NAZA's Mission
NAZA’s mission is to increase youths’ equitable access to out-of-school time learning experiences that help youth thrive and develop to their full potential. Launched in 2009 by Mayor Karl Dean, the Nashville After Zone Alliance (NAZA) is a partnership between the Nashville Public Library, Metro Nashville Public Schools, the Mayor’s Office, and over 30 youth development organizations all working collaboratively to improve the learning experiences of youth. Learn more.
The need for NAZA is demonstrated by the following statistics:

NAZA on Facebook
Join us on Thursday, March 27 for a FREE training on Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA)!![]()
YMHFA is designed to teach parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens how to help an adolescent (ages 12-18) who is experiencing a mental health or addiction challenge or is in crisis. YMHFA is primarily designed for adults who regularly interact with young people. The course introduces common mental health challenges for youth, reviews typical adolescent development, and teaches a 5-step action plan to help young people in crisis and non-crisis situations. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, substance use, disorders in which psychosis may occur, disruptive behavior disorders (including ADHD), and eating disorders. ![]()
Register online: nashvillez.org/professional-development
We enjoyed spending the day with over 100 local youth development professionals at last week#LEDconferencerence! Participants enjoyed 12 workshops and panels covering topics including program planning, family engagement, cultural competency, holistic skill development, and more. ![]()
Want to stay in the loop about upcoming learning opportunities? Sign up for our professional development newsletter: signup.e2ma.net/signup/1992349/1965826/