February 21, 2018

Creative Hub Worcester to launch after-school program as first initiative

PHOTO/BRAD KANE

Laura Marotta and Stacy Lord, executive director and chairman, Creative Hub Worcester, Inc.

As its first initiative, nonprofit community arts center Creative Hub Worcester will provide an after-school program for 26 Worcester Public School students.

The government-subsidized program would provide care for students from the Hadley Apartment building and Worcester schools within walking distance, Creative Hub announced last month. The program could start as early as April.

The program will focus on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) and will offer a diverse set of activities for students each afternoon.

Creative Hub, co-founded by public school art teachers Laura Marotta and Stacy Lord, will train after-school staff through a program administered by the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

The vacant first floor of the building will be used, and Creative Hub will renovate it to include at least two bathrooms, an outdoor recreation space and other improvements to satisfy building codes.

Marotta and Lord want to reactivate the corner of Main and Chandler Streets, which has been vacant for years.

Creative Hub will provide meals and transportation. Worcester child care nonprofit The Guild of St. Agnes will advise Marotta and Lord through the process, Creative Hub said.

The program is for students ranging from kindergarten to sixth grade and would run after school from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. On holidays, vacations and during the summer, it would run from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

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