Hundreds of afterschool advocates take to Capitol Hill; Congress listens

Last week, more than 400 afterschool advocates and youth stormed Capitol Hill for the 15th Afterschool for All Challenge. Taking more than 250 meetings with Members of Congress and congressional staff, advocates cultivated new allies for afterschool—and got results: 

• 6 new cosponsors for the Supporting Afterschool STEM Act
• 3 new cosponsors for the Afterschool for Americas Children Act—and counting!

Friends of afterschool also took action from across the country.  Supporters who couldn't join us in Washington, D.C. sent more than 200 emails to Congress on Tuesday alone and more than 650 emails during the week of the Challenge, bringing us to a total of nearly 4,000 emails to Congress this year.  We're now nearly 40 percent of the way to our goal of sending 10,600 emails on behalf of the 1.6 million kids with 21st CCLC programs at risk—email your representatives in Congress now to help reach that goal.

More than 270 supporters also took part in our Thunderclap campaign, reaching nearly 225,000 members of their social networks.  Many supporters also joined our advocacy efforts on social media throughout the day by posting and tweeting at their Members of Congress to emphasize the importance of afterschool, with a few Members of Congress chiming in themselves—get a recap of the conversation on Storify.