Weekly Media Roundup: April 19, 2023

After-School Program and City Officials Celebrate Arbor Day, Cumberland Times-News (Maryland)

In honor of Arbor Day, elementary school students from Allegany County Public Schools’ afterschool programs participated in a tree planting ceremony at Gene Mason Sports Complex in Cumberland, Maryland. During the ceremony, the afterschool program presented awards to partnering organizations and volunteers for their support. Bill Seddon, a biology professor at Frostburg State University, was honored for his ten years of promoting environmental education and sustainability with afterschool participants. "We host field trips (and) do science activities. It's exciting stuff. It's science,” Seddon told the Cumberland Times-News.

After-School Programs for Homeless NYC Youth Push to Make a Difference, ABC News

At the Keys to Abundant Life afterschool program in New York City, students who are experiencing homelessness take part in activities in the arts, college preparation, cooking, financial planning and more. The Coalition for the Homeless also provides a safe and fun place for unhoused students after school, including many immigrant students who they help gain confidence in English. Experts say afterschool programs have a key role to play in helping students living in shelters succeed in school and pursue their dreams. “It's really important for us to make sure that our students are in a safe, supportive environment and in a particular setting where they can come together as students, share their experiences and learn and grow together,” Bak Harris, a director of regional support for New York City's Department of Education, told ABC News.

Epps Christian Center Expands Youth Mentoring with $250K Escambia Children's Trust Grant, Pensacola News Journal (Florida)

Thanks to a $254,800 grant from the Escambia Children Trust, the Epps Christian Center in Pensacola, Florida, is expanding its Steps to Success afterschool and summer program to include elementary school students. The program currently provides enrichment activities, life skills lessons and a mentoring program to local middle and high school students. LaQuette Cobb, a teacher at the program, leads a variety of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) activities that incorporate the importance of community engagement. “The program lends itself to being able to teach the kids to give back,” Cobb told the Pensacola News Journal. “Not only being a part of a team, but how it works. Being a part of your community, what can you do better, even at 9 or 10 years old, and to me that’s very important.”

Jeremy Renner Turns Tour Bus into Music Studio for Chicago After-School Program, ABC 7 (Illinois)

On an episode of his new docuseries “Rennervations,” actor Jeremy Renner rebuilds a tour bus to function as a mobile music studio with recording equipment and delivers it to the BASE Chicago afterschool program alongside actress and singer Vanessa Hudgens. “BASE Chicago, we are an after-school program on the west side of Chicago, with a strong emphasis on athletics as well as academics,” Director of Operations Frank Brim told ABC 7. “We have like 300 kids in our program right now just trying to do phenomenal things.” Program leaders say the new music studio has given students a positive creative outlet, and they hope the show inspires viewers to support afterschool programs in their own communities.