Background Statement
Founded in the fall of 2012 by a dedicated math teacher in the Mountain Valley School District, Saguache, Colorado, the initiative began in response to a significant number of students struggling academically without adequate support due to limited financial resources and a lack of structured out-of-school activities.
Initially offering pro-bono services during after-school hours, this teacher collaborated with other passionate educators and local service providers. Through local county government grants, she envisioned transforming these grassroots efforts into a sustainable, grant-funded program to support all children and families in the MVSD community.
The vision quickly expanded to include academic interventions during the school day, a formalized after-school program, increased staffing, and comprehensive support to reduce students' engagement in high-risk activities. This led to AAI receiving an AmeriCorps grant to broaden its reach, a grant which was renewed for further expansion under the MVSD umbrella.
In 2016, AAI achieved nonprofit status and secured sufficient funding to further develop its academic, after-school, and outdoor programs. Over the following years, these services extended to more communities in the San Luis and Arkansas Valleys, including programs for homeschoolers and enhanced collaborations with local organizations for outdoor programming.