2024-2025 Program Funding Applications Now Open!

The 2024-2025 Call for Proposals has now opened. If you are a non-profit organization that is interested in being a NAZA-Funded Partner, please click here for full details and to submit your application. Applications close April 15, 2024.

NAZA Enhances Partnership with the Juvenile Justice Center of Nashville and Davidson County, Metro Nashville Public Schools, and Non-profit Partners to Pilot Youth Development Programs for Youth Impacted by Justice System

NAZA’s funding for afterschool and summer programs enables access to quality programs for all the young people who attend given schools or live in the neighborhoods where these programs are offered. While this approach ensures equity of access, we realized that young people who may not currently be in the schools or in the neighborhoods where regular programs are being …

Lights On Afterschool 2023: NAZA Partner Events

Lights On Afterschool is a nationwide event that unites thousands of community organizations and millions of attendees to celebrate and promote the importance of afterschool programs. Many of NAZA’s partners will be hosting community events in October to celebrate Lights On Afterschool. We hope to see you there! Tuesday, October 24, 2023 Global Outreach Developments International – DuPont Hadley | …

Community Celebrates Youth at First Annual Youth Matters Gala & Showcase

More than 100 youth and adults gathered on Thursday, June 8, 2023 for the first annual Youth Matters Gala & Showcase. The event was created by the youth leaders of NAZA’s Youth In Action! to showcase their work over the past year and provide a space for youth and adults to support and learn from each other. “I appreciated the …

NAZA in the News

NAZA offers safe spaces, fun for Nashville middle schoolers “Middle school is a tough time for kids – just that adolescence,” [Metro Parks Program Coordinator Reggie Robinson] said. “(I’m) trying to teach them to be kind to each other, how to handle their emotions, how to handle conflict, conflict management. Just trying to provide a safe space where they can …

Youth Matters Gala & Showcase on June 8

Join us on Thursday, June 8 from 3pm-6pm at the Main Library for the first-annual Youth Matters Gala & Showcase! Created by the students of NAZA’s Youth In Action!, the event will highlight their work and accomplishments from the past year and provide a space for youth and adults to support and learn from each other. Participants will get to …

Submit Your Program to the OST Locator

Do you operate an out-of-school time program? Enter your information into the database for the Citywide Out-of-School Locator to spread the word about your program to families and youth. Click here to submit your details. This round of submissions closes May 22, so don’t delay on getting your program on the map before summer begins!

Youth Spotlight: Neema

Meet Neema! Neema is a young leader that is making a difference in her community through NAZA’s Youth In Action! initiative. She first got involved in Youth In Action! through a NAZA-funded afterschool program with DYMON last year. Allie Duke, NAZA’s Youth Advisor and founder of Youth In Action!, recruited Neema and another student to lead a community project. Neema …

Welcome NAZA’s New Project Coordinator

We are pleased to welcome Rev. James Turner II as our new Project Coordinator! James will be working on projects related to the implementation of Nashville’s Vision for Holistic Youth Development.  You can read more about James here.

NAZA’s First Annual L.E.D. Conference is a Hit

More than 120 attendees, representing dozens of local youth-serving organizations, schools, and government agencies, joined NAZA and a lineup of expert guest speakers on March 9 for the Learn, Engage, Develop! Conference for OST Practitioners for a day full of learning, networking, and fun. Attendees enjoyed hands-on workshops on a variety of topics, including social-emotional learning, mindfulness, lesson planning, integrating …