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Cultural Event Opens Door to New Contribution
Where: Camdenton, Missouri
Who: 550 participants: 350 students and 200 family
members, school officials, political leaders, local
residents
Highlights: Media coverage of the event caught
the eye of a local business executive, leading to a
gift of $20,000 in computer equipment. Missouri's First
Lady, Lori Hauser Holden was the featured guest speaker.
Camdenton R-III's 21st Century Community Learning Centers
Program hosted a Lights On Afterschool! celebration
for the entire community at the Camdenton High School
Little Theatre. Its primary focus was a multicultural
presentation by Cultural Kaleidoscope that enabled students
to learn about Russia and its culture. Funding for the
program was made possible through a grant from the Missouri
Arts Council and the JCPenney Afterschool Fund.
"What made the event a success was the fact that students,
parents and community members were introduced to the
arts in a way that would never be possible for most
of our students," explained Project Pass Director Sherry
Comer, an Afterschool Ambassador. "Many of our youth
will never travel outside of the United States or even
out of the state of Missouri. To see what the culture
of Russia is like through dance, music and numerous
Russian artists was a phenomenal opportunity for our
community. It was a great way to draw a crowd to share
the importance of afterschool issues and demonstrate
what programs do for the youth of our state and nation."
THE PROGRAM:
Missouri's First Lady, Lori Hauser Holden was the featured
guest speaker at the event. A Resolution was signed
and presented to Comer on behalf of the Missouri House
of Representatives and Mayor Kerry Shannon presented
a Proclamation declaring October 9, 2003 Lights On
Afterschool! Day in Camdenton.
Other distinguished guests at the celebration included:
State Representative Daniel Moore, Chair of the Joint
Committee on Out of School Time; Camdenton Mayor Kerry
Shannon; State Department of Education Officials Jay
Acock and Cindy Waibel; and numerous community and school
leaders. On behalf of Project PASS, students Jacob Fordyce
and Doug McDonald proudly presented "keys" to these
officials to symbolize PASS's theme that "Afterschool
is key to a students' success." JCPenney representatives
Jacquie and Roger Samuelson presented a gift of $1,000
to the students of PASS on behalf of the JCPenney Afterschool
Fund.
The event generated numerous local newspaper articles,
one of which spurred the interest of an executive at
the G-TECH Corporation. In the spring of 2004, the G-TECH
Corporation established an office in Missouri and agreed
to donate $20,000 worth of computer equipment to the
afterschool program - all because of the media coverage
from the Lights On Afterschool! event.
Leading up to the event, the afterschool programs built
support and excitement among the student through activities
and studies that focused on Russia.
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
Reach Out to Elected Officials, and Do it Early in Your
Planning. Comer began outreach to elected officials
well in advance, encouraging them to participate in
the event either in person or by issuing proclamations
in support of Lights On Afterschool!
Advice for coordinators:
- Start planning early
- If possible, send invitation letters to key legislators, mayors and/or the Governor the year before
- Send several follow up letters.
- Tip: Pictures and personal notes from students work best.
Hold the Event at One Key Site. "The year before,
I had a celebration at each site and it was impossible
to get the legislators, Mayor, other dignitaries and
media to each location on time to read proclamations
and participate in the activities."
Comer also notes that it is important that speakers recognize that most of the audience members are young students and the speeches need to be short and engaging.
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