After-School Program:

The after-school program is a year-long extension of the summer program and aims to continue the creation of excellent young adults through a diverse and consistent character-building curriculum. Mentorship is key to the resilience and strength of any community, and AHA! provides many positive mentoring experiences, offering after-school programs four days a week with an 8 to 1 ratio of teens to professional adults.

The after-school program continues the themes of social responsibility, character development, diversity appreciation, creative self-expression, and enhanced emotional intelligence. The classes each contain a creative arts component, helping teens discover outlets for passionate expression through the living arts. The program also includes focused discussion and lessons on: problem-solving, compassionate communication, conflict reduction, stress management, personal accountability, social conscience, and dynamic self-expression.

The groups also are organized to support teens who are dealing with significant life challenges–ranging from the loss of a parent to a personal history of abuse–and to help them grow through these experiences to become deeper, stronger, and more compassionate young adults.