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Los Angeles, California - Thousands of children, parents,
policy makers, celebrities and community members joined
the Afterschool Alliance and JCPenney Afterschool for
a star-studded Lights On! event at the Staples Center
in Los Angeles. Led by LA's BEST, Pasadena LEARNS, Lawndale's
R.A.P. After School Program and Arnold's All-Stars,
students from area afterschool programs raised their
voices to build awareness about the importance of high
quality afterschool programs for children, their families
and the community. The list of dignitaries included
Arnold Schwarzenegger, actress Rhea Perlman, tennis
star Monica Seles, Los Angeles Mayor James Hahn, JCPenney
Afterschool Director Ed Solczak, the president of the
LA Kings, and numerous city council members, school
officials and other policy makers. Students from several
afterschool programs entertained the guests with elaborate
dance routines and card show display.
San Jose, California - More than 38 afterschool
programs in the San Jose area participated in Lights
On Afterschool! At Foothill Elementary, Mayor Ron Gonzales
issued a proclamation and a representative from the
local JCPenney store urged greater community involvement
in afterschool programs. At Farnham Elementary, local
policy makers discussed the importance of afterschool
with students and their parents. A representative from
the San Jose Police Department attended the event, showing
the department's support for afterschool programs. Participants
decorated paper light bulbs and wrote messages about
the importance of afterschool.
Tallahassee, Florida - To celebrate Lights On
Afterschool!, the Gilchrist Elementary Extended Day
Enrichment Program and the School of Arts & Science
Extended Day Program hosted "An Afternoon at Afterschool."
More than 300 students, parents and local dignitaries
attended the two-site tour. State Representative Bev
Kilmer read Governor Jeb Bush's Lights On! proclamation,
as well as her own children's book, Little BooBoo's
Magic Touch. Representative Kilmer also distributed
copies of her book to each student in kindergarten through
second grade.
Chicago, Illinois - Miss America 2003 Erika Harold
was the guest at the Logan Square Neighborhood Association's
Lights On Afterschool! event at Monroe Elementary School.
Miss America toured the afterschool program, admiring
the students' crafts and artwork, and she promised to
spread the word about the need for more afterschool
programs. Local elected officials addressed the need
for more funding for afterschool programs. The event
concluded with a performance from the elementary school's
cheerleaders and cheering squad.
Chanute, Kansas - In a unique celebration, more
than 400 children and their parents worked their way
with flashlights through the Carlson Brothers Corn Maze,
a multi-acre maze in the shape of an angel. The event
was sponsored by USD 413's Chanute Community Learning
Centers and included a bonfire and picnic, offering
families a chance to reflect on the benefits of afterschool
programs.
St. Louis, Missouri - At the Lights On Afterschool!
rally at the St. Louis Science Center, Governor Bob
Holden announced that the state had been awarded a $225,000
grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation to promote
the development and expansion of quality afterschool
programs. St. Louis Mayor Francis F. Slay was the Honorary
Chair of the Lights On! event and participants included
children and parents from St. Louis Public Schools,
St. Louis County and the city of East St. Louis, as
well as the community planning committee for afterschool
programs.
Lincoln, Nebraska - Governor Mike Johanns hosted
a Lights On Afterschool! breakfast in Lincoln, calling
on state senators and policy makers to recognize the
importance of afterschool programs. Governor Johanns
stressed that community schools provide an efficient
and effective way to deliver services to children, their
families and others living in the community. Education
Commissioner Doug Christensen discussed the need for
before-school and afterschool programs and the importance
of community involvement. Students from Omaha North
High School entertained the audience with an improvisational
performance about the benefits of before-school and
afterschool programs.
Las Vegas, Nevada - Afterschool Ambassador Susan
Bonar sponsored a tour of elementary and middle school
afterschool programs for local, state and federal policy
makers prior to her gala Lights On Afterschool! event.
Students from the publishing class interviewed and took
photographs of the dignitaries for school publications.
The Lights On! event took place outside an elementary
school. The City donated a sound stage and food; Coca
Cola donated drinks; and Nevada State Bank donated cookies
and items for a raffle. Desert Pines High School President
Julio Meza revved up the crowd with remarks about the
importance of afterschool programs and accepted proclamations
from the city and the state. JCPenney and some 20 community
organizations ran activities booths featuring child
ID kits, face painting, sugar skulls for a local museum,
food cooked and served by the local police Hispanic
Outreach unit, and much more. Student performances included
drill teams, ballet folklorico, hip hop and karate.
Concord, New Hampshire - The Governor's Kids
Cabinet and PlusTime New Hampshire hosted a statewide
reception celebrating Lights On Afterschool! Business
leaders, school officials and partnering organizations
attended the reception at the New Hampshire Historical
Society. Awards were presented to school officials,
businesses and afterschool programs that have made an
outstanding contribution to New Hampshire youth through
their support of afterschool programs.
Jersey City, New Jersey - Jackie Bazan, Board
Member of Safe Haven, literally turned the lights on
in Jersey City. Bazan had approached politicians about
the need for afterschool programs and warned that Safe
Haven was in jeopardy of being closed. Bazan was alarmed
to learn that, while there were thousands of Lights
On! events taking place across the country, there was
not one in the second largest city in New Jersey. She
enlisted the help of celebrities with roots in New Jersey
to sign letters of support, including director/actor
Spike Lee and actor/Broadway star Taye Diggs. She contrasted
her "Lights Out" message with the Lights On Afterschool!
day in press releases and in her testimony before the
city council. Local radio DJ's mentioned her program's
crusade on October 10. The attention generated by Lights
On Afterschool! and continued calls for support were
successful--funding for the program was identified.
Columbus, Ohio - The Afterschool Coalition of
Ohio and Afterschool Ambassador Amy Gordon supported
several Lights On Afterschool! events throughout Columbus.
At the Columbus Urban League, approximately 300 students
participated in a math bingo game. At a local community
center, student volunteers from Ohio State University
and other local programs joined 200 children in a rally
for afterschool. The students decorated light switch
plates while a high school band provided music. The
Crew Cat mascot from the Columbus professional soccer
team made an appearance. A disc jockey played music
for the crowd while people line danced and went on pony
rides. At Livingston Elementary, representatives from
Mad Science and a zookeeper with snakes and large insects
entertained students from the 21st Century Community
Learning Centers program, Cap City Kids and several
other programs. Mayor Mike Coleman attended and issued
a proclamation. Mayor Coleman also sang a song with
the children, talked about the importance of afterschool
programs and presented organizers with certificates
of recognition.
Olympia, Washington - Governor Gary Locke joined
children, parents and teachers for a Lights On Afterschool!
rally at Madison Elementary School's YMCA afterschool
program. The YMCA program provides afterschool assistance
and enrichment activities to homeless children. The
site director discussed the ways the program helps struggling
parents; the school's principal talked about how it
provides a safe place for children after school; and
the school district's superintendent acknowledged its
longstanding relationship with the YMCA - all Olympia
public schools have YMCA programs. A local JCPenney
store donated cameras and games to the program. Governor
Locke also presented a Lights On Afterschool! proclamation.
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