Weekly Media Roundup: December 17, 2025

Indiana Governor Proclaims Dec. 15 as Boys & Girls Clubs Day to Recognize Youth Development Impact, WNDU (Indiana)

On December 15, Indiana Governor Mike Braun recognized the Boys & Girls Clubs of Indiana’s commitment to provide safe, engaging opportunities to more than 180,000 students in the state. “Today’s proclamation is more than a statewide recognition. It is a reminder that Boys & Girls Clubs change the trajectory of young lives every single day,” Tami Hicks, CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Elkhart County, told WNDU. “We are deeply grateful for this honor, and we remain committed to ensuring every child in Indiana has access to a safe, inspiring place to grow.” Governor Braun celebrated the Club’s accomplishments while noting the need for additional programs. The recent American After 3PM survey found for every child enrolled in an afterschool program in Indiana, three are without access.

Code Girls United Gets $80K To Expand AI Education for Montana Students, KBZK (Montana)

At Code Girls United in Great Falls, Montana, students explore the benefits and challenges of artificial intelligence in their student-led educational videos. The organization recently received an $80,000 grant from OpenAI Foundation to further develop its online learning channel, Code Girls AI Academy. “Our students will be teaching other people, not just other students and people their age… So that $80,000 from OpenAI is specifically to continue this,” Code Girls United Fund Development Director Melissa Dunning told KBZK.

Drexel After-School Program Combines Dance, Science and Coding for a Creative, Integrated Approach to Learning, WHYY (Pennsylvania)

Founded in 2018 by four scientists, engineers and artists who are Black women, the Black Girls STEAMing Through Dance afterschool program in Philadelphia incorporates art and dance to help students explore science, technology, engineering and math in creative, hands-on ways. For example, students recently learned about “conditional statements” in computer coding by assigning their own choreography to various hand symbols. The program aims to bridge divides while empowering students to pursue careers in scientific disciplines. “We all come from disciplines where we are the only or few. And we want to make sure that that isn’t the future for everybody,” co-founder Valerie Ifill told WHYY.

North Fayette Township Cutting Pre-School, Summer Camp, After-School Programs, WTAE (Pennsylvania)

When North Fayette Township in Pennsylvania announced the closure of its afterschool, summer and preschool programs due to budget deficits, parent Tina Varkonda sprung into action, creating a petition to mobilize other parents to help save the programs. “I didn’t know what to do. I had to do something,” Varkonda told WTAE. The summer program “allows my husband and I to remain full-time employees. The summer staff always did such an amazing job with the children.” Parents plan to attend the township’s board meeting later this month to urge board members to find solutions to the shortage of affordable out-of-school time care in their community.