On June 1, at the Providence Career & Technical Academy, Mayor Angel Taveras announced a new partnership between PASA and the Providence School District, the AfterZone Summer Scholars, that will provide 250 Providence middle school youth with a 4-week summer learning program. Mayor Taveras kicked off the Providence After School Alliance‘s (PASA) celebration of the 1,800 middle school youth that annually participate in the AfterZone by sharing how this unique partnership will pair middle school teachers with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics-focused community educators to provide hands-on learning opportunities that will help to curb summer learning loss.
“One of the most exciting aspects of the AfterZone Summer Scholars was its ability to leverage 100% of funds from sources outside of Rhode Island,” Mayor Taveras shared. “The MetLife Foundation and the federal government are both funding the entire summer program, showcasing a great commitment to the youth of this city and a belief in their potential.”
This program builds upon a similar model that PASA implemented last summer, but doubles the number of youth to be served.
“The reason that Providence is looked to as a national model of after-school is because of the high-quality, collaborative work of the more than 70 community partners who dedicate themselves to the youth of this City,” said PASA’s Executive Director Hillary Salmons. “We are proud to add teachers to that mix.”
This 4-week program kicks of Tuesday July 5, 2011 and will serve 250 youth, with slots still open to all of Providence’s middle school youth. Visit dev.mypasa.org for more information.