The Nashville After Zone Alliance (NAZA) celebrated a major milestone on Thursday, December 17, as more than 120 guests gathered at the Adventure Science Center to celebrate its 15th Anniversary. The evening celebrated NAZA’s accomplishments over the past 15 years and the impact of out-of-school time learning for Nashville youth and families.
The evening featured remarks by city and NPL leadership honoring NAZA’s legacy and future including former Mayor Karl Dean, who established NAZA in 2010. The spotlight also shone brightly on youth voices, with moving reflections from former NAZA participants and a performance by Girls Write Nashville.
NAZA honored champions of youth development by recognizing outstanding organizations and individuals for their contributions to NAZA and its mission. Awardees included:
- Crystal Partner Award: Martha O’Bryan Center and YMCA
- Champion Award: Councilmember Burkley Allen
- Youth Leadership Award: Former NAZA Youth Leaders
- Youth Visionary Award: Allie Duke
When reflecting on the impact of NAZA over the past 15 years, NAZA Chief Executive Anna Harutyunyan shared “Behind every administrative effort there are thousands of life-changing moments for young people across Nashville. It may be one field trip that opened a new world… one mentor who listened at the right time, one project that built confidence… or one exposure to a career that shaped a future. These moments, multiplied across tens of thousands of [young people] over 15 years, are why we do this work.”
Since it was founded 15 years ago, NAZA has grown into a citywide out-of-school time system expanding equitable access and to educational and developmental opportunities for Nashville’s youth. Over the past 15 years, NAZA has funded over 30 non-profit youth organizations, provided training for thousands of youth development professionals, and has enabled nearly 30,000 middle school students access to free, high-quality youth programs. From an initial focus on afterschool services to year-round programming, NAZA and its partners have been dedicated to creating a community where every young person in Nashville has the chance to thrive.
NAZA-funded partners offer free afterschool programs at nearly 60 schools and community-based sites across Davidson County. If you have a young person in grades 5-8 who is interested in participating in an afterschool program, you can visit here to see a program near you.
Click here to view the recording of the 15th Anniversary program.
Click here to view photos of NAZA’s 15th Anniversary celebration.
