Couldn’t join us in Washington, D.C.? Take the Challenge @ Home!

Already, more than 30 Members of Congress have called for a $100 million increase in funding for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative, the only federal funding source dedicated exclusively to before-school, afterschool and summer learning programs.

Email your elected officials now and urge them to support the additional $100 million investment in the afterschool programs that keep our kids safe, inspire learning and help working families.

Share your story! Why do you support afterschool for all?

Want another challenge? 
Take action now by asking your Members of Congress to co-sponsor the bipartisan Afterschool for America’s Children Act and support the next generation of before-school, afterschool and summer learning programs.

Whether you were able to attend the Challenge or not, here are a few ways to step up your advocacy efforts at home. You can help us protect afterschool! Download full pdf.

Take Action Calendar: 2012 Key Dates and Events                            

Contacting Your Congressman.  Providing feedback to your Member of Congress is easy to do and is a critical part of the democratic process.  This year, both the Senate and House of Representatives are working on the fiscal year 2013 federal spending bills and will continue to work on Elementary and Secondary Education Act reauthorization.  Send an email or letter to your Members of Congress calling for their support of afterschool programs.  

• Challenge Participants: Thank You Letter                   
• Non-Participants: General Letters                              

Joining the Afterschool for All Campaign.  The Afterschool for All Challenge is just one part of a much larger grassroots movement created to ensure that all youth have access to quality afterschool programs.  By joining the Afterschool for All campaign, you get access to a wealth of resources that help you stay informed about afterschool issues all year long.         

• Campaign Description                                                                 
• Afterschool for All Petition Sample                            

Arranging a Site Visit.  Inviting policy makers and their staff to visit your afterschool program is a powerful way to help them understand the benefits your program provides to the community.  To help you get started we have provided sample invitations, planning guides and schedules to make your site visit a success.                                                                           

• Key Steps with Sample Schedule & Timeline                                                         
• Sample Invitation Letter                                                    
• Sample Thank You Letter                                                   

Leveraging Traditional and Social Media.  Afterschool advocates have many ways to generate news coverage about the extraordinary youth outcomes afterschool programs deliver as well as the challenges these programs face.  Use our templates, talking points and key messages to help you spread the word about the importance of afterschool.

• Media Ideas and Tips                                                
• Sample Letter to the Editor                                               
• News Release about Your Trip to Washington, D.C.                
• Pitch Yourself to a Local Radio Show                                    
• Blog about Your Trip to Washington, D.C.                   

Case Studies: Local Advocacy Success Stories   

Then...

• Download our Campaign Toolkit for everything you need to help make afterschool an election issue. Includes an Afterschool Guide for candidates, a sample survey for candidates and tips for injecting afterschool in election events.
• Visit our Take Action Center for more ideas on what more you can do including key advocacy dates for 2012.
• See our Toolbox for comprehensive guides on marketing afterschool, reaching policy makers and working with media.