Weekly Media Roundup: August 16, 2023

4-H Can Help Find That Spark, Richmond Register (Kentucky)

“In a world full of talents, interests and qualities, everyone has a unique inner fire that gives them joy, purpose, and direction. 4-H calls these ‘sparks,’ representing passion, energy and self-identity, not just hobbies,” Madison County Agriculture Extension Director Assistant Rachel Guidugli writes in a recent guest column for the Richmond Register. Guidugli shares about the many opportunities 4-H provides students in Madison County, Kentucky to find their ‘sparks’ outside of the school day, including afterschool programs, community clubs and opportunities for teens to teach younger students. When students’ sparks are ignited, Guidugli notes, it helps them build self-esteem and drives civic engagement.

New After-School Program Starts in Champaign, Hopes to Address Increase of Youth Gun Violence, WAND-TV (Illinois)

In response to a rise in youth gun violence in Champaign, Illinois, the National Youth Advocate Program is opening the Reimagine Youth Intervention Service (RYIS) afterschool program for students eleven years old and older. “Our goal really as an organization and as an afterschool program, is to give kids a safe community center and space to meet off the street,” Julia Miller, RYIS Program activity coordinator, told WAND-TV. The program includes engaging activities focusing on social and emotional learning, healthy snacks and academic support. Students will also take field trips to learn more about Champaign and the local opportunities available to them.

SEMO YMCA After-School Care Expands into New Madrid County, KFVS (Missouri)

Just in time for the start of the school year, the SEMO YMCA is opening a new afterschool program in Madrid County, Missouri for kindergarteners through fifth graders. “Childcare is something that is a problem in our region,” New Madrid City Administrator Aaron Griffin told KFVS. “[This new program] fills a gap, bringing things for children to be able to do to help them stay out of trouble. It will give them that extra education and extra values.” The program includes homework assistance, snacks and relationship building and character development activities.

Hamilton Youth Organization to Offer After-School Program at Wilson Middle School, WCPO 9 (Ohio)

At the H.Y.P.E. (Hamilton Young People Empowered) summer learning program, teens in Hamilton, Ohio spent eight weeks exploring art forms, giving presentations on science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) topics, learning about financial literacy and completing community service projects. This fall, H.Y.P.E. will open an afterschool program at Wilson Middle School that offers boxing and music. As the waitlist grows, the program is hoping to expand. CEO and Founder Shaquila “Pastor Shaq” Mathews told WCPO 9, “This confirms that H.Y.P.E. is needed and that we should be here and that we need to be here… I think it would be great if we could occupy some space on the west side of town because we’re now currently on the east side of town.”