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Happy New Year! As we begin 2026, I want to thank our families, partners, educators, and community members for your continued commitment to Manchester Proud. Your collaboration and trust make this work possible.

Manchester Proud is intentionally structured to maximize impact while keeping costs low. By partnering with Granite United Way as our fiscal agent, we are able to focus resources on community outcomes rather than administrative overhead. Our small but dedicated team—along with strong partners and volunteers—continues to move this work forward in meaningful ways.

We are in the final stages of our strategic planning process, which has been shaped by community input, reflection, and shared priorities. This work is guiding a renewed vision and mission: to mobilize the full strength of our community—schools, families, businesses, and partners—to support youth success and strengthen public education. We look forward to sharing more about our strategic focus in the months ahead.

Looking forward, Manchester Proud will center its efforts in four key areas: basic needs and family stability; early childhood and early grade success; out-of-school time and extended learning; and community school partnerships. While we are not a direct service provider, our role as a convener—bringing organizations together, aligning efforts, and strengthening collaboration—remains one of our greatest strengths.

We are excited about what’s ahead and grateful to continue this work alongside a community that believes in the success of every child.

With gratitude,

Aimee Kereage

Executive Director, Manchester Proud

As we close out the year, I find myself both reflective and deeply hopeful. 2025 has been a year of change for Manchester Proud—a time of listening, learning, and growth as we prepare for our next chapter. While our strategic planning work is still underway, it has already helped clarify our priorities and strengthen our shared commitment to supporting students and families across Manchester.

The past few weeks have been difficult in many ways—both locally and across the world. In moments like these, our mission feels even more important. This season calls us to come together, stay future-focused, and continue building pathways of opportunity for young people and families in our community.

As we look ahead to 2026, we are excited to begin planning for upcoming events and initiatives that will deepen our impact and expand our partnerships. We are grateful for the community that walks alongside us during times of change and transition, and we look forward to what’s ahead with optimism and resolve.

Thank you for being part of Manchester Proud and for your continued support.

Warm wishes for a peaceful end to the year and a hopeful start to the next.

Aimee Kereage
Executive Director, Manchester Proud

Seasons of Change and Shared Purpose

A Message from the Executive Director of Manchester Proud

As we move from November toward December—with cooler temperatures, shorter days, and the first hints of winter—we’re reminded how quickly time moves and how important it is to pause, reflect, and realign. This moment invites us to look back with gratitude for what we’ve achieved together and look forward with intention for the year ahead.

Across Manchester, we’re seeing incredible examples of community-driven support that reflect the compassion and strength of our city. From Thanksgiving baskets delivered to families, to school-based food drives, coat drives, and donation efforts across neighborhoods—each gesture represents an investment in our students and their well-being. These actions matter deeply. We know that children cannot learn, grow, or thrive when their basic needs are not met—and our community continues to step up.

At Manchester Proud, the final weeks of the year are focused on completing our strategic planning process and laying the foundation for our next chapter of work. This planning is not just an organizational exercise—it is a commitment to alignment, shared priorities, and long-term systems that support sustainable impact.

Our greatest strength remains the collective effort of our partners—schools, families, nonprofits, businesses, and neighbors—working toward a shared vision. When we coordinate our efforts and row in the same direction, we bring the full power of collective impact to life. Together, we create a Manchester where every youth is supported, every opportunity is accessible, and every student feels seen and valued.

As we transition into December and the season of giving, I am deeply grateful for your dedication, partnership, and belief in what is possible for our students and our city. Because of you, Manchester is stronger—and proudly united.

With appreciation,
Aimee Kereage
Executive Director, Manchester Proud

Heading into the Season of Giving

A Message from the Executive Director of Manchester Proud

As we head into the season of giving, our community is once again being tested by challenges that are no treat for many Manchester families. With the federal government shutdown now stretching beyond 30 days, uncertainty looms large—especially for those relying on programs like SNAP benefits and other critical supports.

This moment reminds us how deeply connected we all are, and how important it is to show up for one another. Many families are already feeling the impact, with grocery budgets shrinking, utility bills rising, and holidays approaching. For those already stretched thin, this latest disruption adds another layer of worry.

If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available.

• Call 211 to be connected to local assistance and resources.
  
• The NH Food Bank and local food pantries are ready to provide support—please don’t hesitate to reach out.
  
• And if you’re in a position to help, consider donating food, funds, or your time. Every small act of generosity strengthens the fabric of our community.
  

At Manchester Proud, we see the ripple effects of these challenges across our schools and neighborhoods. Ongoing funding losses in public education make our work more important than ever. Families and educators are doing their best every day, but they can’t do it alone.

Let’s make sure that this season of giving is focused on the kindness, compassion and community spirit that Manchester is known for. Together, we can help ensure every child and family feels supported and seen.

An Unprecedented Threat to Public Education in Manchester

Federal funding that has supported college and career readiness programs for Manchester’s students is under direct attack. The U.S. Department of Education has abruptly halted grants that provide critical services to our youth—even though this funding was previously approved by Congress. This decision places more than $30 million in statewide education funding at risk and delivers a devastating blow to programs designed to help students who are low-income, first-generation college-goers, or living with disabilities.  And the cuts are effective September 30th.

These cuts are not just numbers on a budget sheet. They mean significant reductions in services for Manchester’s youth:

• Fewer mentoring and academic support opportunities
  
• Limited college and career planning and campus visits
  
• Reduced family engagement and financial literacy programming
  
• Less guidance for students who need it most to graduate and move forward
  

For years, GEAR UP and related initiatives have offered Manchester students a lifeline—helping them stay in school, plan for their futures, and overcome barriers that too often stand in the way of success. Losing this funding would reverse hard-won progress and deepen inequities across our city.

This is an attack on public education and on the belief that every student deserves access to opportunity. Manchester cannot afford to lose these supports.

What We Must Do Now

The fight is not over.  Appeals have been submitted to the federal government urging leaders to reconsider. Your voice matters. Contact Governor Ayotte and your elected officials to demand the restoration of these critical funds. Every call, every email, and every show of support strengthens the case for our students.

Manchester Proud stands firm with our public schools, educators, and families. We will continue to advocate fiercely for the resources our young people need to thrive. Our students’ futures are not negotiable.Contact Governor Kelly Ayotte: https://www.governor.nh.gov/contact-governor-ayotte

We are thrilled to share this proud moment with you — a photo of two dedicated Adult ESOL students alongside their inspiring teacher. Their hard work and commitment to learning truly shine, and we couldn’t be prouder of their achievements. 👩‍🏫

The classes are held at Beech Street Elementary on Tuesdays and Thursdays in partnership with the Manchester School District Community Schools and the International Institute of New England

Back in August, Smyth Road Elementary School received a bright and uplifting transformation thanks to the efforts of 50 dedicated volunteers from Fidelity, working in partnership with Boston Cares. Over the course of two days, the team rolled up their sleeves to refresh the school, bringing new energy and vibrancy to the space for students and staff.

Boston Cares provided the materials and expertise to guide the project, while Fidelity volunteers contributed enthusiasm, teamwork, and hard work. School leadership also played a vital role in welcoming and supporting the collaboration, making this a true community effort.

At Manchester Proud, we believe in the power of partnerships and connections — it’s our superpower. Projects like this remind us of what’s possible when organizations, volunteers, and schools come together with a shared goal: creating welcoming, inspiring environments where students can thrive.

The refreshed Smyth Road Elementary stands as a testament to what can be accomplished when our community works side by side for the success of Manchester’s children.

After distributing 550 backpacks at CelebratED and delivering over 1,000 more to district schools, the Gear Up for School team saw there was still a need at the Manchester School District Welcome Center.

This morning, they proudly delivered 250 additional backpacks, ensuring more students can start the year feeling confident and ready. Thanks to a new connection with Cradles to Crayons, even more school supplies will be available to families.

As Gear Up for School Lead Seneca Eldredge shared: “We are thrilled to partner with Manchester Proud and the Manchester School District and leverage our connections to meet local community needs.”

Together, we’re making sure every student has what they need to thrive. 

CelebratED 2025: A Party with a Purpose

Change is good—and this year, the Manchester community showed just how ready it was to embrace it. CelebratED 2025 transformed Victory Park into a joyful, bustling hub of connection, support, and celebration.

Music filled the air as more than 80 community partners came together to cheer on our students and families. Nearly 20 hairstylists volunteered their time and talent, giving 118 students fresh haircuts so they could head back to school with confidence. In just 90 minutes, 550 backpacks were distributed—so many that we ran out as families eagerly lined up. Students had the chance to tour a school bus, explore STEM learning, and choose from 659 books distributed by the Bookmobile. They also climbed aboard fire trucks, visited the Dental Van for resources, and connected with even more hands-on experiences throughout the park.

CelebratED has always been more than fun—it’s been about celebrating our students and community. This year, we did that and more. Families left not only with supplies, haircuts, and books, but also with the sense of being supported by a community that believes in them.

All of this—and so much more—took place in just three short hours on a warm Thursday evening. Victory Park was filled with families, laughter, and a powerful sense of pride.

CelebratED 2025 was truly a party with a purpose—helping students feel ready, excited, and equipped to start the new school year. The pictures tell the story best, but for those who were there, the feeling was unmistakable: there was magic in the air.

Bringing the Joy, Together

Last month, I shared that Manchester Proud had begun our strategic planning process—an opportunity to reflect, listen deeply, and imagine the future of our work together. That work continues, and already we’re hearing one message loud and clear: our community is ready to show up for our students.

You can feel it in the energy building around CelebratED. With over 60 community partners, hairstylists offering free back-to-school cuts, clothing and backpack distribution, and generous sponsorships—it’s clear Manchester is not just ready, but eager to welcome our students back with pride, care, and celebration. In a time when education is too often under threat, our city is choosing to lift up joy, connection, and collective action.

We’re seeing that same spirit come to life through the Manchester Community Schools initiative. This summer marks the first full season of programming at Beech Street and Gossler Park, and the momentum is real. From food pantries and clothing closets to hands-on STEM learning and family engagement nights, these schools are becoming hubs of support and opportunity—and it’s all made possible by listening to families and building strong partnerships.

I had the privilege last week of sharing this work at a regional conference, highlighting how we’ve built something uniquely Manchester: grounded in local voices, shaped by collaboration, and driven by a deep belief in what’s possible. That’s what Manchester Proud does—we communicate, collaborate, and convene to make our community stronger.

As we look to the year ahead, I can feel the excitement rising—not just for a new school year, but for a renewed sense of purpose. Manchester Proud is here, and we are listening. We want to hear your hopes for the future, your ideas for where we go next, and your vision for what our young people deserve.

We are proud of our work, proud of our community, and above all, proud of our youth.

Here’s to a joyful and hopeful August.

Aimee Kereage
Executive Director, Manchester Proud

Today marked an important milestone for Manchester Proud—we took the first step in our strategic planning process, charting a course for the future of our work and our community. It was energizing to reflect on how far we’ve come since a group of committed volunteers first came together in 2017 with a bold vision for Manchester’s public schools. Together, we’ve built something meaningful, and now we ask ourselves: What’s next? Where does the community see us going from here?

We’re having these conversations at a time of real uncertainty. Across the country, public education is under threat—from reduced school funding to the potential elimination of critical supports like the Federal Community Schools Grant. These challenges demand that we stay focused on what matters most: our commitment to young people and to creating opportunities for every student to learn, grow, and thrive.

As I write this on what may be the hottest day of the year, I’m filled with hope. School just ended last week, and already we’re planning for the fall and looking ahead to our Welcome Back Manchester Celebration—an event that reminds every student and family that they are seen, valued, and part of something bigger. Over the past few weeks, we’ve watched students excel—winning awards, graduating with joy, and celebrating with their communities. That joy is powerful. It’s the foundation of a thriving community, because when our kids thrive, our city thrives.

Let’s choose to bring the joy. Let’s tune out the noise and lean into what we know matters most: our kids, our future. They deserve a community that’s united, focused, and ready to help them soar.

With gratitude,
Aimee Kereage
Executive Director, Manchester Proud

This week, Manchester is proud to celebrate the graduation of three remarkable leaders who have completed the Leadership Greater Manchester (LGM) program, an initiative of the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce. The Class of 2025 included professionals from across sectors who have demonstrated outstanding leadership potential and a deep commitment to the future of our community.

Among this year’s graduates were three dedicated leaders connected to Manchester’s public education and community engagement efforts:

⭐ Aimee Kereage, Executive Director

⭐ Charlene Kurtz, Assistant Principal at Smyth Road Elementary School

⭐ Kelly Espinola, Assistant Superintendent of Schools at Manchester School District

Leadership Greater Manchester is designed to recognize and develop existing leadership talents while fostering collaboration and civic engagement across a broad range of industries and institutions. The year-long program provides participants with in-depth insight into the issues and opportunities facing Greater Manchester, encouraging innovative thinking and community-driven solutions. 💡

The graduation of Aimee, Charlene, and Kelly marks a significant achievement, and we are thrilled to celebrate their commitment to growth, equity, and community impact. Their participation in this prestigious program reflects the values of partnership, service, and leadership that guide our work every day.

Congratulations to the entire Class of 2025! Manchester is a stronger, more connected city because of leaders like you.

Manchester Proud, an organization working to champion student success within the Manchester School District through community engagement and community partnerships, presented its 2025 Student Volunteer Awards at the Manchester School District Welcome center in partnership with Mayor Jay Ruais and Project Happy. The 4th annual awards were presented to seven high school students. The award, which includes a $500 or $125 prize, was created to recognize Manchester School District students who show exceptional commitment to volunteerism.

The award winners for 2025, are:

• Lauren Halle, Junior, Central High School
• Thomas Martineau, Senior, Central High School
• Norto Noor, Senior, Central High School
• Jenny Van, Senior, Memorial High School
• Jonathan Reyes Santos, Senior, MST
• Yousif Al Kahani, Senior, West High School
• Andy Pham, Senior, West High School
• Jonathan Reyes Santos, Senior, MST

The recipients were selected from all those who applied for the award and received endorsement from a community member. On behalf of the Manchester Proud Council, We are proud of all the applicants, especially the award winners, who stood out in ways we didn’t realize was possible!

All students who attend Manchester public high schools are eligible to apply.  Every submission requires an application filled out by the student in which they outline their volunteer experiences and respond to several questions, along with a recommendation from an adult who can vouch for their service.  Grades were not a consideration in the judging. We look forward to seeing next year’s applications.

Our winners impacted the community in many ways and here is a representation of organizations they have collaborated with:

Team  131 Chaos, Katie’s Closet, Boy Scouts of America, Threads of Hope, Student Advocacy Group, Brookside Church, CMC, Alzheimer’s Research, Key Club, CelebratED, M-Power Advisory Board, Youth Council, Peer Tutoring, LGBTQIA+, National Art Society, Hillside band, and the Manchester Community Library.

We will leave you with this quote and hope you’re inspired to volunteer in a community that has meaning to you.

“Volunteering didn’t just teach me to lead-it taught me to see people: to meet silence with presence, pain with patience, and judgment with understanding. These moments changed me, and they continue to shape who I want to become.”  -Student Volunteer Award Winner

In middle school, I began to dream about living in Japan, and just three years later, I took the first step by flying to Tokyo to explore this dream. To make this trip come true, I spent a whole year working long hours at McDonald’s in Manchester, saving all my money, and spending every free moment researching and planning for this trip. In July 2023, I finally indulged my dream and traveled to the Land of the Rising Sun. It was amazing, everything that I had dreamed of! This trip has shaped me in many ways by exposing me to the culture and setting me in the right direction towards my future as a global citizen. Now, two years later, I am on the verge of stepping on that soil again, but this time I plan to do so for the next four years as I continue my education there at Temple University of Japan in Kyoto. 

It has finally come to the point in time where I walk down the stage with my gown and cap, standing with my friends and family, whom I cherish so much. The weeks leading up to that moment are making me realize just how close we are to getting our diplomas and going our separate ways. My high school years are something I would not exchange for anything. There were some tough times, but there were far more memories that I got to laugh and enjoy my youth. I have grown so much and experienced so many trials and tribulations, but also success and progress. So many moments that I don’t even know where to begin to reflect.  

When I was just a freshman, it was difficult coming back into a brick building to sit with your classmates again after being cooped up in the house for almost two years because of the pandemic. However, that changed relatively soon because I made friends with the most wonderful and intelligent person I have ever met, my best friend, Marion-maria Haff. Our friendship started from a simple project in our Algebra class, and it took only hours, maybe even seconds, for us to click. Now, almost four years later, we are probably the closest friends in our school. We are practically the same person and inseparable at any moment. I will always be grateful to her and hope that we never grow apart. 

I have become friends with my other amazing friends: Rose Cote, Tessa Mims, Jonathan Reyes Santos, and Aiden Ahern. Marion and I grew to know them about a year later, after we became friends, and it didn’t take long for all six of us to become one giant group of friends. Every single one of my friends is one of the greatest people I have ever met, and I am very grateful for every single one of them. On top of my incredible friends, I have had the most supportive and astonishing peers, and I thank every single one of them, because even if they may not realize it, they have helped me grow to the person I am today. Thank you, Mrs. Stephen, for seeing my potential and always looking out for opportunities I could do and grow from. Thank yo,u Mrs Tetu, for giving me great advice, advising me through the college process. Thank you, Mrs. McGowan, Mr. Bowe, and Ms. Passamonte for being incredible teachers, making me and my friends laugh. Thank you, Dr. Egan, for giving me the opportunity to complete both my Algebra 1 and geometry credits in one year. Thank you, Mrs. McCall, for the long class convos. Thank you, Mrs. McGee, for believing in me and pushing me to my full potential. Thank you, Mr. Garcia, for always looking to read Marion and I’s book, which we are still working on. Thank you, Mr. Colburn, for seeing the creativity in me and always looking for a new project I could do.Thank you, Mr. Puglisi, for making the Martial Arts Club and being very silly all the time. Thank you, Lauren, Aimee, and the entirety of Manchester Proud for giving me the chance to become a part of your organization, representing our Community as your intern. And thank you, Manchester School of Technology, it was the best decision I made to choose this high school over the others. 

I am proud to be a part of the class of 2025, and I hope that everyone graduating this year and the years to come gets to make their dreams come true, whether it be to attend the college of their choice or take a year off. The great part of our generation is that we are strong, and I hope that our future can make a difference in our world. ONWARD!