Afterschool Alliance: Digital Action Kit

Tell Your Afterschool Story

Congress needs to hear from you! Telling your personal story about the impact an afterschool program has made on your life is by far the most effective way to capture people's attention and convince them that #AfterschoolWorks.

There are plenty of ways to tell your story. Here are a few ideas:

Tweet your written story using the hashtag #AfterschoolWorks. Can't fit it all into 280 characters? Turn it into a thread by replying to your own tweets (you can remove your handle from the beginning and they'll still be threaded together!).

Post on Facebook. Create a status with your written story

Create a video. You don't need fancy equipment to create awesome video content. Just grab your smartphone and speak from the heart straight into the camera. Keep it under 60 seconds (the shorter the better) and post it to Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

Edit short clips together if you can and create a compilation of stories to upload to YouTube.

Write a blog post if you've got a lot to share. No blog? No problem. It's easy to publish a post on Medium.com, or email info@afterschoolalliance.org to submit your narrative to be considered as a guest post for the Afterschool Snack. Once it's been published, share it widely on social media.

Share with us directly. We're on the lookout for stories to share on our website, blog, and social media. If you'd like to be featured, let us know!

No matter how you choose to share your story, remember to:

Be sure to use the hashtag #AfterschoolWorks in your tweets and Instagram posts

Reach out to your members of Congress and urge them to support federal funding for afterschool programs. You can send a letter and make a phone call via http://3to6.co/congress

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest @afterschool4all and on Facebook @afterschoolalliancedc to keep up with the latest news on the battle to save afterschool.

Find the right message for you

If you're a...

an afterschool professional

an afterschool student

a parent

an afterschool alum

Consider...

How have you seen your afterschool program impact students over the course of your career?
Have you seen your afterschool program impact parents and families as well as students?
Do you have any data illustrating the impact of your program on your students? Talk about those results.
Are there any particular students you can think of that experienced significant growth in the time they attended your program? Share their stories.

In addition to answering these prompts yourself, encourage your students, parents, and alumni to share their stories!

What would you do after school if you couldn't come to this program?
What's your favorite thing about your afterschool program?
What's the coolest thing you've learned in your afterschool program?
How has your afterschool experience helped you in school?
How has your afterschool experience helped you get ready for your future career, or your path to college?

Where would you send your kids after school if this program wasn't available?
Have you noticed any positive changes in your child[ren] since they started attending their afterschool program?

Are they doing better in school?
Are they healthier or more active?
Are they better behaved, or do they get along better with their classmates?

Has your child's enrollment in an afterschool program helped you at work? Would your job be affected if the program was no longer available?
Is your child learning things or having experiences in their afterschool program that aren't available to them during the school day? Do those experiences help them do better in school?

What's your favorite memory from your time in your afterschool program?
Have skills you learned in your afterschool program helped you in your career?
Did your afterschool program help you on the path to college?
Did you form important relationships (with friends, mentors, teachers, etc.) through your afterschool program? Are you still in touch with those people?

Resources

Make the case that federal funding for afterschool programs is important to you community, has wide public support, and are proven to help kids learn and grow while supporting working families. Use these resources to tell your story:

Images & Graphics

Afterschool for America

You can download a selection of graphics for use on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and more from AfterschoolforAmerica.org:

Get Graphics

America After 3PM

Social media graphics elevating the topline information from America After 3PM 2020.

Get Graphics

Sample Language

Sample Facebook Posts

A Facebook post that includes a photo usually reaches more people than just a link. Try using these sample posts as captions alongside a photo from your afterschool program, or one of our downloadable graphics.

A new poll finds that 81% of voters agree that afterschool programs are a necessity– I'm one of them! Join me today in telling Congress that #AfterschoolWorks http://3to6.co/congress

87% of voters say afterschool programs provide parents peace of mind knowing that their children are safe and supervised. I contacted my reps to let them know that afterschool is a lifeline for working families! #AfterschoolWorks

Did you know that voters see afterschool as a way to #HelpKidsRecover? 84% agree that afterschool programs help young people catch up academically and socially from the impacts of the pandemic! Remind Congress why #AfterschoolWorks for our kids. http://3to6.co/congress

Afterschool provides opportunities for youth to learn, grow, and thrive.. All youth deserve equal access to the invaluable supports afterschool provides. I’m sending a message to Congress, will you? http://3to6.co/congress #AfterschoolWorks

Now more than ever, afterschool programs are rising to the moment to support kids’ well-being. In addition to academic support, afterschool provides opportunities for youth to interact with peers, develop social skills, and learn responsible decision-making! Tell Congress that #AfterschoolWorks to support the healthy development of youth: http://3to6.co/congress

A new poll finds that 86% of voters agree that afterschool programs help young people gain foundational skills that prepare them for the jobs of the future. All youth deserve an equal chance to succeed–tell Congress that #AfterschoolWorks. http://3to6.co/congress

Sample Tweets

For every child in an afterschool program, three are waiting to get in. These programs provide the critical supports our kids need to thrive! #AfterschoolWorks

81% of voters today say that afterschool programs are an absolute necessity–and I agree! #AfterschoolWorks for me and my community. http://3to6.co/congress

Our kids, families & communities—especially the most vulnerable—can't afford to lose access to the supports that afterschool programs provide. Send a message to Congress! http://3to6.co/congress #AfterschoolWorks

I want every kid and family to have access to afterschool programs. Click here if you're with me: http://3to6.co/congress #AfterschoolWorks

Sample Email Blasts

*Use http://3to6.co/congress as the links in these emails.

SUBJECT LINE: Call on Congress to support our kids!

For every child in an afterschool program, there are four more who are waiting for an available program. Nearly 25 million children are not able to access a program. Now is the time to let Congress know that we need more funding for afterschool, not less–and voters agree! New polling data finds that 8 in 10 voters want newly elected federal, state, and local leaders to provide more funding for afterschool programs.

Please take two minutes to tell your representatives in Congress to stand up for America's children, families, and afterschool options. Take action now.

SUBJECT LINE: Afterschool works for our kids!

Today and every day, we recognize that afterschool programs offer a place for youth to explore, engage, and learn–and voters across the nation agree! According to a recent poll, 81 percent of voters say that afterschool programs are an absolute necessity. But for every child in an afterschool program, there are four more who are waiting for an available program.

Please take two minutes to tell your representatives in Congress to stand up for America's children, families, and afterschool options. Take action now.

Useful Links to Share

WAYS TO TAKE ACTION

FACTS & RESEARCH

Digital Action Toolkit

Use our advocacy toolkit to let members of Congress know that afterschool and summer learning programs support students and families in communities nationwide.

Tell Congress: Families need afterschool!

Email Congress