Afterschool Alliance

Afterschool programs are more than just a place to go after the school day ends. From 3 to 6 p.m., young people are learning, growing, and thriving in a safe and supportive space—including 1.4 million students served by a 21st CCLC program. This #3to6day, remind Congress that these programs are essential for our nation's kids, families, and communities: 3to6.co/congress #YouthVoiceWeek

Why does Spencer love his afterschool program? "As a person who loves my afterschool program, I’ve discovered it is an amazing piece to the puzzle that has helped me build character and is making me who I am today. My experience with Tiger Pride Clubs has been remarkable and has unlocked hidden talents I did not know I had." #YouthVoiceWeek https://lnkd.in/efFw3HXG

In afterschool, Edgar discovered the power of community. Now, as President of his Debate Club, he's building a space where every student feels supported, valued, and empowered to find their voice: "Once we create a community that is valuable for everyone around us, not only can we win and be successful, but we can be extremely compassionate with one another. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that the community you build and the values you uphold truly matter." #YouthVoiceWeek https://lnkd.in/eUHMhHn9"

For Gabrielle, afterschool was more than just a program—it was a place where she could belong. "I am really grateful that I had the club and the staff to help me feel like I belonged. It definitely made being in a new school feel less daunting and making new friends seem less overwhelming." Every young person deserves a space where they feel supported. #YouthVoiceWeek https://buff.ly/Svk0aIO"

From designing dresses out of recycled materials to advocating for healthy water systems, Jamora’s afterschool program nurtured her passions & helped her become the "goal-oriented, independent-thinking, and confident person" she is today! #YouthVoiceWeek https://lnkd.in/egnjPcX4

How can we help kids help kids? Let’s ask the youth leading the way! The Afterschool Alliance joined an insightful panel at #ProjectPlay, featuring young leaders who are creating opportunities for their peers to engage in sports: ?? Arden Pala (14), founder of Sports4Kids-CA, is expanding access to sports for low-income youth in San Diego. ? Maegha Ramanathan (13), founder of Girls for Sports, is fighting gender inequality and empowering girls to pursue more sports. ?? Ayanna Shah (18), founder of Second Serve, is sharing her love of tennis by distributing gently-used equipment to underserved communities. And their organizations are all youth-run, btw! #YouthVoiceWeek

A powerful reminder from James! School-age kids spend 80% of their waking hours outside of school. That’s why it’s essential for young people to have a safe space after school where they can build connections, explore their passions, and have fun! #YouthVoiceWeek

Mizzen Education continues to amplify the inspiring and powerful voices of young people for #YouthVoiceWeek alongside the great folks at the Afterschool Alliance! This is one of the most consequential images of my youth development experience. The year was 2016 and our country was going through it! Prior to a week-long After-School All-Stars #youthleadership experience with youth from all across the U.S, we held a town hall of sorts to check-in and see how we were doing as a community. As we reflected on what was needed for the week, one young lady by the name of Angel out of Columbus, OH calmly raised her hand and shared, "We know All-Stars loves to give us activities, but what we need more of is time with each other to just BE and share how we're feeling with one another." This set off a whole series of decisions for the organization on establishing our first approach to youth wellbeing and mental health as part of our program design and curriculum. Thank you to young people all across the country using their #voice to advocate and build community. Continue celebrating with us from March 24 - 28 by recognizing the power and voice of young people in afterschool programs ??? nationwide! #AfterSchoolWorks #YouthInAction

This #YouthVoiceWeek, spark a meaningful conversation with your students about what afterschool means to them and what they need to thrive. Watch our youth-led Town Hall, where young leaders from the Afterschool Alliance Youth Ambassadors, STEM Next Opportunity Fund Flight Crew, and #CYESS share what's top of mind for them. https://lnkd.in/erKRNZgB Keep the conversation going! Encourage your students to reflect on the video or host their own town hall-style discussion.

"The one thing I like about KICDRUM is the opportunity to be able to play something I haven't been able to play before. It's exciting to know what you can do!" When young people have the space to explore new skills, they discover their potential. ?? #YouthVoiceWeek