Weekly Media Roundup: February 1, 2023

After-School Program Returns to Fair Bluff, Signaling Hope for Flood-Battered Town, Border Belt Independent (North Carolina)

Due to repeated floods, including those from Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Florence, the town of Fair Bluff, North Carolina has lost about a quarter of its population over the past 10 years. But the re-opening of Building Bridges After School is a significant step forward in the town’s revitalization. The program reopened last September thanks to hundreds of volunteers from across the state who helped repair its building, as well as funding from the Columbus County DREAM Center. Building Bridges offers academic support, snacks, computer skills training, and fun activities for elementary and middle schoolers. “It’s important to let those children know that there’s somebody there for them in their community,” Amber Bellamy, director of the DREAM Center, told the Border Belt Independent. “You don’t want to leave Fair Bluff out.”

Framingham Brewery Releases Beer to Support After-School Program, Worcester Business Journal (Massachusetts)

Exhibit ‘A’ Brewing, a local brewing company in Framingham, Massachusetts, created a new craft beer called the ‘Educator’ and will donate a portion of the proceeds to Hoops & Homework afterschool and summer program. “Exhibit ‘A’ continues to support our mission and help us raise the funds we need to expand our programs, and increase our enrollment,” Hoops & Homework Founder Herb Chasan said. “We are grateful to be part of a community of businesses who make a commitment to helping students and educators in our neighborhood.”  Hoops & Homework provides afterschool and summer programs to families living in low-income rental housing in Framingham.

The Prexie Center: After-School Program Offers Welcoming Spot for Kids, Observer-Reporter (Pennsylvania)

Created by a school board member and a pastor, the Prexie Center afterschool program in Washington, Pennsylvania provides a wide range of enrichment activities as well as basics such as a food pantry, personal hygiene items, laundry machines, and showers. As many as 70 teens get homework help, connect with mentors, and take part in self-defense courses, painting, crocheting, chess, cooking, strength training and more. “These kids get community outside of the normal school day. They get to be around each other, and we get to be in here and be around them, mentor, show them some love,” Pastor Lem Woodson told the Observer-Reporter. “I wouldn’t call it a refuge, but that’s exactly what it is. It’s a refuge and a nice place for fellowship, and that’s great.”

Family Literacy Sees Early Success at LHS, Civic Nebraska (Nebraska)

The Lincoln High Community Learning Center in Nebraska offers a family-oriented afterschool program for English-language learners. English as a second language students, along with their parents, participate in a 2-hour literacy class three days a week in the afternoons throughout the school year. “Every person is different,” Matt Kohrell, a program instructor at Lincoln High, told Civic Nebraska. “There are a lot of different aspects (about the class) for prospering in America. They can go on and become U.S. citizens or find a good job.”