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After‑school NAZA program seeks funding for summer slots focused on MDHA communities
Summary
Nashville Afterzone Alliance, housed at NPL, asked the budget committee for $200,000 to sustain a part‑time coordinator, a leadership pilot and 100 additional summer program slots; a larger request to cover 400 additional slots was only partially funded and remains on the library's wish list.
Anna Haratunyan, who oversees the Nashville Afterzone Alliance (NAZA), told the budget committee that NAZA needs additional funds to expand summer programming in Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (MDHA) communities and to continue piloted partnerships in juvenile justice and alternative learning centers.
Luke said NPL is requesting $200,000 for NAZA in FY26. "NAZA will fund a part time position to coordinate youth leadership activities," Luke said, and staff described three strategies that funding would support: a part‑time youth coordinator for youth leadership work, a year‑long leadership development pilot for students in nontraditional schools, and 100 additional summer camp slots targeted to public housing communities.
Council members pressed staff about a larger set of unmet costs. Library staff said $512,000 more would have covered 400 additional summer slots (a four‑week, five‑day program costing $1,280 per slot), but that only a portion of NAZA's request was funded; staff said they would cover a portion of the slots plus the coordinator but could not continue a grant‑funded juvenile detention pilot because participants are not all Davidson County residents.
Anna Haratunyan said pilot sites included MDHA resident services communities and alternative learning centers; staff said two alternative‑learning‑center programs in the current budget will continue. Council members identified NAZA as a priority and encouraged finding funding options to preserve the program where possible.
