Many afterschool programs offer spaces where youth, who might not have broadband access at home, can develop digital literacy outside of the school day, increasing digital access opportunities for both the youth and their communities. Even more important, though, is how afterschool programs intentionally provide youth opportunities and facilitation in productively interacting in digital spaces.

Trauma, whether it's at home, school, or in the community, can take a toll on our kids. That’s why it’s so important they get help and hope. A block party in Parramore at the Boys & Girls Club of Central Florida Levy-Hughes Clubhouse focused on children’s mental health.

Girls on the Run is a nonprofit after-school program across the Tampa Bay area and the country. The programs serve girls from 3rd through 8th grade. The teams typically meet twice a week and use running as a tool to help the young girls develop their confidence, as well as social, emotional, and physical skills.

The state child care planning template for the next three years is out! From now until July 1, State Administrative Agencies will be determining how to spend over $12 billion annually in federal Child Care and Development Funds (CCDF) dedicated to helping eligible families find affordable, high-quality child care, afterschool, and summer programs for their children aged 0-13. 

None of our work would be possible without the dedicated school nutrition staff who are on the ground and work tirelessly to support children and provide them with nutritious meals 365 days a year. We are grateful to support Florida Department of Agriculture’s School Lunch Hero campaign. Through this campaign we recognize and celebrate school nutrition staff’s commitment to ensuring kids are fed!

The Afterschool STEM Hub, an initiative of the Afterschool Alliance, is happy to share the spring edition of our Afterschool STEM Quarterly Research Review newsletter with the afterschool community! In this edition, we highlight two articles - one focused on gender-equitable teaching practices and the other on infrastructural injustices in community-driven afterschool STEM. Both articles, which really dig into the intentionality of afterschool STEM programs and how that intention can either welcome more youth in or continue to keep them out, offer key insights for program practitioners, program leaders, funders, and policymakers. 

Youth Exposure Inc. will hold an eight-week camp for children and teens between 10 and 19 years old. Prescott says the camp will have workshops that explain entrepreneurship as well as introductory information about breaking into photography, T-shirt design, hair care and more. Florida has been the place where Black business owners have blossomed. Black entrepreneurship in Florida has increased faster than the nationwide average. 

A non-profit has new tools to teach young men a strong work ethic. 

The “Victory Project” opened up a new spot on Oak Ridge Drive this year to further help the community.

This year we're looking for any artwork that represents the spirit of afterschool programs. The artwork does not have to be created specifically for the Lights On Afterschool Poster Contest, but it must represent afterschool. The winning artwork will be printed on more than 50,000 posters that will be displayed at more than 8,000 Lights On Afterschool events around the world. The winning artist will be featured on our website, blog, and a national press release, and their afterschool program will be credited on the poster in addition to receiving the grand prize of $500! Artwork is due Saturday, June 15!