Weekly Media Roundup: April 5, 2023

After-School Programs Financed with Pandemic Funds Making a Difference in Chester County, Daily Local News (Pennsylvania)

Funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) is helping Mighty Writers and Coatesville Kids to College, two afterschool programs in Chester County, Pennsylvania, expand their services to meet students’ needs in the wake of the pandemic. During COVID, both programs have stepped up to provide additional support, including food, warm clothing, school supplies and year-round programming. “The ARPA funding will help us make sure that we have the proper people to come in and provide a full range of services to our students,” Sara Dickens-Trillo, Director of Operations at Mighty Writers, told the Daily Local News. “Many of our students feel invisible and unimportant. We are here to give them support, and to let them know that they matter.”

Summer Camps Slammed: Programs Already See High Enrollment for 2023 Season, KOIN 6 (Oregon)

Staffing shortages, rising costs, and the challenges of COVID have forced many summer programs in Oregon to reduce their capacity, making it harder for families to enroll their children as slots fill up quickly. To help ensure students can access high-quality summer learning opportunities, the state invested $150 million in summer programming at schools and community organizations in 2022. This year, state lawmakers are considering a bill that would establish a Summer and After-School Learning and Enrichment Grant program. “There are not enough programs. I mean, that’s always been the case. We just notice it more now because we have heightened awareness. To meet the needs of families, you have to do more,” Beth Unverzagt, director of the Oregon Afterschool & Summer for Kids Network, told KOIN 6.

Jiu-jitsu Program Helps Students with Life Skills and Academics in Baltimore, WMAR 2 (Maryland)

As a teacher in Baltimore City Schools, Michael John noticed many of his students did not have access to afterschool programs. To help fill the void, he created the Agoge Project, a free afterschool program that provides training in jiu-jitsu alongside mentorship and academic support. Today, the program has its own gym and serves 50 students. “In our mission statement, we say that we use boxing and jiu-jitsu and martial arts as the vehicle to cultivate the child. All the skills that you learn to become good at martial arts is the same equation that you would use to become good at anything else,” John told WMAR 2. “Perseverance, being consistent, finding a good coach, being coachable, finding a good mentor, listening to your mentor, putting in the work.”

Afterschool Programs Serve Families, Beloit Daily News (Wisconsin)

“Wisconsin suffers from a workforce challenge, and afterschool programs offer both short and long-term solutions,” Stateline Boys & Girls Club Chief Executive Officer Mark Rand writes in a recent guest column for the Beloit Daily News. Rand shares how afterschool programs support working parents by providing a safe and enriching space for students after the school day ends, while helping train tomorrow’s workforce by supporting students’ education, providing mentorship and helping students explore careers. Rand concludes by calling on the Wisconsin state legislature to prioritizing funding for afterschool in the state budget.