The Interstages Story
As middle school teachers in Washington, DC, Herb Scott and Noel Tieszen witnessed first-hand the egregious disparity in youth opportunities among various DC schools and neighborhoods. Believing that ¯every child deserves the chance to experience success, they hit upon ¯a unique concept with the potential to ¯effectively engage middle school students in quality programming that strives to fill these opportunity gaps.
Because many middle school youth in Southeast Washington do not have access to structured, age-appropriate afterschool activities or youth development programs, opportunities for them to discover their potential and work toward future goals are too few and too far between.
In 2005, unwilling just to accept this reality, Noel and Herb founded Interstages, a nonprofit afterschool youth development program for early adolescent youth. A pilot of their program for girls launched in February 2006 and proved that the Interstages model is more than the sum of its parts.
More than a study hall, Interstages guides each student through personalized academic goal-setting and develops interventions and supports to assure that each girl can achieve her goals.
More than a traditional music class, Interstages integrates history, culture, mathematics, music theory, technique, literacy, and performance to provide a rounded and engaging experience.
More than a prevention program, Interstages meets students where they are, hands them the reins of their future, and guides them as they learn to steer their own paths to success.
Even with minimal funding, Interstages’ pilot semester was a huge success, enabling Interstages to build a growing network of individual, business, foundation, and community partners. These supporters help sustain quality programming and build capacity so that more girls (and eventually, boys) will be able to access the opportunities Interstages provides.
As you explore this site, we welcome you to the Interstages family, where success is in the experience – for everyone.
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