Lights On Afterschool 2011 A Huge Success for Programs

Hundreds of afterschool programs participated in Lights On Afterschool – the national awareness day for afterschool programs across the country. This fall marked the second year that DCYF required all of its out of school time providers to participate in this awareness-raising event. DCYF grantees hosted a wide variety of celebrations, from parent literacy nights to awards ceremonies to neighborhood parades.

Below are some highlights from the local programs that participated in this nationwide event:
The Buena Vista - Horace Mann Afterschool Collaborative operated by Jamestown Community Center held a youth and family assembly in the campus’ multi-purpose room. Multiple afterschool providers were invited to participate, including several DCYF grantees, and the assembly included two musical numbers featuring youth musicians collaborating with teachers. After the performances, there were arts & craft projects available for families to do together.

The OMI Excelsior Beacon staff at John Denman Middle School hosted a Lights On Afterschool field day on the playground that included an art station, basketball, pizza, skateboarding, dancing to music from The DJ Project, and a presentation of and the opportunity to sign up for local afterschool programs. The event demonstrated the OMI Beacon staff’s intention of providing students with a solid path to success.

Horizons Unlimited hosted Lights On Afterschool activities that included MC performances, spinning of the vinyl, and Asian inspired El Salvadorian food. The support and care that staff provided for the youth was very evident and attendees were inspired by stories from staff about program participants’ successes.

The Chinatown YMCA organized a Lights on Afterschool event at Gordon Lau Elementary School for several of the afterschool programs it operates, including John Yehall Chin and Jean Parker elementary schools and the Chinese Education Center. The event was filled with lots of laughter, and students from all four campuses engaged in a game of dodge ball.

Excelsior RecConnect, as led by Mission YMCA, celebrated Lights On Afterschool with a neighborhood parade, alerting neighborhood families to their presence and the work they do with Excelsior families. About 35 youth strolled along the sidewalks with balloons and hand-drawn signs, singing and chanting about their program. When they encountered youth or families on the street (or when folks came outside to see where the noise was coming from), the youth gave them bags containing a piece of fruit and brochures with information about their program and upcoming events.

To celebrate Lights On Afterschool, Ingleside Community Center had an award ceremony to honor its youth participants. The children received awards for volunteerism and citizenship. The program participants topped the celebration with a special spaghetti meal, which they helped prepare themselves.

Mission Learning Center held a Family Literacy Night Event as a part of Lights On Afterschool. Family members and youth were divided up by grade levels and played literacy-themed board games that program participants assembled. At the end of the event, every youth took home a kit to make another board game to play with their families. In addition, parents and youth took home donated English and Spanish books.