A program of the Office of School Safety and Learning Support administered by Volunteer Tennessee     

Aspire was created in 1999 to recognize the ability of young people to serve as change agents in their communities.  Aspire works with teams of 8-24 students and 2 adult sponsors from high schools across the state.  Sponsors form their teams by selecting student members who mirror the diverse population in the school they represent.  Aspire staff then work with the teams and sponsors to provide training in leadership and program development using principles of service learning. 

The teams are charged with designing and implemeting service projects that improve their school climate and/or change the current norms around alcohol, drug use and violence.  Teams choose projects as diverse as starting peer mediation teams,  initiating peer education programs with middle schoolers and creating positive alternatives to alcohol and other drug use. Teams from across the state come together at the end of the school year to present and celebrate their accomplishments and plan for the future. 

For More Information on Aspire Contact:

Melia Arnold, Aspire Service-Learning Director
Volunteer Tennessee
312 8th Ave, North Suite 1200
Nashville, TN 37243
Phone: 615-253-6314
Fax: 615-532-6950
Email: Melia.Arnold@state.tn.us

Our mission is to empower youth through service-learning to improve the learning climate of schools with special focus on school safety and youth norms regarding alcohol, drugs, and violence.