Ti’Andre
By day, a student and by night, a police officer. Ti’Andre Bellinger serves one of Miami’s roughest neighborhoods, Model City, not coincidentally, the same community where he grew up. On a given night cruising through the area, Ti’Andre responds to calls ranging from stabbings, gunshots, and domestic violence to loud music and people that just need to talk. "It’s a great opportunity to serve the area where I grew up. Unfortunately, ‘crime never gets old” and when it comes, it comes in sevens, he reflects.
Ti’Andre says SFASAS changed the trajectory of his life and taught him to be himself. Ti’Andre was full of attitude and anger said his mentor, friend, and Executive Director, Sean Prospect. “With ASAS, he found [that] poetry and spoken word was huge for him.” Ti’Andre turned his “don’t mess with me” attitude into one his teachers used when they talked about a true role model. Ti’Andre’s memories of being African-American boy growing up in a community where the police were perceived more often as foe rather than friend give him a unique lens with which to see the role of modern law enforcement.
Ti’Andre is going places. He’s planning to attend law school and pursue a career in politics. "God willing, I’m going to run as the president of the United States of America." Most importantly, he has the skills and support system to accomplish his goals. "I won’t stop because it’s never over."
Victoria
Victoria Torres, an 8th grader at West Miami Middle School, has been in ASAS since the 6th grade. She credits the program with dramatically helping her improve her grades, study skills and learn how to establish priorities. She is incredibly proud that she now understands previously difficult concepts when they are explained in class. Torres says that through ASAS “you can actually have fun at school.”
One of Torres’ favorite ASAS programs is the Career Exploration Opportunities national initiative, which she calls “fun and exciting.” This career-oriented young lady excels in math and science and hopes to go to college to pursue her dream of being a chemist, a dream she had cherished ever since she received a chemistry set as a four-year-old child for Christmas. She hopes to attend the University of Miami and make her family proud.
Torres also credits ASAS with helping her improve her social skills and make friends. Torres’ parents divorced when she was young and she had to move between schools, which made making friends challenging. In her young life, she explains that she has lost many people close to her, including her grandparents. Through ASAS, Torres has found peers and teachers she can rely on for guidance and support in school and in life!
Marie
My name is Marie and I am an 8th grade student at JFK Middle school in North Miami Beach. I am also the South Florida student representative on the National Youth Advisory Board for After-school All-stars.
I want to tell everyone about my amazing journey with the After-School All-Star program. Before I started, I was a little shy, not too involved and not always confident enough to speak up when I saw something wrong. I’ve been in the program for three years and it has changed who I am. I’ve had the chance to get to know my teachers better and take new classes like yoga, drama, nutrition, art, career exploration and cheerleading to name a few.
Last summer, I was given the opportunity to go to Dallas Texas for the National Youth Advisory Board Leadership Retreat. I learned about leadership and community service and went to the Texas Instruments headquarters to learn about jobs in engineering. They even gave us free scientific calculators which will come in handy in high school. When I grow up, I want to attend FIU, go to medical school, become a doctor and help people who are sick.
Thanks to After-School All-Stars, all the staff and volunteers, thousands of kids like me in South Florida know they are on their way to achieving their dreams.