by Jim Braibish

Francis Slay, mayor of St. Louis, Mo., recently challenged his community to create a system that will provide quality afterschool opportunities for all city children who need them by 2010.

The mayor issued this challenge during his Summit on Afterschool Programs attended by 150 community leaders representing civic organizations, businesses and youth-service agencies.

"Access to high-quality afterschool programs is critical to our ability to improve the health, safety, academic achievement and overall development of the next generation of leaders in government and industry," said Slay.

St. Louis Public School Superintendent Creg Williams endorsed the mayor's call for "Afterschool for All by 2010" and pledged to support programs for all children in the city.

Breakout discussion groups were framed by a presentation from Sandra McBrayer, CEO of the San Diego Children's Initiative, on how San Diego, Calif., developed a system to provide afterschool opportunities for all children. 

Several days after the mayor's challenge, it was reinforced by Missouri Governor Matt Blunt, who called attention to the shortage of afterschool programs and urged a significant increase in the supply.

Mayor Slay has made children and families a priority of his administration since he took office in April 2001.

In addition to his effort on behalf of afterschool programs, he has launched a Strategic Plan for Early Childhood Success and established a Mayor's Commission on Children, Youth and Families.

"This attention by the mayor and the governor represent a major step forward in our community's recognition of the importance of quality afterschool programs for children, families and our regional economy," said Jama Dodson, executive director of St. Louis for Kids, a nonprofit organization that promotes the development of afterschool programs for the St. Louis area. "We hope that the summit will spark our community's efforts to provide quality afterschool programs for all children who need them." 

The key goals of the Mayor's Summit included:

o Increasing key stakeholder awareness about the need for and importance of building a coordinated system of afterschool programs;

o Obtaining understanding among key stakeholders about the benefits of afterschool programs to children and families;

o Offering key stakeholders the opportunity to commit to ongoing participation;

o Obtaining input from key stakeholders about the steps necessary to proceed.

A planning committee facilitated by St. Louis for Kids is now compiling recommendations that will lead to action.