On October 22, more than a million people in thousands of schools and
communities across the United States will turn their lights on for afterschool
by joining the only national rally for afterschool programs.
According to the Afterschool Alliance, more than 8,000 afterschool
programs are expected to participate in the 16th annual Lights On Afterschool. The day will take shape in various community
service events, museums, parks and recreation facilities, state capitols,
malls, and other settings.
Here in Prince George’s County, we are honored and excited to take part
in our third Lights On Afterschool
event in collaboration with our partner school, Carrollton Elementary, at their Fall Harvest Festival on October 23, with crafts, relay races and workshops that celebrate afterschool
programs as they keep kids safe, inspire them to learn and help working
families.
Lights On Afterschool is
organized by the Afterschool Alliance to bring attention to the need to invest
in afterschool programs, which provide homework help, healthy snacks,
mentoring, physical fitness, robotics, computer programming, community service
opportunities, art and music, college readiness, and countless opportunities
for hands-on learning.
“Quality afterschool programs help students hone their skills and
discover their passions, preparing them to succeed in school and in life,” said
Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant. “Lights On Afterschool events give children and youth the chance to
showcase the talents they develop at their afterschool programs, which offer
hands-on, engaging activities that are both educational and fun. But too many
afterschool programs are without the resources they need to serve all the
children in their communities who need them and families, schools, communities
and the country suffer as a result.”
During the 2015 celebration, In Reach is looking forward to raising
awareness about the value and necessity of afterschool programs in Prince
George’s County, MD. In Reach's Executive Director, Toni Smith shared, "Afterschool programs are an extremely valuable extension of the school day that all children should have access to."
Help us protect afterschool funding. Sign the petition! For more information visit: www.afterschoolalliance.org
