Spring 2005
What's Inside
Ase Celebrates Sixth Year.
Thank You All For Making Ase a Success.
By Brian Peterson, Executive Director
In your hands, or via the internet, you have the Spring 2005 Edition of our newsletter, ASE Today. This project is a culmination of our Ase Journalism class, as well as a few additional selections. Its purpose is to give you a taste of the many things Ase has done this year..
As I type these words on the eve our final day for 2004-2005, I can't even begin to say how proud I am of everyone who's been involved in the program. From the parents who were eagerly awaiting the word on whether or not their children would be in the program on our crowded first day, to the students who made the commitment to be with us every Saturday, to the staff who have given up many hours to plan activities and work with the students. Without any of you, we wouldn't be here.
Why do we do what we do? I am often asked this question. I have my own family -- a wife who's in school, and 2 toddlers. I have a fulltime job, in addition to running my own publishing company and starting a non-profit organization. There are many other things that I could be doing with my Saturdays, but for me -- and many of the other staff -- Ase has become a responsibility and a labor of love that is essentially a part of our lives. When I walk through The Gallery Mall, (as I did earlier today) or along 52nd or South Street, and overhear what many of the teens are talking about, I realize more than ever that Ase is critical.
Though the proverb "It takes a village to raise a child," has become cliche and overused at times, it is still very true. As a community, it is essential that we create the villages that will mold our children into respectful citizens, aware of all of their power, their history, and their possibilities. Children grow up fast. I've seen my two go from tiny babies to walkers and talkers almost before my eyes. I've also seen many of the Ase students come in as quiet sixth graders, and leave on the verge of their high school years, now thinking of socializing and future college choices. Today's "popular culture" only adds fuel to the growth rates of our children. Ase gives students a chance to mature in a safe space where they can ask difficult questions and receive additional mentoring and academic support. We must provide these types of structured outlets for our children, otherwise we risk endangering them, and ultimately, ourselves.
The Ase program is excited about continuing our growth and extending the reach of our program. We look forward to the upcoming year, and another opportunity to progress even further. Ase!
.jpg)
Closing
Ceremony Agenda,
April 23 2005
9:30 - Reception
10:00 - Breakfast
10:30 - Program
Welcome Message
Poetry Selection
Awards and Acknowledgements
"Recognize"
Closing Comments
Read the rest of the newsletter online at
www.aseacademy.org
Philly Stories
Ase Highlights
World and National News
Entertainment and Lifestyle
Sports Feature
Ase
Today is a product of Ase's Sixth Grade Journalism Class. Special
thanks to Ashley Foxx of The Vision for working with the class,
and Darnel Degand, for the layout assistance. Copyright 2005.
www.aseacademy.org