Interstages: Filling the gap for DC middle schoolers

Many middle school youth in southeast Washington, D.C., do not have access to structured, age-appropriate after-school activities or youth development programs. Interstages, founded in 2005 by former DC Public Schools teachers Herb Scott and Noel Tieszen, provides opportunities for early adolescents in low-income neighborhoods to discover talents, develop and strengthen skills, and heighten self-awareness, setting the stage for a successful transition into young adulthood.

Interstages specifically supports sixth, seventh, and eighth graders as they navigate this challenging stage and make decisions that can affect the rest of their lives. Opportunities for these youth to discover their potential and work toward future goals are often few and far between. Interstages strives to fill this opportunity gap.

Interstages launched a pilot afterschool program for girls in February 2006. The pilot semester’s success helped Interstages build a growing network of individual, business, foundation, and community partners. These supporters help sustain quality programming and capacity-building so more girls (and eventually, boys) can access the opportunities Interstages provides.

Interstages not only helps each student create and implement detailed academic plans, but also monitors and supports student progress toward personalized goals. With a 6-to-1 student-to-staff ratio, Interstages helps each student set personalized academic goals, including step-by-step plans and benchmarks of success.

At Interstages, students study the arts in historical and cultural context, so they begin to connect to history and view arts as both social indicators and tools for social change. Each unique curriculum unit integrates a wide range of academic content and incorporates music skills & experiences including Vocal technique, ear training workshops, composition, and performing.

Interstages operates at Hillcrest Recreation Center, 3100 Denver Street SE, Washington, D.C., every school day from 3:30 to 6 p.m. Students must be registered by a parent or guardian.

To contact Interstages, call 202-824-0740, email Noel.Tieszen@interstages.org, or visit www.interstages.org.