Afterschool Alliance

"Your efforts are part of the reason why we remain a Nation defined by possibility—where everyone has the chance to learn, grow, and pursue their dreams, no matter who they are or where they grew up. As we gather for this wonderful occasion, I hope you take pride in all you've done to advance the welfare of our children and youth." Today, the White House joins one million Americans in celebrating the 25th annual #LightsOnAfterschool. Thank you President Biden for recognizing the essential role of afterschool programs in helping our nation's youth, parents, and families thrive.

Our own Erik Peterson is joining Grantmakers for Education on November 15 to help you make sense of the 2024 election. Hear from experts in the field and explore both potential challenges & opportunities on the federal and state level for summer, afterschool, and school-age care programs. Register now: https://lnkd.in/eY7MeVdW

Happy #STEMDay! We're celebrating because we know afterschool programs are a natural place for youth to explore, innovate, and develop interest in STEM—especially for those traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields. ?? #AA3PM aa3pm.co/STEM

Happy National STEM Day! ?? Today, we’re celebrating the power of afterschool STEM! Through programs supported by STEM Next, youth across the country are gaining hands-on experience, building skills, and exploring their future in STEM fields. Here, we’re highlighting some amazing youth and educators in STEM that we have been proud to support through our Flight Crew and Million Girls Moonshot initiatives. Anike Akinfolarin , Maryland Flight Crew 2024 / Christina Clark, Founder of the Stem Education and Innovation Center in Virginia / Aika Lanes, Montana Flight Crew 2023. We also want to give our own shout-out and special thank you to the funders like Intel Corporation who make this work possible. Together, we’re creating a future where every young person can explore, innovate, and lead in STEM! ???

Out-of-school time programs are essential pillars in their communities, providing a safe space for young people, support for working families, and access to nutritious snacks and meals. For young people experiencing homelessness, these supports are essential. Learn more about the McKinney-Vento Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) program and see how providers in Virginia are helping youth access essential resources and supports through EHCY. Don't forget to follow #FundAfterschool for weekly tips! https://lnkd.in/eRYVmJ2c

Have you ever wondered what it takes to put on an Usher concert? Our own Project Manager Tiyana spills the details and shares her unforgettable experience celebrating #LightsOnAfterschool with Usher's New Look! During this two-day event, afterschool students took a behind-the-scenes tour of the concert and explored careers in choreography, lighting, merchandising, and more! "Overall, the two-day event was truly a rewarding experience and a privilege to be apart of. Usher and his team made myself and the youth feel comfortable, seen, and valued. It was heartwarming seeing the sparks in the youth as they were realizing that they too can have a career in music." https://lnkd.in/e2YYed93

As we all process the election results, we wanted to take a moment to assure you that we at the Afterschool Alliance will continue making a powerful case for the afterschool and summer learning programs that our children, families, schools, and the economy need to thrive. We’ve been preparing for various scenarios and will implement strategies to protect and increase federal, state, and local funding and support strong program offerings. Working together for the past 25 years, we have made progress with bipartisan support in Congress and in states, and fully expect that progress to continue. We have defeated budget cuts and even proposed elimination of 21st CCLC, the only federal funding dedicated to afterschool. We learned a lot during the pandemic about working with agencies and Congress on policies and regulations, equipping programs with resources and information to weather changes, and educating leaders at every level about how to support their communities. We will continue to forge ahead, in partnership with you, to ensure that all children and youth have access to affordable, high-quality afterschool and summer learning programs. https://lnkd.in/eE8E3wPY

Afterschool programs are preparing young people for the jobs of tomorrow! Learn more about how young people are gaining real-world experiences in programs like unCommon Construction in New Orleans, Louisiana!

It's that time of year! Take our short survey to tell the story of your afterschool program–challenges, opportunities, and what you need to better serve your community! Survey closes at 11:59 PM PT on 11/18. Start the survey here: 3to6.co/survey

Our own Erik Peterson is joining Grantmakers for Education on November 15 to help you make sense of the 2024 election. Hear from experts in the field and explore both potential challenges & opportunities on the federal and state level for summer, afterschool, and school-age care programs. Register now: https://lnkd.in/eY7MeVdW