MetLife Foundation Afterschool Innovator Awards: Colorado MESA, Arizona ICAN & RiverzEdge

 During my whirlwind tour I had the opportunity to spend time with three of our award winners; Colorado MESA in Ft. Collins, CO,  Arizona ICAN in Chandler, AZ and the RiverzEdge Arts Project in Providence, RI.

Colorado MESA, Ft. Collins, CO
My first stop was Fort Collins, Colorado to honor Colorado MESA, an after-school program focused on promoting academic excellence in math and science for underserved, economically disadvantaged and at-risk youth throughout Colorado.  My co-presenter was MetLife Managing Director, Robyn Lewis Oglesby.  We joined MESA Executive Director Gloria Nelson and her team, who organized a fantastic luncheon to cap off two jam-packed days of STEM activities and games at Colorado State University.  Before we presented the award, MESA students wowed us all with an impressive robotics competition (middle school students building remote control cars that could recognize colors – simply amazing!).  This is just one example of the cutting-edge projects that the students experience on a daily basis. It was truly an honor to present the award to such a deserving program.

Arizona ICAN, Chandler, AZ 
My next stop: Chandler, Arizona to meet Christy McClendon, Executive Director of Arizona ICAN, and her awesome staff and students.  The award ceremony took place during the City of Chandler’s Day of Play, a fun community festival that drew several thousands of Chandler’s youth and families.  Chandler Vice Mayor Bob Caccamo served as emcee and several council members were also on hand for the event.  In keeping with the family theme, Kory Budinger from MetLife brought along his daughter to present the award to Christy McClendon and ICAN afterschool youth, Melissa Velasquez.  I learned that Melissa has been part of ICAN since she was in elementary school – almost longer than most of ICAN’s staff members.  She’s now one of the talented youth leaders who is leading ICAN’s task-force to prevent underage drinking.  ICAN plays a special role in the community and it was touching to hear Christy remark that it was especially significant to have a local, grassroots organization receive national attention from the Afterschool Alliance and the MetLife Foundation. 

RiverzEdge, Providence, RI

After a brief stop in New York to catch my breath it was on to Providence, Rhode Island to help recognize the RiverzEdge Arts Project.  Afterschool Alliance Board Chairman Terry Peterson was on hand to deliver special remarks and to present the award at a star-studded Breakfast of Champions event hosted by the Rhode Island Afterschool-Plus Alliance (RIASPA).  CNN anchor and special correspondent Soledad O’Brien and one of my heroes, author and education activist Jonathan Kozol both provided stirring keynote addresses that riveted the crowd and inspired a call to action for afterschool.  Other guest speakers included Governor Donald Carcieri, Providence Mayor and Afterschool Alliance Board Member David Cicilline and numerous afterschool champions in the private and public sectors.  More than 400 guests attended. 

Terry was joined by Karen Melo from New England Financial, a MetLife Company to present the award to Riverz Edge.  Bekah Greenwald, RiverzEdge’s Executive Director and Justin Dubois, a RiverzEdge alum accepted the award on behalf of the program’s students and staff.  The morning was filled with great youth performances, including a string quartet.  One of the most moving moments was when Justin expressed his gratitude to one particular Riverz Edge staff member, calling him a true father figure who pushed him to excel as an artist and who inspired him to become one of the first members of his family to attend college.  I am not exaggerating when I say that there was not a dry eye in the house, present company included!