Mill Valley Arts & Recreation Teen Coordinator Melanie Mah and Youth & Teen Supervisor Yukie Sano have spearheaded a new way to incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion education and awareness in their after school teen program, called the Teen Zone, which is proving to have an ongoing impact on the multitude of teens who participate in the daily program. In 2022, this team officially launched a new monthly rotating Heritage Month Celebration program which includes: art, photographs, descriptions, movie screenings, and even an interactive quiz all geared toward raising awareness about a selected heritage, culture, community, or service. The interactive exhibit remains on display throughout the month.
Each month features a nationally recognized celebration with the lineup including:
- January - Lunar New Year
- February - Black History Month
- March - Women’s History Month
- April - Earth Day and Community Service Awareness
- May - AAPI Month
- June - Pride Month
- September - Hispanic Heritage Month
- November - Native American Heritage Month
- December - World Holiday Celebrations
Melanie and Yukie report that teens are enjoying quizzing each other using the interactive exhibit and, perhaps even more amazingly, they are holding discussions with one another and with staff about their findings.
We are incredibly proud of Melanie’s and Yukie’s hard work to bring this unique and highly interactive new program focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion to our after school teen program and know it is just the beginning of more great things to come as they grow and expand on it.
If you would like more information about the Teen Zone, or if you would like to purchase your child a Teen Zone membership, please visit our website.
Stay Connected
Sign up today to receive our newsletter emails with Recreation News, Updates, Program Information, Special Events and more!