Support Our Annual Fundraising Celebration

SPEAK UP: An International Community Open-Mic Benefit
Friday 29 October 2010 8:00 pm
Café Coco
210 Louise Avenue
Nashville, TN 37203

Local poetry, spoken word, comedy, story-telling, music, and vocal artists with special guest performances by:

Kevin Sandbloom ~ Acoustic Guitarist Los Angeles, California
Etchane Jackson ~ DJ Las Vegas, Nevada
Cicely Floyd ~ Neo-Jazz Inspirational Vocalist Nashville, Tennessee
Kenneth Dozier ~MC Nashville, Tennessee
Sheila & Cheryl Williams ~ Hosts

Your $20 donation benefits the children of the TEAMS Institute
For more information about SPEAK UP call 615.299.9906

You're Invited to Our 30th Annual Benefit Conference

Join children, parents, business and community leaders on October 28th and 29th to participate in Lights On Afterschool, a nationwide event to celebrate the importance of afterschool programs. Hosted by the TEAMS Institute, an afterschool program that offers technical and artistic educational and life-skill building activities for children and youth, the event will emphasize the importance of keeping the lights on and the doors open for afterschool programs across America.

Being held at various venues in Nashville, the events planned for the Lights On Afterschool rally include a tour of Colleges and financial aid on October 28, a fundraising workshop on October 29 at 10am at the Hampton Inn Green Hills, then concluding with the BENEFIT CONCERT at 8 pm at Cafe Coco.

To learn more about the TEAMS Institute, visit http://www.teamsinstitute.org

Our Year In Review

Quarter one, July - Sept 2009
awarded 21st CCLC grant
conducted community outreach and service
prepared homework help and college career prep for students

Quarter two, Oct - Dec 2009
hired J Allen
hosted "Lights On Afterschool Celebration"
provided homework help, STEM enrichment and college career prep services

Quarter Three, Jan - March 2010
hired K. Jones, R. Taber, A.Feezor, S. Johnson
provided homework help, STEM enrichment and college career prep services
formed TEAMS Student Clubs and Advisory Boards at McKenzie Middle and High School
hosted dance drum auditions
hosted speakers for careers in surgery, government, human resources, civil engineering

Quarter Four, April - June 2010
hosted speakers for careers in massage, nursing, counseling, psychology, social work, automobile industry
hired K.Shivers, Simmons
provided homework help and college career prep for students
hosted summer camp with weekly themes of sports, the arts, entertainment and outdoor recreation
visited Tennessee Career Center
visited Casey Jones Railroad Museum, Chuck E. Cheese
visited Bethel University Pool
visited College Connection, Fisk University, Tennessee State University, Vanderbilt, Cheesecake Factory, Strike and Spare in Nashville, Tennessee
visited LeMoyne Owen College, Rhodes College, Incredible Pizza in Memphis, Tennessee
recorded television pilot of "22 and Bells Store" talent/college career prep show
trained Dance Team and Drum Line

The TEAMS Institute Co-President Wins Modeling Competition
McKenzie, TN – The Co-President of the TEAMS Institute Advisory Board in McKenzie was recently selected as the winner of the American Mall Model Search Competition in the Jackson area.

Mirna Noreli Mendez is a junior at McKenzie High School who enjoys singing and dancing. She hopes to attend Vanderbilt University in the future and is honored to be leading the program at the TEAMS Institute to provide college and career preparation as well as service learning opportunities for students.

The American Mall Model Search Competition is the nation’s largest scouting tour, producing models for fashion industry and promoting talent to the film industry. Founded in 1982, the AMMS has over 25 years of experience discovering young talent and launching new careers. As the Jackson area winner, Ms. Mendez was awarded a one-year modeling contract with Model Productions.

“I felt really surprised and excited when I was informed of my win and I am ready to start working. I feel honored to be able to represent McKenzie and the minority community,” stated Ms. Mendez.

The TEAMS Institute, an afterschool program that offers educational and life-skill building activities for student scholars, was designed for youth by youth. The club is open to all youth who are interested in college preparation, career training, community service, business leadership, real estate development and social networking.

Open to children in grades one through twelve, student scholars who attend the TEAMS Institute participate in classes concerning Technology, Engineering, the Arts, Medicine and Science (TEAMS).

Children attending the Institute have learned valuable life skills that help them in all aspects of their lives. They gain the confidence they need to excel socially and academically. The children who attend the Institute are performing better in the classroom and are learning how to give back to their community.

Funding for the Institute is provided by the State of Tennessee’s 21st Century Learning Center, a group that awards grants to organizations that provide academic enrichment activities designed to help students meet state and local standards. The TEAMS Institute was recently awarded a three-year grant from the 21st Century Learning Center to continue providing life-changing opportunities for the youth of Carroll County.

To learn more about the TEAMS Institute, visit teamsinstitute.org or call the center at 731.352.3377.

TEAMS Welcome Artistic Instructors

We are pleased to announce the addition of the following artistic instructors to the TEAMS Institute. They bring gifts and skills such as business, music, massage, gymnastics, cheerleading, dance, coaching, cosmetology and acting.

Our new members include: Keith Jones, Keshia Shivers, Becky King, Tamika Simmons and Shamaree Johnson.

10 ways to empower kids to cook

Here are 10 things outside of showing them how to follow a recipe that you can do to help empower your kids to cook.

1. Make sure there is a sturdy step stool or chair for smaller children so they can reach counter height.
2. Teach measuring skills. Explain what the numbers and words on measuring cups and spoons mean and work with kids on mastering a quarter cup or a tablespoon.
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3. Get them their own cookbook. It doesn't have to be a kids' cookbook. It could be one that focuses on a food they like such as pasta or chicken. Or get a subscription to Chop Chop magazine, a new kids' cooking magazine that is really well done.
4. Take kids to the market -- the grocery store or the farmers market -- and let them choose ingredients for the recipes they want to make.
5. Teach kitchen safety. Show them how to wash hands thoroughly, handle knives properly (at the appropriate age, of course ), how to put knives safely out of the way, how to turn pot handles in so they don't stick out, how to check and make sure they've turned off the stove and the oven, and all the other things that prevent injuries in the kitchen.
6. Teach them to use kitchen tools (again, at appropriate ages). Cheese graters, garlic presses, mixers, blenders, and other gadgets really interest kids.
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7. Teach your kids where food comes from. Start a small garden. Take them to a farm to see cows that will eventually become beef or pigs that will eventually become bacon.
8. Once kids get past preschool, don't call things like "worms in the dirt" and "ants on a log" cooking. You don't have to do away with them, just let kids know those things aren't cooking.
9. As their skills improve, let them know which dishes you'll allow them to cook on their own without your supervision and which dishes they need to have a grown-up by their side to make.
10. Teach them to clean up after themselves. Making a mess is fine. Leaving a mess is not.

Excerpt from a blog by Robyn Shreeves, Mother Nature Network - http://www.mnn.com/food/healthy-eating-recipes/blogs/10-ways-to-empower-kids-to-cook

May 2010 Program Progress

The total number of students served to date:
125 elementary, middle, and high school scholars

The communications between staff and school day teachers, parents, and partners:
We reviewed the homework journals that our scholars bring home from school each day. We also communicate by home visits, blogs, text messages, and other social media.

Examples of activities and services that have been provided:
Homework Help, Science Experiments, Engineering Building Simulations, Sand Art Design, Reed Flute Classes, Music Reading, Hip Hop Dance, Inertia Experiments, Making Weather Experiment, Drill Formation Basics, Business Correspondence, Tutoring, Skateboarding, Fitness, Social Media, Computer Robotics, Student Council, Culinary Certification, Interior Design, Public Speaking Community Service; Career Exploration; College/Career Passport Portfolios.

The impact the program has had on students and families:
Restored hope; strengthened leadership skills; provided income; expanded vision of possibilities for their future

Academic success stories attributed to program activities:
Dylan was failing four classes in January 2010. Presently, he is passing three classes.

Specific school data used to target improvement in each student’s academic success:
We are using teacher behavior surveys and grade reports. This data helps us identify the types of specific course tutors (i.e., reading) and social classes (sexual abuse awareness) to provide for our scholars. We stress the importance of completing homework and the power of simply showing up and taking advantage of free service to increase the quality of life.

The project staff/volunteers and professional development opportunities:
The program recorded approximately 186 volunteer hours and service by 5 staff and volunteers including Alex Cawthon, Tyeisha Haynes, Asia Allen, Octavia Moore, Keith Jones, Reginald Taber, Mumika Momelow, Dr. Chukwuogo; Dr. Barnhill, Patsy Anthony; Sheila Williams, Catherine True, Becky King, Evelyn Parker and a host of other professionals who provide services from housekeeping to tutoring to career exploration days. Professional Development activities have included the SEDL Teacher Training Modules, Child Abuse, Home Visit Training; Nutrition; Lesson Planning; Tutoring. April 22 the TEAMS Institute held a staff development day and training for summer session.

Partnerships and community collaboration activities:
Ag Extension-nutrition education; Carl Perkins Center-child abuse; Carroll County Interagency Taskforce – coordination and networking of youth services; career exploration speakers representing organizations such as the McKenzie Regional Hospital; Tennessee Department of Transportation and others.