
Trainings are free for all youth development professionals and include positive youth development, youth leadership, civil rights, mindfulness, self-care/wellness, and more!

School-based afterschool programs are virtual until further notice. Some community-based programs offer an in-person option.

Youth In Action! is created and led by youth in Nashville. This year, they will be leading citywide initiatives and creating community projects in collaboration with middle school youth. Download our flyer for more information!

Based at the Nashville Public Library, NAZA’s mission is to strengthen free, high-quality expanded learning opportunities that prepare Nashville public school students to succeed in middle school and beyond.

Our 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 2010 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 20 youth development organizations all working collaboratively to improve the learning experiences of youth.
The need for NAZA is demonstrated by the following statistics:

NAZA’s mission is to increase equitable access to afterschool and summer learning experiences that help youth thrive and develop to their full potential. We do this by:
Investing funds in afterschool and summer programs citywide for middle school youth.
Capacity-building • Strengthening the capacity of the youth-serving community through professional development, evaluation services, and technical assistance to impact the learning experiences of youth.
Convening the larger youth-serving community in Nashville to strategically mobilize and leverage resources.
Advocating for increased investment in the holistic development of youth.
Empowering youth through initiatives that cultivate their leadership and life skills, connect them to positive relationships, and inspire their love for learning.