Weekly Media Roundup: October 16, 2024

After-School Program Will Connect Students to Cape Verdean Roots, The Valley Breeze (Rhode Island)

Next month, a new afterschool program in Pawtucket, Rhode Island will provide opportunities ranging from artificial intelligence classes to cooking lessons and art activities to elementary and middle schoolers who immigrated from Cape Verde. Created by the Capeverdean American Community Development Center (CACD), the new program continues the Center’s successful summer learning program. It will also offer homework help, support for students learning English, and social-emotional learning activities. “We’re looking to be a hub for the Cape Verdean community and others, as a space to go where there are resources and get-togethers to celebrate, grow, and build with each other,” CACD Afterschool Coordinator Tori Williams told the Valley Breeze.

Boys & Girls Club of the Midlands Builds New ‘Safe Space,’ WOWT News (Nebraska)

In Omaha, Nebraska, the Boys & Girls Club of the Midlands is refurbishing its afterschool program with new sports equipment, kitchen appliances and massage chairs to encourage teenagers to come and get connected. “Everyday after school, there’s thousands of kids that just go home,” Elizabeth Donner, chief development officer, told WOWT News. “We want to ensure that our young people that know they have a place they can go to where there is caring adult and peers they can hang out with, get a hot meal, education and support.” The new ice cream, popcorn, hot dog and cotton candy machines will provide entrepreneurial opportunities for students to help raise money and develop valuable business skills.

After-School Program Returns with Grant’s Help, The Wilson Times (North Carolina)

With support from a 21^st Century Community Learning Centers grant, the Save-A-Youth afterschool program will continue to provide academic, social, and emotional support to students in Wilson, North Carolina. “In today’s educational environment, any additional help that a child may be able to receive in order for them to achieve their academic goal is really helpful,” Hayward Humphrey, a lead teacher at Save-A-Youth, told the Wilson Times. Each Friday, the program invites community members to share their careers or creative talents with students.

Richmond Leaders Say Investing in ‘Out-of-School’ Programming Has Helped Curb Youth Gun Violence, ABC 8 (Virginia)

The number of children impacted by gun violence in Richmond, Virginia was down 64 percent in 2023 compared to 2017. City officials attribute that progress to increased investment in afterschool and summer programs through Richmond’s NextUp grant funds. “It makes me a little emotional,” Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney told ABC 8. “If under-privileged youth have the same opportunities [as those with more resources], they can be successful. This is what success looks like, but this isn’t the end of the road.