Weekly Media Roundup: January 11, 2023

Color a Positive Thought: Bridgeport Man Creates Coloring Book, After-School Program for City Kids, WTNH (Connecticut)

Bridgeport, Connecticut native Harry Bell created “Color a Positive Thought,” a coloring book with inspirational phrases, to help children and families facing challenges like those he experienced, including childhood trauma and substance abuse. Bell uses the proceeds from the coloring book to fund a free afterschool program in Bridgeport which is attended by 50 to 75 students each day. The program includes homework help, art, hip hop, sports and more. “In here, they can be that kid and smile and laugh and feel like they’re home,” Bell told WTNH. “We give them a hot meal every day, too.”

Newly Signed Ohio Bill Expands Afterschool Enrichment Accounts, The Ohio Star (Ohio)

On January 6, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed a spending bill increasing the state’s supplemental education assistance credit for low-income families from $500 to $1,000. As part of the state’s COVID recovery efforts, the ACE Educational Savings Account program provides families a $1,000 credit to pay for before- or afterschool programs, summer camps, tutoring or other educational services or materials. “In light of the historic learning loss suffered during the pandemic, the need to get parents and students education resources is critical,” Buckeye Institute research fellow Greg R. Lawson told the Ohio Star. “By increasing the income-eligibility threshold for students and the amount in individual ACE accounts to $1,000, the reforms Governor DeWine signed into law will make it easier for families to access indispensable education resources.”

LAUSD Superintendent Launches Big Tutoring Expansion and Evening Buses for Kids, Los Angeles Daily News (California)

To help ensure afterschool programs are accessible to all families, starting in January, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) will provide bus service home to students participating in the Youth Empowered Scholars Academy afterschool program. The district hopes to expand the service to 100 additional schools. “We will do the equivalent of concierge service, meaning door-to-door delivery. We have coordinated these bus routes to provide an opportunity for students, who are bused or not bused, and are afraid to take advantage of this additional service,” Superintendent Alberto Carvalho told the Los Angeles Daily News. The district will also provide tutoring during the regular school hours at schools with the greatest need.

Marin Teenager Fosters After-School Chess Boom, Marin Independent Journal (California)

High schooler Henry Lien founded ChessPals to introduce elementary schoolers to chess through weekly sessions at five afterschool programs in the Bay Area. His goal is to increase access to chess within underrepresented and predominantly Spanish-speaking communities, while developing students’ cognitive and social-emotional skills. “Thanks to Henry and the ChessPals program, we’ve seen immediate engagement and excitement from students in our after-school programs who have never played chess before,” Education Administrator Mike Taylor told the Marin Independent Journal. “Everyone is building really meaningful connections.”