Thursday, December 9, 2010

November December Progress: We Need Your Help


Happy Holidays to you and your family. Highlights of our progress in November and December 2010 include the following:

The TEAMS Institute Clubs at McKenzie High School and McKenzie Middle School met once each month during homeroom as an advisory council to plan activities for the TEAMS Institute. The current officers (photo left to right) Vice President-Alex Cawthon; President-Noreli Mirna Mendez; Reporter-Ananceah Warren; Secretary/Treasurer-Herivia Strayhorn attended leadership training in Nashville, Tennessee.

The TEAMS Institute is preparing for our grand opening at our new location
We will continue our advisory meetings at the High School on December 7 at 11:00 am and at the Middle School on December 8 at 12:30 pm. Our advisors have set up volunteer groups to host our grand opening.

Continue to check your newspaper, mailbox and email for announcements of our grand opening of our TEAMS Institute center with more games, fun, homework help, college, career, vocational preparation, college tours and field trips.

WE NEED YOUR HELP. To prepare for our grand opening, volunteer opportunities will begin on December 14, 2010.

In preparation for our grand opening, please sign our support list, mail a letter to us at 135 Bells Store Road McKenzie TN 38201 or send a letter with your child to our school meetings to tell us why this TEAMS Institute afterschool program is important to your family and your child. You can also email your letter to srmwms@yahoo.com. Or record a comment at 731-415-2588.

On December 9, during the regular Board of Mayor and Council meeting of the City of McKenzie Tennesse, Ms. Williams, a member of the TEAMS Institute leadership group was unanimously approved by appointment to serve the city as a member on the McKenzie Park and Recreational Board.

We have identified and submitted proposals for funding that could potentially increase our funding to over half a million dollars.

Friday, November 12, 2010

Celebration Reaps Wishlist Gift

A trickle turned into a stream of steady support as hundreds lent their voice and talent to celebrate afterschool and the TEAMS Institute on October 28 and 29 in the Green Hills and at Cafe Coco near Vanderbilt University. Student, staff, board, business and community leaders shared college tours, round table discussions, media airtime, poetry, music and song in support of afterschool. The event enabled us to locate a van for our students. Thank you to everyone that supported our programming.

Vanderbilt University
College Connection, Oasis Center
Tennessee State University
Belmont University
US Department of HUD
The Small Business Administration
WBBJ-TV
Mount Zion Baptist Church
101.5 FM
The Nashville Rescue Mission
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
Kenneth Williams, Conference Moderator
Evelyn Parker, Board/Community Training Round tables Coordinator
Younger Associates
Cafe Coco
Osman Jalloh
Carter Moody
John Baldwin

Thursday, October 7, 2010

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

Monday, August 9, 2010

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.