6th Annual Afterschool for All Challenge

The 2007 Afterschool for All Challenge was an amazing success. More than 300 advocates, providers, parents and students participated in this year’s Challenge and they visited more than 200 Congressional offices delivering the message that afterschool is key to kids’ success.

The Challenge began on April 23rd with a day of training and networking and included sessions on rural afterschool, NCLB reauthorization, election opportunities, the latest on evaluations and afterschool research and state and local afterschool highlights. Additionally, nearly 60 youth participated in a youth-only advocacy session where they discussed the benefits of afterschool and worked on delivering strong messages about the importance of afterschool programs. The day ended with a closing plenary where afterschool providers shared success stories on making the news with afterschool, followed by an outdoor reception featuring a local afterschool dance troupe.

April 24th began bright and early with a Breakfast of Champions where Representative Lowey (D-NY) and Senators Isakson (R-GA) and Sununu (R-NH) were honored for their support for afterschool. State and local afterschool leaders were also recognized for their efforts to give more children access to afterschool programs. At the Breakfast, three extraordinary young people -- Michigan sixth-grader Zeaira Chestang, Florida high school senior Danielle Morgan, and Washington State eighth-grader Evan Skandalis -- spoke about the benefits of afterschool. T-Mobile USA sponsored the trips for Chestang and Skandalis, and Bright House Networks sponsored the trip for Morgan.

After the Breakfast of Champions, students, parents and afterschool leaders fanned out across Capitol Hill to participate in meetings with Members of Congress and staff. In the meetings, they discussed the benefits offered by afterschool programs and urged Congress to fully fund the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) initiative, the chief federal funding stream for afterschool.

Click here to view more photos from the 2007 Challenge.



Tools for 2007 Challenge Attendees

• Feedback form for Congressional Visits
• Thank you message to send to Congressional offices
• Media News Release about your Participation in the Challenge
• Challenge Feedback Form: MS Word

2007 Challenge News Releases:

• Increase Afterschool Funding, Parents, Students, Afterschool & Community Leaders Urge Congress Members of Congress, State Leaders Recognized As Afterschool Champions at Sixth Annual "Afterschool for All Challenge"
• Kansas State Senator Honored as an Afterschool Champion in Nation’s Capital
• Massachusetts State Representative Honored as an Afterschool Champion in Nation’s Capital
• Connecticut Afterschool Volunteer Honored as an Afterschool Champion in Nation’s Capital
• Maine State Representative Honored as an Afterschool Champion in Nation’s Capital
• Former Washington State Afterschool Coordinator Honored as an Afterschool Champion in Nation’s Capital
• San Diego Children’s Advocate Honored as an Afterschool Champion in Nation’s Capital
• Projects Coordinator for Idaho Executive Office for Families and Children Honored as Afterschool Champion in Nation’s Capital
• New Hampshire Department of Education Honored as an Afterschool Champion in Nation’s Capital