Alice Cooper opening 2nd Valley after-school program for teens in Mesa

PHOENIX — Rock star Alice Cooper is expanding his nonprofit’s after-school program for teens to the East Valley.

The Solid Rock Teen Center will take over an empty Mesa Public Schools building near Main Street and Country Club Drive, Cooper said Wednesday at an event at Westwood High School.

Like Cooper’s first teen center in north Phoenix, it will offer free music, art, dance, and audio and video production classes to young people ages 12-20.

Marlo Loria, the Mesa school district’s executive director of innovative partnerships, called the facility an “after-school safe space.”

Alice Cooper was on campus today for the announcement of his "Solid Rock" teen center here in the Westwood community. He was excited to "Rep the Wood" and give these new opportunities to our students.#repthewood #warriorpride #AliceCooper pic.twitter.com/foAYHk3s4U

— Westwood Warriors (@WestwoodMesa) January 22, 2020

“We know they will be able to provide some great opportunities for our students,” she told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Wednesday.

Loria said the center is expected to open in late spring or early summer after renovations are completed.

Cooper funds the centers through the Solid Rock nonprofit he founded in 1995 with his wife Sheryl and friend Chuck Savale.

Proceeds from his annual Christmas Pudding concert go toward the program.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Ashley Flood contributed to this report. 

Related

Alice Cooper's annual Phoenix benefit features original band, Johnny DeppGreat Wolf Lodge looks to expand resort with additional towerMaricopa County Library District celebrates opening of new West Valley branchBygone mall favorite Hot Dog on a Stick plans return to ArizonaCentral Arizona Project president says feds ‘bought the lies’ on Colorado River planGlendale Police ask for help identifying car involved in hit-and-run that killed bicyclist