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Meet Zhonghui Zheng and Kyla Anderson, Afterschool Youth Ambassadors

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Meet Zhonghui Zheng and Kyla Anderson, Afterschool Youth Ambassadors

Welcome to Youth Voice Week 2022! All during the week, we'll be amplifying the voices of our Youth Ambassadors, as they share their stories and speak about the impact that afterschool has had on their lives. 

Zhonghui Zheng is a 17-year-old student at Global Kids Afterschool Program in New York City, New York. 

“I’m really excited to serve as a Youth Afterschool Ambassador,” Zhonghui Zheng said. “At the Global Kids Afterschool Program, I’ve learned about civic participation, made new friends from other schools, explored new neighborhoods in New York City and connected with mentors who have helped me grow as a leader. The pandemic has been very isolating, but this program has helped me stay engaged and connected to my community. I’m excited to share about my experiences as a Youth Afterschool Ambassador, so more students can find support and community in afterschool programs.”

Zhonghui shares what he wants policymakers to know about afterschool:

Zhonghui shares the most important skill his afterschool program taught him:


Kyla Anderson is a 17-year-old student at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville East Saint Louis Charter High School’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers Afterschool Program in East St. Louis, Illinois. 

“I’m really excited to be a Youth Afterschool Ambassador,” Anderson said. “The 21st Century Community Learning Centers program I’ve attended since elementary school has meant so much to me. In this program, I’ve made new friends, gotten help with homework, and developed communication and leadership skills, especially through the newspaper club. I hope sharing my experience will help more students access afterschool programs, so they can have experiences as powerful and enriching as the ones I’ve had.”

Kyla answers how her program helps her improve her social skills:

Kyla answers how her program helps her improve academically:

Kyla answers where she would be without her afterschool program:

Now more than ever, it is vital to provide youth the space to share their voices and ideas about things they care about. Afterschool is an important space for helping youth develop the confidence and skills they need to share those ideas. Whether providing leadership opportunities, fostering the development of critical social and emotional competencies, or creating space where youth feel they are being heard and validated, out-of-school-time programs are helping to develop the leaders of tomorrow by turning the mic over to them today!

Help us continue to elevate the stories of youth leaders, like Zhonghui and Kyla! Youth ages 13 & up are encouraged to submit their stories to the Afterschool Alliance about why they love their afterschool program. Youth who share their views in a written, video, or art piece may be featured on the Afterschool Alliance website during our next Youth Voice Week!

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By helping create my afterschool program, I became the person I am today

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I'm grateful to my afterschool program for giving me a place to belong and helping me make friends.

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I have been led by my afterschool teachers, and now I am leading the youth of today.

By Jay'Len Clark, Afterschool Youth Ambassador, class of 2024. March 25 to 29, 2024 is Youth Voice Week! All this week, we will publish blogs from our Afterschool Youth Ambassadors, as they describe the impact their program has had on their lives and why afterschool is important to them and...

BY: Guest Blogger      03/26/24

Afterschool gave me access to opportunities that improved my outlook on life.

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Afterschool is changing the narrative in my community

By Brandon Tibbs, Afterschool Youth Ambassador, class of 2024. Where I’m from, there’s three ways to be: a “Norbit” (a scholar), a “hoodlum,” or a baller. Afterschool programs aim to change that narrative. A typical day in the ComED youth program would...

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The power of representation: Being a role model for the next generation

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BY: Guest Blogger      07/27/23

Success stories: The Burma Center

Reflecting on the findings from our recent voter poll, "Afterschool a Priority for Asian American and Pacific Islander Voters," the Afterschool Alliance is amplifying the work of out-of-school providers supporting AANHPI students and their families. The Burma Center is a...

BY: Sophie Kidd      06/26/23

Activities and resources to celebrate Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month

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BY: Ursula Helminski      05/15/23

Building peer-to-peer relationships and taking "safe risks": Project Morry

In a conversation with Dawn Ewing, Executive Director of Project Morry, we sat down to discuss how the program is fostering a safe space for youth to re-engage during the summer and how youth are able to define success on their own terms. Project Morry was one of the 36 grantees of the 2021 Aim...

BY: Maria Rizo      01/19/23

Celebrating 25 years of masterpieces with a masterpiece of a movie

“We want to show the softness.” – Mingotae Kebede, director and producer A filmmaker and former staff of a long running Washington, DC Afterschool program, Life Pieces to Masterpieces was asked to help the program create a small video to commemorate the program’s 25th...

BY: Jillian Luchner      12/09/22

Fighting antisemitism and Islamophobia in afterschool

As the war in Gaza continues to grind on, college and university campus protests calling for ceasefire and divestment from Israel are grabbing headlines. While many of the protests are peaceful, some have turned violent, with protesters chanting antisemitic slogans or calling for harm against...

BY: Alexis Steines      05/24/24

New podcast discusses youth perspectives on program design

In March of 2023, The Wallace Foundation released a three-part podcast series titled Beyond the Classroom, where youth research team members, out-of-school time (OST) practitioners, and field experts discuss the findings of a 2022 student-led study commissioned by The Wallace Foundation,...

BY: Elizabeth Bannan      08/01/23

U.S. Dept. of Ed. calls for more afterschool and summer supports

The U.S. Department of Education’s Engage Every Student Initiative marked its one-year anniversary last week with the Raise the Bar Summit, a celebration of the progress made toward expanding afterschool and summer programs for youth across the nation and a platform to exchange...

BY: Ursula Helminski      07/17/23

Creating a safe space in afterschool for LGBTQIA+ youth

Photo courtesy of The Gender Spectrum Collection Afterschool programs provide a safe space for youth to be their most authentic selves, with opportunities to engage with peers outside of the school day, connect with caring adults, and explore their interests and passions. But LGBTQ+ youth in...

BY: Maria Rizo      06/27/23

Activities and resources to celebrate Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month

May is Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month - a month to honor the accomplishments and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States while celebrating their diverse heritages. Here are a few resources and ideas to help you think about ways...

BY: Ursula Helminski      05/15/23

An afterschool program that feels like a family

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BY: Guest Blogger      02/27/23

Building peer-to-peer relationships and taking "safe risks": Project Morry

In a conversation with Dawn Ewing, Executive Director of Project Morry, we sat down to discuss how the program is fostering a safe space for youth to re-engage during the summer and how youth are able to define success on their own terms. Project Morry was one of the 36 grantees of the 2021 Aim...

BY: Maria Rizo      01/19/23