Aspire is an out-of-school time programming partnership between Shelby Public Schools and the American Youth Foundation. The Aspire program is funded through the 21st Century Community Learning Center. Aspire is run at four different sites. There is one site each at Shelby High School, Shelby Middle School, New Era Elementary, and Thomas Read Elementary.
Mission
Aspire will empower students to reach their full potential to become productive citizens who impact their communities, nation and world through enrichment, academic achievement and civic engagement. We Aspire to become a healing presence in the students' lives to foster an environment in which the student feels safe, nurtured and valued.
American Youth Foundation
AYF Mission: The American Youth Foundation inspires people to discover and develop their personal best, to seek balance in mental, physical, social and spiritual living and to make a positive difference in their communities and in the wider world.
AYF Vision: The AYF will continue to excel in developing individuals who:
- Achieve their best.
- Balance the mental, physical, social, and regligous/spiritual aspects of their lives.
- Understand persons from diverse backgrounds.
- Work for a sustainable environment.
- Best Self: We seek to develop excellence in people by motivating them to discover and develop their personal best.
- Balanced Living: We believe that balanced living is an integral part of everyone's life personally and professionally. We encourage people to attain balance in mental, physical, social and religous/spiritual pursuits.
- Safety: We commit to providing a safe environment in which people can take emotional and physical risks.
- Respect: We seek to involve people from diverse cultures, values and perspectives and to impart respect for others.
- Responsibility: We strive to instill responsibility to act for the good of others and for a sustainable environment.
- Stewardship: We commit to the long-term health of our organization.
