Diezel Alhassan, 18, gets discouraged sometimes when he hears adults propose stricter curfews for teens.
He understands that it comes from a place of care, but he wants adults to know that kids his age don’t usually go out looking for trouble. They’re mostly just looking for something to do.
It’s why he’s so passionate about Aspire Higher Foundation’s new program, After Hours.
From 7-11 p.m. every Friday and Saturday night, the Northwest Landing neighborhood nonprofit opens its doors to kids, teens and young adults looking to learn something new, express their creativity and, most importantly, feel safe doing it.
“I’m thankful to know that spaces like this really do exist,” Alhassan said. “There are people that actually do care for you and want you to be safe and still have fun, and be yourself too.”
Alhassan has become an ambassador for After Hours. His official title is “Night Mayor.”
In the role, Alhassan gets paid to help plan activities kids his age will actually get excited about. He also serves as a roving teen mentor throughout the After Hours events.
His presence speaks to adult organizers’ desire to create a program not just for teens, but made with them — something youth in Indy say they want to see more of in the city.
“We don’t make any ideas without asking them first,” said Marvin Smith, 42, an After Hours organizer and foundation board member.
Get the backstory
Sparking creativity
Aspire Higher took over and renovated the former Fire Station No. 23 at the corner of Udell and Rader several years ago. Since then, the nonprofit has steadily grown its presence on the block.
An art studio now sits catty-corner to Aspire House and its nearby community gardens. Kids often take turns climbing the jungle gym across the street at the recently renovated Frank Young Park.
And now the entire block lights up for the free After Hours events. It’s the foundation’s new effort this summer to provide a safe, engaging place for kids and teens to go late on Friday and Saturday nights — a time when many summer camps and other youth activities close for the weekend.
Each After Hours activity belongs to one of four “villages,” exploring themes of culinary arts, environmental sustainability, health and wellness, and hands-on creativity. So far, attendees have tried everything from screen printing to woodworking.
On a recent Friday night, about half a dozen kids and teens joined the Riverside Riders for a 6-mile loop around the block. A couple of teens hung back in Aspire House’s RyZe Kitchen to prepare dinner. Barbecue chicken, rib tips and diced sweet potatoes were on the menu.
Smith describes the atmosphere as mentorship meets Punch Bowl Social, referring to the trendy downtown restaurant and bar known for its arcade games, bowling and karaoke rooms. For example, kids recently tried mixology, creating alcohol-free mocktails with garnishes picked from the community garden.
Later this summer, organizers hope to introduce graffiti art, skateboarding and pickleball.
“We have some variation,” Smith said. “We have a lot of guys that come back. We wanted to give them something different to do.”
Serving the neighborhood
Aspire Higher Foundation initially opened its After Hours events up to teens and young adults ages 15 to 20 but soon realized younger kids wanted to join. Now, anyone as young as 13 is welcome.
That was great news for Sylvester Aystin, a 13-year-old who lives just a couple of blocks away.
Aystin said he’s been to other activities nearby organized for kids his age, but nothing like what Aspire Higher offers. He loves the regularity of the weekend events and the choices offered every time.
If something’s happening that he doesn’t find all that exciting, Aystin is happy to hang out at the park or check in on the kitchen until the next activity gets started.
“That’s the coolest part about it here, honestly,” he told Mirror Indy on a recent Friday evening. “I’m going to come back tomorrow night because it’s so fun!”
Thinking about the future
The Aspire Higher team also sneaks in opportunities to learn about college, careers and the future.
They do it in subtle ways like encouraging kids and teens to talk to their Village leaders. Three of the leaders are college students. Some are involved in collegiate athletics. One is in medical school.
“We purposely hired a diverse staff in all different areas and all different ages for them to be able to see it, for them to be able to ask questions,” Smith said.
If you go
After Hours
Aspire Higher Foundation’s free After Hours events are designed for kids, teens and young adults to drop in for as few or as many events as they like.
🗓️ 7-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays until Aug. 1
📍 Aspire House, 1002 Udell St.
🔗 Sign up to attend on Eventbrite
☑️ Parent permission required for kids and teens under 18 years old
Staff also invite groups such as Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. to “take over” a weekend with activities fit to a specific theme.
For example, the Indianapolis Black Firefighters Association will later this month help with a weekend called “It’s on fire!” Kids will get to practice some of the firefighters’ fitness tests and participate in a spicy food cookoff.
Organizers hope it will encourage kids to learn about career paths in a fun, informal way. They especially want the teens to envision jobs beyond the plethora of fulfillment center, warehouse or food delivery jobs they may already know about.
“You can do that as a plan B, plan C, plan D, but that’s not going to be your plan A,” Smith said. “That’s why we have industry professionals, volunteers coming in.”
Getting the word out
Aspire Higher’s biggest challenge could be getting the word out about their new After Hours events.
The program has the capacity to take on as many as 75 to 100 kids and teens a night, Smith said. But on one, beautiful night in July, no more than a couple dozen kids showed up.
Smith said organizers have been experimenting with their communications strategy. They’ve moved away from email blasts to Eventbrite to meet young people on platforms they’re more frequently using. The team also brought someone on to create more colorful flyers and catchy videos to share on social media.
The After Hours program runs through Aug. 1, and Aspire Higher has already committed to bringing it back next year. Alhassan, the Night Mayor, says he’s determined to do his part.
“That’s my mission,” he said, “To let kids and young adults my age know that spaces like this really do exist.”
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Mirror Indy reporter Carley Lanich covers early childhood and K-12 education. Contact her at carley.lanich@mirrorindy.org or follow her on X @carleylanich.
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