Click Here to print this page.After approximately a year of organizing, researching and planning, Striving To Achieve & Reach Success was incorporated in June of 1996. It was created to provide a safe, fun place for youth to congregate and partake in positive activity while keeping them off the streets. “There is nothing to do” was a commonly heard phrase among young residence of our area and they were right. Other than some athletic organizations, such as little leagues, no programs existed that involved youth and provided recreational, educational and developmental programs. A group of caring and dedicated adults felt the same way. They joined together and formed a Board of Directors.
Our goal was to have a neighborhood youth center that offered a wide variety of programs. We wanted the children to really feel that this center was theirs. For them to feel a part of it, we knew they had to take responsibility for it. With a little encouragement these young people stepped up to the challenge by volunteering their services in whatever was needed. From teaching a dance class to painting a wall, and doing many of the administrative duties, these kids do it all! Ultimately, STARS has given, and will continue to give youth the tools necessary to make the transition from childhood to adulthood, and produce active and productive citizens of the community through lots of fun and hard work.
Today, the youth involved at STARS have become role models for their peers and an inspiration to all. Empowering these young people has given them the opportunity to make a difference in their community. They have taken that opportunity and have build on it, with surmountable results. We consider ourselves extremely lucky to work with such talented and dedicated individuals and it gives us all great pride to know that we have fostered that leadership ability in them.