Municipal Leaders Host Lights On Afterschool Events
by Lane Russell
 On October 22, more than one million Americans attended more than 7,500 Lights On Afterschool events in cities across the country. This year marked the 10th anniversary of Lights On Afterschool, a national campaign sponsored by the Afterschool Alliance to raise awareness about the importance of afterschool programs.The events drew attention to data contained in a new Afterschool Alliance report on “America After 3PM” estimating that the number of children who are unsupervised after school rose from 14.3 million in 2004 to 15.1 million in 2009.
The report also highlighted state-level data on afterschool participation, which received attention at many local Lights On Afterschool events. For instance, St. Paul, Minn., Mayor Christopher Coleman and Brooklyn Park, Minn., Mayor Steve Lampi discussed data from the “Minnesota After 3PM” report at a Lights On Afterschool news conference at the state capitol building hosted by Youth Community Connections, Minnesota’s statewide afterschool network.
Municipal officials in many other cities played an active role in sponsoring events and issuing proclamations in support of Lights On Afterschool. School district officials, afterschool providers, community organizations, parents and students joined city leaders at these events to celebrate the impact of quality afterschool programs.
Numerous studies have found that afterschool programs can be effective in reducing juvenile crime, keeping young people safe after school, decreasing the dropout rate, engaging children in enriching educational activities and supporting working parents. The following examples highlight several instances in which municipal leaders supported local Lights On Afterschool events.
Albany, N.Y.
Mayor Gerald Jennings hosted a meeting with city council members, the Albany Public Schools superintendent and board president, middle school principals and other community leaders to highlight the efforts of the Albany Community Afterschool Network (ACAN) to bring new afterschool programs to three middle schools. “It is our responsibility to do something,” said Mayor Jennings. “Every day is a Lights On day. We cannot work in isolation.”
Battle Creek, Mich.
Mayor Mark A. Behnke issued a proclamation to designate the day as Lights On Afterschool Day in the Greater Battle Creek area, and called upon residents to get involved in local afterschool programs and activities.
Las Vegas
The City of Las Vegas hosted 69 Lights On Afterschool events with approximately 2,000 participants and visitors, including U.S. Department of Education Deputy Assistant Secretary John McGrath.
Omaha, Neb.
Mayor Jim Suttle issued a proclamation, and Omaha Public Schools’ (OPS) 21st Century Community Learning Centers and the Middle School Learning Center Initiative co-hosted a rally that began with a walk from Central High School to the OPS Teacher Administrative Center.
Vancouver, Wash.
Mayor Royce Pollard received an Afterschool Hall of Fame award from School’s Out Washington, the Washington statewide afterschool network, in front of 500 afterschool providers as part of the network’s annual Bridge from School to Afterschool and Back Conference.
Details: The 11th annual Lights On Afterschool will be held on October 21, 2010. To learn more about Lights On Afterschool, visit www.afterschoolalliance.org.
For more information on NLC’s afterschool initiatives, visit www.nlc.org/iyef or contact Lane Russell at (202) 626-3008 or russell@nlc.org or Bela Shah Spooner at (202) 626-3057 or shah@nlc.org.
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