals and motivation.
Equip and employ next GEN leaders for career paths within entertainment, technology and business.

As a solution, Destiny Outreach® was created for young people and caring adults to promote vision clarification, life planning, academic achievement, leadership and workforce development.

Through immersive teaching methods, process learning technologies, apprenticeships and other interactive edutainment programs, DO! is committed to "Making Learning Fun So That Dreams DO Come True.™"

Dreams & Destiny® Program

Destiny Outreach (DO!)'s Dreams & Destiny® Program is an immersive outreach program for youth and young adults (ages 12-17 and 18-35+) from diverse economic backgrounds.

Workforce Development Program Offerings: Entertainment, Industry, Apprenticeship Program (EIAP)

Immersion Mentoring Program
Experiential Film/TV Workforce Apprenticeship inProgram
Day of Destiny Personal & Professional Workshops & Summits
Career Exposure Panels
Edutainment Empowerment Events
Life, College & Career Prep Workshops

GIVING TUESDAY - DO! GOOD... BY GIVING

Empower A Destiny - Make Dreams Come True

Team Members