TNDC Tenderloin After-School Program (TASP)

TASP is a drop-in program where over 210 kids and teens play, learn, build leadership skills, celebrate different cultures, and explore San Francisco and opportunities for their future. Open to kids and teens aged 7 to 18, TASP often supports a participant from Elementary School to High School and later hires past participants as Youth Workers—making TASP a truly one-of-kind program.

Having an environment like this, where you know that staff genuinely supports you and cares about you is really important," said Vivianna Rojas, former TASP participant and current Youth Worker.

During the week, TASP offers educational activities with different themes, such as Cultural Arts and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math), tutoring support, weekly teen nights, and regular field trips. All activities are designed to respect a participant's cultural identity and foster a supportive environment that encourages kids to thrive inside and outside school, build relationships and self-esteem, and learn about other cultures.

TASP was created out of the Tenderloin community's need for a supportive after-school space in the neighborhood. In 1993 we started the program with the help of the community, Leadership San Francisco class of 1992, Cheryl Jennings (former journalist of ABC7), and many others. Today, TASP is a core part of our Tenant & Community Services department.

We're here to support kids and teens in their academic growth and goals. To foster participants' natural curiosity and individual learning styles, we provide a variety of opportunities and activities:

Teen Homework Nights: Every Tuesday and Wednesday from 6-8 pm, TASP staff and dedicated volunteers provide homework assistance and tutoring to teens.

Complementary Learning Activities are designed to be fun, age-appropriate, and engaging to kids in order to complement–but not duplicate–what they're learning in school. Learning activities have themes four days a week: Math, Science & Technology, Literacy, and Arts/Culture/Geography.

Project-Based Learning is inspires students to chart the course of their own learning and dive deeper into the subjects they're studying. This type of learning is dynamic, allowing students use their critical thinking to explore real-world problems and challenges.
School Liaison Services: TASP helps coordinate between participants, their family, and their schools to ensure academic progress and manage transitions, such as graduations

We encourage TASP participants to decide what success means for them and their family. That might look like college, but it doesn't have to. However, we do believe that being exposed to the possibility of college and having known support with the application process are important resources for teens to make that decision for themselves.

To foster this learning, TASP offers the following resources:

Regular tours of local college campuses
College Workshop: Each spring, approximately 20 TASP’s teenage participants begin a ten-week college workshop that includes guest speakers and assignments that educate the teens about the realities of college, from completing applications, choosing a school, deciding on a course of study, to applying for financial aid and scholarships
Annual College Tour: For participants who attend all the college workshop sessions, have the minimum GPA, and complete all assignments, the reward is the opportunity to go on the Annual College Tour. The tour is a week-long trip, often cross-country, that includes tours of college campuses, cultural activities, leadership experiences, and service learning projects. Past college tours have included Chicago, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Boston, Miami, Los Angeles, Hawaii, Washington DC, Seattle, and New York!
Educational Grant Program: Provides financial assistance to eligible participants in their pursuit to attend a college, university, or vocational training program. Grants can assist with unmet financial needs such as tuition, books, room/board, school feels, and other school-related expenses.

TASP takes a holistic, comprehensive approach to supporting kids and teens in the Tenderloin community. A core part of that support is creating a space for kids to express themselves creatively, physically, culturally, and socially.

Arts: TASP staff encourage kids through project-based, hands-on learning. Kids and teens can take poetry and drama classes, learn jewelry making, video production, dance, photography, and more.

Recreation: Play is an essential part of being a kid and important for their physical, emotional, and social well-being. TASP makes sure to have at least 30 minutes of physical activity per day. Games from Monday to Wednesday, park outings on Thursday, and sports on Friday and Saturday. Kids also have access to board and card games and other fun activities.

Cultural Appreciation: The Tenderloin community is full of many vibrant cultures, backgrounds, and languages. At TASP, we celebrate, appreciate, and explore those cultures, heritage, and history. TASP centers activities, learning and outings on participant's and other's cultures. Examples include annual cultural and holiday celebrations, theme months (e.g. Latino Heritage Month), and field trips to San Francisco’s Spring India Day Festival, African-American Arts Complex, Japanese drumming at Yerba Buena, the Oye Mi Gente Festival, and a Hip-Hop Festival.