Give kids and parents the floor at your event. Invite young people and parents to speak publicly about their views on afterschool, learning, education and other related issues. Invite your mayor, school board members or city council members to come and listen to what kids and parents have to say.
Decorate light bulb art. Our ready-to-go artwork is a colorful way to deliver a message about afterschool. If you're located near a Congressional district office, arrange for your students to deliver the artwork and meet with the Member of Congress or staff. Or, make a project out of sending a package of artwork. The Congressional office will likely respond with a letter back to your program: use that as a second learning opportunity to discuss the role of elected officials.
Sign petitions or write letters to elected officials about the importance of afterschool programs and investments.
Youth voices in the paper. Work with the local newspaper to publish op-eds by kids that focus on their views of afterschool and learning, like how, when, or where they have fun learning.
Go visit policy makers. Take youth to visit the mayor, city council members, school board members, state legislators, the governor and/or Members of Congress. Work with students ahead of time to set up the meetings and develop a list of talking points. Notify the press ahead of time so that they can cover the story of local young people being their own best advocates on learning and education.
Work with young people to request a hearing on afterschool and education in your state legislative body. Ask the education committee to hold a special hearing at which kids testify about the benefits they receive from afterschool programs and how afterschool helps engage them in learning.
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