Weekly Media Roundup: October 6, 2021

Non-profit Looks to Bring Hope to Chadbourn Youth, WWAY-TV (North Carolina)

A new afterschool program in Chadbourn, North Carolina will focus on mentorship, athletics, academics, and character development. Robbie ‘Pedro’ Stephens, a retired military officer and juvenile counselor, founded First Hope Foundation, which will host the program, to help young people in Columbus County succeed in school and in life. “After speaking numerous times with the leaders of the First Hope Foundation, I am looking forward to the many activities that are in store for our community. I feel that the opening of the center is going to be a huge asset to our town and the surrounding areas,” Chadbourn Mayor Phillip Britt told WWAY-TV. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone involved for their hard work and compassion for our town.”

Boys & Girls Club Metro South, Taunton YMCA, & Girls Inc. Receive $166K ARPA Grant, Taunton Daily Gazette (Massachusetts)

The City of Taunton awarded $166,000 in American Rescue Plan funding to three out-of-school-time providers to fund onsite social workers at afterschool programs. The initiative is part of the city’s Make It OK campaign, which promotes emotional wellbeing among young people. Jessica Johnstone Darling, executive director of Girls, Inc. of Taunton, told the Taunton Daily Gazette, “Social emotional learning opportunities and mental and behavioral health services are critical to our work to empower girls and offset the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic…. We are grateful for the Mayor's support and voice in recognizing the important role after-school programs play in the development of youth.”

As Missouri Hispanic Population Grows, Building Trust is Key to Bridging Cultural Gap, Missouri Independent (Missouri)

In Missouri, the Latinx youth population has more than doubled in the past 20 years. Recognizing the need for bilingual services and care in Columbia, Missouri, Eduardo Crespi founded Centro Latino to assist working families and build a sense of community. For nearly 20 years, the organization has offered afterschool programming and has seen tangible benefits. “Empowering people, I think that that is the best thing that could happen,” Crespi told the Missouri Independent. “You see kids who were in the afterschool program, now succeeding in college.” After providing a year of virtual programming, the organization is now back in-person, providing tutoring, mentoring and nutritious meals.

Baldwin County School District Offers Dinner Meals for Students in Afterschool Program, WMGT-TV (Georgia)

In addition to providing daily snacks, Georgia’s Baldwin County School District will now offer dinner four nights a week to students attending its afterschool programs. “I think it’s just another offering we can do for our community,” school nutrition director Susan Nelson told WMGT-TV. “Especially right now during Covid-19, where some people’s work may have been cut or they might have lost their job or finances are tight. It just ensures that they’re getting a healthy, balanced meal each day.” Funding for the meals is provided through the federal Child and Adult Care Food program.