Weekly Media Roundup: September 18, 2024

In Visit to Detroit, Usher Praises Boys & Girls Club After-School Programs, Detroit Free Press (Michigan)

Last week, R&B artist Usher held “Usher’s Club Takeover” at the Boys & Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan in Detroit. At the two-day event, more than 1,500 students took part in an interactive career fair showcasing jobs in music, health care, technology, fashion and more. Usher also announced his role as honorary chair of his year’s Lights On Afterschool rally and shared that he developed his passion for music as a child attending the Boys & Girls Club of Chattanooga. “You may not know what it is that you want to do with your life. But it's a beautiful thing to come to the Boys & Girls Club and be influenced in a way that you could create a career, create a business and be a contributor to your community, as well as creative in any industry,” Usher told students.

Investing in Our Children’s Future: The Crucial Role of After-School Programs, BK Reader (New York)

In a recent guest column in the BK Reader, Crown Heights resident Khari Edwards describes the challenges he faced as a ‘latchkey kid’ without afterschool supervision and the positive impact quality afterschool programs had in his children’s lives. He notes the need to protect and expand access to afterschool programs for generations to come, particularly in the wake of recent funding cuts and program closures throughout New York City. “These programs are more than just a place for children to go after school—they are critical in shaping their futures, providing them with the structure, safety and opportunities they need to thrive,” Edwards writes. “It is our collective responsibility to advocate for the support and resources necessary to keep these programs alive and thriving.”

Families 'Desperately' Need After-School Care, But 30% of PBC Schools Have Waitlists. Why?, Palm Beach Post (Florida)

In Palm Beach County, Florida, 14,000 students attend the school district’s afterschool programs but a third of them have growing wait lists, primarily due to staffing shortages. “As we’ve come out of COVID, the trail of destruction that is left behind in increased costs and affordability in Palm Beach County has impacted the ability of childcare providers to recruit and retain qualified staff,” Kasha???? Kitts, program director at Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County, told the Palm Beach Post. With few affordable options, many families have to rely on family members for help or leave their children home unsupervised.

Thrive After-School Program in Longview Begins Fundraising Push to Stabilize, Expand Operations, Longview News-Journal (Texas)

At Thrive Longview, an afterschool and summer program in Longview, Texas, middle school students participate in career readiness programs, life skills courses, physical and artistic activities, and therapy and yoga sessions. As part of a fundraising drive to raise $300,000, Thrive Longview is reaching out to local area businesses, asking for financial support to help grow its job training and workforce program for youth. “We talked about whether it was fair for us and our staff to continue with this yo-yo effect of constant fundraising to survive,” Thrive’s founder, Clent Holmes, told Longview News-Journal. “Our existence beyond 2024 hinges on pulling this off.” Both Longview ISD and Komatsu Mining have pledged their support to the program.