Weekly Media Roundup: July 23, 2025

Trump Administration Unfreezes $1B in After-School Funding: Source, ABC News

On Friday, the Trump administration announced it would release the $1.329 billion appropriated for 21st Century Community Learning Centers that was due to be delivered to states on July 1. The decision came after a bipartisan push highlighting the importance of the afterschool and summer learning programs these grants support and the urgency to release them now. “While we are thrilled the funds will be made available and thank the bipartisan lawmakers and the state attorneys general who fought for their release, the administration's inexplicable delay in disbursing them caused massive chaos and harm, with summer learning programs abruptly shutting down and a large number of afterschool programs cancelling plans to open in the fall,” Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant told ABC News.

Camp HBCYouth Instills Pride, Fun, Education into Nashville Kids, The Tennessean (Tennessee)

At Tennessee State University’s Camp HBCYouth, elementary school students participate in reading clubs, tennis lessons, meet-and-greet events with zoologists, crafts and more on the college campus. Founder Reagan Fresnel told the Tennessean that many of the counselors are TSU students and help demonstrate to campers that college is an obtainable goal. “[The campers] can envision themselves at a college because they’ve ... seen it. The kids call it college camp.”

Rhode Island Foundation Awards $6.1 Million for Food, Housing, Health Care, RI News Today (Rhode Island)

As part of its new Five-Year Action Plan focused on supporting education, housing and healthy communities, the Rhode Island Foundation awarded the Rhode Island Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs $100,000 for its afterschool programs. “Our Power Hour program is more than just homework help. It is a structured learning environment designed to bridge opportunity gaps, reinforce classroom learning and equip middle and high school students with the skills to become independent learners,” Erin Gilliatt, executive director of the East Providence Boys & Girls Clubs, told RI News Today. The Rhode Island Foundation has earmarked $2 million in grants to organizations impacted by federal funding cuts. 

United Way of Buffalo & Erie County Hosts National Summer Learning Day 2025, Western New York Family Magazine (New York)

Last week, Buffalo, New York Mayor Christopher P. Scanlon joined more than 1,600 students for a National Summer Learning Day celebration hosted by United Way’s Youth Access Coalition in collaboration with Live Well Erie, Say Yes Buffalo, and BestSelf Behavioral Health. The event brought together students from dozens of summer learning programs to participate in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), arts, literacy, and wellness activities. “Summer programs do more than keep kids learning — they strengthen entire families. By offering safe, enriching environments, they give children room to grow and caregivers the support they need to thrive. Learning lifts us all,” Talisa King, Afterschool Alliance Afterschool Ambassador and Live Well Erie Project Coordinator, told Western New York Family Magazine.