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Strengthening Ties to Stakeholders
Where: Fort Worth, Texas
Who: 700 attendees, highlighting 45 programs
district-wide
Highlights: Speakers included the Mayor Pro Tem,
a staff member to a local Member of Congress, and several
school superintendents
The Fort Worth Independent School District's (ISD's)
21st Century Community Learning Centers Programs' primary
Lights On Afterschool! event in 2003 was a rally
in front of JCPenney store in Fort Worth's Ridgmar Mall.
Event organizer and Afterschool Ambassador Sue Matkin
says the event, which drew more than 700 attendees,
has helped cement relationships with key policy makers
and stakeholders.
THE PROGRAM:
The event drew on the talents of children from 21st
Century programs across the school district, featuring
singing, cheers, ballet folklorico, poetry, hip-hop
dance, steppers, Tae Kwon Do, a band performance, a
fashion show and a Kung Fu presentation. Displays on
various afterschool learning opportunities filled the
mall walkways on two floors in front of the store, giving
parents, the media and policy makers the chance to sample
the programs' rich and diverse curriculum. In all, groups
from 45 schools participated in the performances and
displays.
Speakers included the Mayor Pro Tem, a staff member
to a local Member of Congress, and several school superintendents.
Several local afterschool leaders and supporters received
plaques, including: the local JCPenney manager for the
store's support of local YMCA afterschool literacy programs;
and an executive of Lockheed Martin for the company's
ongoing support of Fort Worth afterschool programs.
The Lights On theme was emphasized with a five-foot
light bulb, a number of smaller paper maché light bulbs,
and hundreds of paper light bulbs for students to decorate.
A large "What I Like about Afterschool" banner was also
on hand for students to sign.
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
Matkin points to a number of keys to the program's success:
- Partners: First, she says, "We tried to bring
together various afterschool providers, because we
felt very strongly that it shouldn't be just the Fort
Worth ISD's programs that were recognized. We're just
one piece of the provider community, so we had YMCA
and others."
- Get Buy-In: Second, she says, "at our first
meeting, we brought the decision makers of the various
organizations together, and once they'd bought in
to the program, we brought in site coordinators and
people who work with the kids for a second meeting
to get their ideas. The process was so democratic
that my idea didn't get adopted!" Matkin says the
planning committee met monthly for five months, and
three times in the final month. One meeting was at
a conference room at the JCPenney store that was the
site of the event, Matkin says, to give participating
organizations tangible evidence of the store's commitment.
- Recognize Local Supporters: Third, Matkin
says, recognizing policy makers and corporate leaders
who support afterschool in the community helped to
solidify their long-term buy-in, and also to strengthen
community members' personal relationships with key
leaders.
- Incorporate Fun & Substance: Finally, one
lesson she learned for the coming year is that, in
addition to children's performances and fun activities,
it's important to make sure that the substance of
afterschool programs and the breadth of activities
they provide is reflected in the event. That way,
the audience will get a richer understanding of what
kids are doing every afternoon, and how valuable afterschool
is on several fronts.
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