Afterschool Alliance
Encyclopedia
The Afterschool Alliance is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization whose mission is "to ensure that all children have access to affordable, quality afterschool programs." It uses communications and advocacy strategies to try to increase public and private investments in afterschool programs. The Alliance serves as both a central organized resource center for after-school activity
programs and as a public advocate.
between the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
and the U.S. Department of Education as an effort to expand after school programs through the 21st Century Community Learning Center
s. The Alliance was formally incorporated as a nonprofit in 2000 by the Mott Foundation, J.C. Penney
, the Open Society Institute
, The After-School Corporation, the Entertainment Industry Foundation
and the Creative Artists Agency Foundation.
In 2001, Arnold Schwarzenegger
became Honorary Chair of the event.
For the past two years, the Empire State Building
in New York City has featured yellow lights on the evening of Lights on Afterschool in honor of the cause.
In 2008, Afterschool Alliance replaced its former Lights on Afterschool incandescent lightbulb symbol with a CFL (compact fluorescent lamp
) to support energy efficient habits.
After-school activity
An after-school activity is any organized program which invites youth to participate outside of the traditional school day. Some programs are run by a primary or secondary school and some by externally funded non-profit or commercial organizations...
programs and as a public advocate.
History
The Alliance was launched in September 1999 as an association of organizations with the collective goals of garnering awareness about the benefits of after school programs and seeking to achieve quality programs that provide opportunities for all children. It grew out of a public-private partnershipPublic-private partnership
Public–private partnership describes a government service or private business venture which is funded and operated through a partnership of government and one or more private sector companies...
between the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
The Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is a charitable foundation founded in 1926 by Charles Stewart Mott of Flint, Michigan. Mott was the leading industrialist in Flint through his association with General Motors....
and the U.S. Department of Education as an effort to expand after school programs through the 21st Century Community Learning Center
21st Century Community Learning Center
The 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative is the only federal funding source dedicated exclusively to afterschool programs. The No Child Left Behind Act reauthorized 21st CCLC in 2002, transferring the administration of the grants from the U.S. Department of Education to the state...
s. The Alliance was formally incorporated as a nonprofit in 2000 by the Mott Foundation, J.C. Penney
J.C. Penney
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. is a chain of American mid-range department stores based in Plano, Texas, a suburb north of Dallas. The company operates 1,107 department stores in all 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico. JCPenney also operates catalog sales merchant offices nationwide in many...
, the Open Society Institute
Open Society Institute
The Open Society Institute , renamed in 2011 to Open Society Foundations, is a private operating and grantmaking foundation started by George Soros, aimed to shape public policy to promote democratic governance, human rights, and economic, legal, and social reform...
, The After-School Corporation, the Entertainment Industry Foundation
Entertainment Industry Foundation
The Entertainment Industry Foundation , based in Los Angeles, is a 501 non-profit and the leading charitable organization of the entertainment industry...
and the Creative Artists Agency Foundation.
About Afterschool
- In communities today, more than 15 million children take care of themselves after school.
- A study of the federal afterschool initiative (21st Century Community Learning Center21st Century Community Learning CenterThe 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative is the only federal funding source dedicated exclusively to afterschool programs. The No Child Left Behind Act reauthorized 21st CCLC in 2002, transferring the administration of the grants from the U.S. Department of Education to the state...
s) found that 45 percent of participants improved their reading grades, and 41 percent improved their math grades. - On school days, the hours between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. are the peak hours for juvenile crime and experimentation with drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and sex.
- Teens who do not participate in afterschool programs are nearly three times more likely to skip classes than teens who do participate. They are also three times more likely to use marijuana or other drugs, and they are more likely to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes and engage in sexual activity.
- Parents with children in afterschool programs are less stressed, have fewer unscheduled absences and are more productive at work.
Afterschool for All Challenge
The Afterschool for All Challenge is a conference held in Washington, D.C. for youth, staff, and other individuals involved in afterschool programs. The event brings together hundreds of afterschool supporters (staff, parents, youth, agency and community leaders) in Washington, D.C. for networking, training, meetings with Congressional offices and a special recognition of state and Congressional afterschool leaders. Previous Congressional Champions honored at the event have included: Representatives Nita Lowey (D-NY), Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), Phil Hare (D-IL) and Bobby Scott (D-VA), and Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Christopher Dodd (D-CT), John Ensign (R-NV), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Ben Nelson (D-NE), Jack Reed (R-RI) and Arlen Specter (D-PA). In 2009, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan spoke about the important role of community organizations and afterschool in supporting students. Maggie Daley, Chair of After School Matters, was honored for her efforts to provide quality afterschool opportunities for older youth, and Members of Congress and state leaders from California, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New York and Ohio were recognized. In 2010, the Afterschool for All Challenge will be held from April 19–21 in conjunction with the National After School Association’s annual Convention and the National League of Cities' biannual Afterschool Summit.Lights On Afterschool
Lights On Afterschool is a nationwide rally to draw attention to the importance of afterschool programs and to highlight their importance to children, families and communities. Each year, more than one million people attend over 7,500 events. Lights On Afterschool is covered in every major media market in the country and in thousands of news clips. Lights On Afterschool events give student participants in afterschool programs a chance to show off the skills that they have learned in their respective programs and to demonstrate the need for further support of such programming.In 2001, Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
became Honorary Chair of the event.
For the past two years, the Empire State Building
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is a 102-story landmark skyscraper and American cultural icon in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. It has a roof height of 1,250 feet , and with its antenna spire included, it stands a total of 1,454 ft high. Its name is derived...
in New York City has featured yellow lights on the evening of Lights on Afterschool in honor of the cause.
In 2008, Afterschool Alliance replaced its former Lights on Afterschool incandescent lightbulb symbol with a CFL (compact fluorescent lamp
Compact fluorescent lamp
A compact fluorescent lamp , also called compact fluorescent light, energy-saving light, and compact fluorescent tube, is a fluorescent lamp designed to replace an incandescent lamp; some types fit into light fixtures formerly used for incandescent lamps...
) to support energy efficient habits.
Afterschool for All
Afterschool for All is a national petition in support of afterschool programs stating that all children and youth should have access to quality, affordable afterschool programs. Roughly 19,000+ individuals and organizations have signed on. Among the partners are governors, mayors and law enforcement leaders, and others who support the cause of afterschool programs. Examples of entities that have signed on include: the YMCA of the USA, the NAACP, the National Council of La Raza, the National PTA, the National League of Cities, AARP, 100 Women in Hedge Funds, Time Warner, IBM, the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL and the US Conference of Mayors.Afterschool Ambassadors
Afterschool Ambassadors are trained to act as spokespeople on the issue of afterschool programming. Participants in the program learn about communications and advocacy in order to act as liaisons to their respective communities. The Ambassadors also receive media training. Afterschool Ambassadors share their experiences and their education and serve as local representatives of the issue of afterschool.Afterschool Alliance Board of Directors
- Terry Peterson, Chairman
- Director, Afterschool and Community Learning Resource Network
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Herb Sturz, Secretary
- Trustee, Open Society InstituteOpen Society InstituteThe Open Society Institute , renamed in 2011 to Open Society Foundations, is a private operating and grantmaking foundation started by George Soros, aimed to shape public policy to promote democratic governance, human rights, and economic, legal, and social reform...
- New York, New York
- Jaemie Ballesteros Altman
- Independent Consultant, Food and Restaurant Industry
- San Francisco, California
- Mayor David CicillineDavid CicillineDavid Nicola Cicilline is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Democratic Party. He is formerly the Mayor of Providence, Rhode Island, and was the first openly gay mayor of a U.S. state capital.-Early life, education, and career:...
- Mayor, City of Providence
- Providence, Rhode Island
- Dr. Lucy Friedman
- President, The After-School Corporation
- New York, New York
- Glenda HoodGlenda HoodGlenda Evans Hood is a U.S. politician, who was Secretary of State of Florida, from 2003 to 2005, and the first woman to serve as Mayor of Orlando ....
- Former Secretary of State, State of Florida
- Orlando, Florida
- Reinaldo Llano
- Director, Corporate Community Relations, Bright House NetworksBright House NetworksBright House Networks is a cable television company, the seventh largest cable operator and the sixth largest traditional multiple system operator in the United States owned by Advance/Newhouse, headquartered in Syracuse, New York...
- Orlando, Florida
- Lisa Lucheta
- Principal, ToraniToraniTorani is a San Francisco based family-owned company that produces flavoring syrups, sauces and blended drink bases. Torani can be added to coffee, espresso beverages, cocktails, soda and other beverages....
Syrups and Flavors - South San Francisco, California
- Kenneth C. Montague, Jr.
- Former Secretary of Juvenile Justice, State of Maryland
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Gilbert Moreno
- Senior Relationship Manager, JP Morgan Chase, NA
- Houston, Texas
- Mary Peavey
- President, Peavey ElectronicsPeavey ElectronicsPeavey Electronics Corporation is one of the largest audio equipment manufacturers in the world, headquartered in Meridian, Mississippi in the United States.- History :...
Corporation - Meridian, Mississippi
- Stacey Gillis Weber
- New York, NY