Our Story
A sketchpad we used while planning the magazine. As evidenced by our notes, we've wanted to cultivate a strong "sense of community" from the very beginning.
A rough sketch we made while brainstorming our Issue 1 cover.
A nearly finished Issue 1 cover, created by our art editor Evyia Makrodimitri.
Lucie Vidh, a former art editor, made some early drafts of our logo on an iPad.
About Us
Concrete Harbor Magazine is a student-run magazine dedicated to amplifying young voices from around the world. Founded in the summer of 2025, the magazine was created on the belief that youth deserve to be heard and taken seriously as artists and writers in their own right. We publish the work of students aged 13–26 and accept a variety of artistic disciplines including poetry, prose, visual art, photography, and music. Even if rejected, students receive feedback, so they can improve on and further develop their work.
Concrete Harbor is a registered nonprofit organization in the state of Maryland (where most of our editorial team is based) and is currently in the process of applying for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Our Board of Directors is legally composed of adults who provide governance and oversight. However, the day-to-day operations, editorial decisions, creative direction, and organizational leadership are entirely student-led.
Concrete Harbor was founded by our editor-in-chief, Ian Chen—a student journalist, award-winning writer, and an editor of his school newspaper. His work has been published in professional outlets, and his experience finding a platform for his voice at a young age inspired him to build one for others. His hope is that this magazine will give other students the same opportunity: To be recognized, to be paid for doing what they love, and most importantly, to share their work with a wide, engaged audience. The rest of our editorial team is similarly composed of accomplished student artists and writers who are deeply passionate about our mission.
Our name is meant to be a reflection of both our purpose and the world we live in. Historically, the harbor has been a place where ideas from around the world arrive and collide with each other. We see our magazine as a modern harbor for young artists: A space where voices from different backgrounds meet, challenge each other, and find an audience. “Concrete” anchors us in the urgency and roughness of contemporary life.
We released our inaugural issue in fall 2025, featuring student artists from diverse backgrounds—ranging from Zimbabwe, to Minnesota, to Thailand. In addition, we conducted in-depth interviews with several contributors; these conversations have been published in our Boardwalk Talks interview series.
Concrete Harbor also maintains an active online presence, particularly on Instagram (@concreteharbormagazine), where we highlight young artists, share creative opportunities, and give writing and art tips.