About the Zones

 

Each After Zone, or Z is managed by a Coordinating Agency with a strong presence in that geographic area. The Coordinating Agency hires a full-time Zone Director with NAZA funding. Although each Z will reflect the unique characteristics of its population, there are shared key elements:

Each program site within the Z offers a balanced menu of appealing activities in safe and structured environments
  • Academic supports (homework help, tutoring, project-based learning) are core.
  • Students choose among sports/fitness, arts, service learning opportunities, and life skills.
  • Activities support leadership and character development.

Coordinated scheduling, marketing, recruitment, transportation and tracking, within each zone and across NAZA, increases access for the students and efficiencies for the providers.

Continuous improvement in program quality reflects NAZA’s Standards and Indicators of Program Quality. The process uses two nationally-recognized models of quality assessment and professional development, the Youth Program Quality Assessment developed by High/Scope and the Y of the USA Youth Assets Survey developed by Search Institute.

The Northeast Zone

 

The Northeast Zone, launched in January 2010, serves students who live and go to school within the boundaries of the Maplewood and Stratford clusters. Martha O’Bryan Center, its Coordinating Agency, subcontracted with six existing providers to deliver quality programming to 250 additional students for whom available programs were not accessible, due to cost or transportation issues. These efforts more than doubled the number of these students in structured afterschool programs in the Northeast zone.

South Central Zone

 

Launched in January 2011, the South Central Zone serves students who live and go to school within the boundaries of the Overton and Glencliff clusters. Coordinating agency, the PENCIL Foundation, provides services to 200 students by subcontracting with additional existing providers, including: The Center for Refugees and Immigrants of Tennessee, the YWCA of Nashville and Middle Tennessee, Metro Nashville Parks and Recreation, Catholic Charities, and YMCA of Middle Tennessee School Age Services.

For more information on the South Central Z, contact your school principal or Zone Director:

Jim Williamson, Zone Director
PENCIL Foundation
421 Great Circle Road
Nashville, TN 37228
615.242.3167, ext. 234
jwilliamson@pencilfd.org