Taking the Afterschool for All Challenge to Capitol Hill

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Taking the Afterschool for All Challenge to Capitol Hill

By Erik Peterson Posted: Feb 11, 2013

More than 200 advocates for quality afterschool and summer learning programs packed into the majestic Kennedy Caucus Room in the Russell Senate Office Building on February 7 for the "Breakfast of Champions." The event honored a record 18 state afterschool champions, National Afterschool Champion John Galvin, assistant principal of I.S. 318 in Brooklyn, NY, (and co-star of the award winning afterschool chess documentary Brooklyn Castle), and four senators who are champions of afterschool programs. John Galvin was recognized for his dedication to his students and the afterschool chess program, which has helped build a culture of success at the school. Galvin mounted a community-wide campaign to fight budget cuts that threatened the chess program.

The "Breakfast of Champions" was part of the 13th annual Afterschool for All Challenge, which brought together hundreds of educators, parents, afterschool leaders and advocates from around the country for a series of events and meetings with Members of Congress. Sens. Mark Begich (AK), Barbara Boxer (CA), Lisa Murkowski (AK) and Sheldon Whitehouse (RI) addressed the enthusiastic crowd and were honored for their support of afterschool programs. Following the Breakfast, advocates met with more than 200 House and Senate offices asking for support for afterschool and summer learning programs that face a 5 percent funding cut next month due to sequestration; and supporting the soon to be introduced Afterschool for America’s Children Act.

The State Champions honored at the Afterschool for All Challenge were:

Arkansas: Tammie Cloyes, 21st CCLC Program Coordinator, Department of Education
California: Michael Funk, Director of the After School Division, Department of Education
Florida: Modesto Abety-Gutierrez, President and CEO, The Children’s Trust
Georgia: N. Jean Walker Ph.D., Vice President of Education, United Way of Greater Atlanta
Iowa: Dave Welter, Principal, Holmes Junior High School
Indiana: Willis Bright, Former Director of Youth Programs, Lilly Endowment
Kansas: Laura Kaiser, Family Engagement Chair, Kansas Parent Teacher Association
Massachusetts: The Honorable Thomas McGee, Massachusetts State Senate
North Carolina: Carr Thompson, Senior Program Officer, Burroughs Wellcome Fund
Nebraska: Kristin Williams, Director of Community Initiatives, The Sherwood Foundation
New Jersey: The Honorable Connie Wagner, New Jersey General Assembly
New Mexico: Laurie Mueller, Former 21st CCLC State Coordinator, Department of Education
Oklahoma: General Ben Robinson USAF (Ret.), President, Sentry One LLC
Pennsylvania: Leslie Roesler, Associate Director, Pennsylvania Key – Berks County Intermediate Unit
Rhode Island: The Honorable Frank Ferri, Rhode Island House of Representatives
Texas: Jennifer Esterline, Independent Nonprofit Consultant
Virginia: Kathryn Johnson, Executive Director, Alternatives, Inc.
West Virginia: Gayle Manchin, Vice President, State Board of Education.

Hundreds more afterschool advocates took action in their own communities as well—meeting with Members of Congress or hosting them at their afterschool programs. There's still time to take action.

The 2013 Afterschool for All Challenge is generously sponsored by: United States Tennis Association, United States Chess Federation, the NAMM Foundation, Cable in the Classroom and the National AfterSchool Association. Additional generous support is provided by Torani Syrups, the Noyce Foundation and the C.S. Mott Foundation.