New venture "Aspires" to great things for kids and community

The west wing of the Ackerson elementary building will be the first area utilized by Caife Aspire.

Joe Walsh has heard all kinds of interesting rumors about his new venture at the Ackerson School building, some of which may not be suitable for publication in a family newspaper.

The truth, however, is simple. He's started a non-profit, which will be known as Caife Aspire, with the purpose of expanding opportunities for students (and others) to learn from mentors about specific areas of interest or fields of study. He believes the timing is perfect for this new idea to take flight, as the community emerges from 15 months of pandemic.

His current and most immediate vision for the project is to use the classrooms in the west side of the building (the old Nellie Ackerson elementary wing) to house an "entrepreneurial hub" which will start with the various small, student-run businesses from the Junior-Senior High School.

"I've already run out of space (at the school)," he says. "This will allow these companies to continue to grow as the students stay interested in them."

Eventually, the north wing will include "maker spaces" where students — and community members who choose to join the non-profit — can tinker, learn trades, or expand their knowledge on a specific topic.

"I have formed some partnerships already with people who are interested in getting us started on this path," Walsh explains. "I'd also like to host open gym weekends — the gym is actually in great shape. What I'm most interested in is creating a safe environment for our kids outside of school hours."

To that end, Walsh has also established a student advisory board, to determine a direction for Caife Aspire, that actually will help it provide what students want to see. "I'd like this to be a kid-centric hub where kids help drive what we do," he says. "We will partner with the schools, parents, and create a network of relationships within the community."

One of the suggestions that's already come out of the student board is that they'd like to learn cooking and baking, along with other arts. So Walsh is looking for community members who might like to step up and mentor these projects as time goes on.

Since the building is already zoned for educational purposes, that effort will continue. Walsh emphasizes that this will not be a charter school, which is one of the less-lively rumors he had heard early on. "I want to continue to teach," he says. "I love teaching and I love the kids. And I just have this rather unfortunate habit of wanting to be extremely busy all the time. But, it keeps me out of trouble."

He is highly optimistic that this effort will benefit not only the kids of the community, but the adults as well, and ultimately, help to promote and expand the wide variety of activities that the school district has to offer, both now and in the future.

"If we really bust it, we could be up and running by September or October," he says. "The building is in surprisingly good shape for its age, and it will need some renovations but we will take those one step at a time." He acknowledges that at some point there will need to be asbestos abatement as renovations continue, especially in the old high school building, but again ... one step at a time.

Walsh is also enjoying learning more about the history of the building that he's acquired from the school district for the princely sum of one dollar. Many people don't realize that only the western (yellow brick) half of the building is really the "Ackerson" school, named for beloved teacher Miss Nellie Ackerson. The taller, cement-faced building to the east is the former high school, built by the WPA during the Great Depression, and at one time actually accommodated all the students in the Manchester district. The offices and hallway section that joins the two buildings together was built in the 1990s, while the building served as the district's middle school.

But right now, he's looking to the future. Some potential long-range plans include a partnership with the Special Education department to operate a café; providing office and meeting space for access by local small businesses; a counseling center; expanded STEM and STEAM offerings; and maybe even a "Haunted High School fund-raiser.

To offer volunteer help, learn more about mentoring possibilities, or to make a donation to the Caife Aspire non-profit, contact Walsh at caifeaspire@gmail.com.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.