USHER joins us for Lights On—and this year's billboard is designed by youth!

We have two big Lights On Afterscool updates to share: eight-time Grammy-winning artist USHER is returning as Honorary Chair of Lights On Afterschool for the third year in a row! And as of October 1, a youth-designed Lights On Afterschool billboard will be appearing on Clear Channel Outdoor billboards across the nation!

USHER knows firsthand how transformative afterschool can be. His own experience inspired him to start USHER's New Look, a program that has been empowering young people for more than 25 years.

"My afterschool experience at the Boys & Girls Clubs in Chattanooga, Tennessee, is where I found my spark for music—a passion that became my career," USHER said. "Every child should have a place that sparks their interests and helps them find their passions and purpose."

Youth voice is always a cornerstone of Lights On Afterschool—and this year, it's the heart of our digital billboard! This year's design was developed by Evelyn Daniel, a 10th grade student at Spark Lab Studio, a program created by USHER's New Look at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Detroit. Clear Channel Outdoor will place Evelyn’s design on nearly 2,000 Lights On Afterschool digital billboards across the country throughout October.

"My favorite thing about my afterschool program is being able to help people with a skill I acquired and learned to love from a young age,” Evelyn says. “I'm an artist at heart, and in making the design for the billboard, I learned how to plan ahead and how to stick to a plan to make the project come together."

Afterschool programs like Spark Lab Studio give young people an opportunity to take their interests and develop durable skills that will help them in school, in careers, and in future life. Evelyn’s experience designing this year’s Lights On Afterschool billboard design will be shared later in the season—until then, keep an eye out for the “Powered by Afterschool” tagline on a billboard near you!