What happens at a Lights On Afterschool event?  Lights On Afterschool events might be a parent open house, a breakfast summit for local leaders, a student performance, a town parade, a candlelight vigil, a community fashion show, a battle of the bands... just about anything that works for your community and program.  Celebrations are as small as 20 and as large as 20,000.  

The Who, What, When and Where can help you start formulating a picture of your own Lights On Afterschool... but first you might want to ask yourself a few What, How and Why questions:

• What would you like to come out of your event? Media coverage? A new or better relationship with your mayor? More parent involvement? Impress funders or potential funders?

• What message do you want to communicate? How can you demonstrate to your target audience that afterschool is key to kids' success?  What is the value of your program from the perspective of the community, parents, funders, students, local businesses?

• Who are the best people to deliver your message? Parents, students, principals, the mayor?

• Where is the best place to deliver your message?

• How can you best highlight the students' and program's achievements and accomplishments? What interesting perspective or project can make a good media story or visual for a news article?

Helpful Tips

• Be creative! Grab attention with something out of the ordinary.
• Involve as many participants in planning as possible, especially your students. Remember that people will support something they helped create.
• Have a lively emcee - consider asking a local TV or radio host.
• Give away goodies, like fun snacks with afterschool slogans attached.
• Use signs and posters before and during the rally to attract and keep attention.

WHO: Invite

• kids!
• educators and school personnel
• parents, grandparents and extended family
• business and community leaders
• policy makers
• media
• youth organizations: sports teams, school bands, academic and service clubs, volunteers, etc.
• local celebrities: tv news anchor, radio host, athletes
• the community!

WHAT to do:

Performances and demonstrations of afterschool activities, for example yoga, karate, mural painting, literacy games, chess, debate, raps, skits, dance, music and spoken word

Decorate light bulb art 

Ask attendees to show their support for afterschool by signing the national afterschool support petition "We Rely on Afterschool Programs - Don't Deny or Divert Afterschool Funds"

Invite special guest speakers: parents, local elected officials, the superintendent, youth, mayor, Member of Congress, local celebrities, etc.

• youth can issue a challenge to the community to provide afterschool for all youth.
• parents can speak about their need for safe, stimulating programs for their kids while they work.
• program staff can describe the positive changes they have witnessed among youth.
• youth can give testimonials to the impact afterschool has had on their lives.
• policy makers or community leaders can talk about the status of afterschool locally.

Involve community partners to help illustrate how afterschool serves as a focal point in the community.

Use contests, performances, artwork, essays, and demonstrations to emphasize your message

Offer an afterschool program tour for local leaders and media

Invite parents and guests to take part in afterschool activities

Unveil a proclamation signed by the community, mayor or governor

Provide a snack or pizza dinner

Create contests and competitions (kids versus adults or kids versus kids)

Recruit sponsors or sell items to raise funds for your program (see Lights On Afterschool items available for order)

Consult our case studies for more ideas

WHEN:  Pick a time that best suits your event goals and plans, such as: 

• during your regular afterschool program hours
• evening hours when parents can participate
• an early afternoon gathering at a museum, city hall, outdoor square or other public place
• a breakfast or lunch reception that elected officials and business leaders can attend

If media is important, remember that print journalists often need to file stories in the late afternoon hours, so plan the program portion of your event as early as possible. If your event goes from 3 PM to 5PM, for instance, hold the program at 3:15 or 3:30 PM

WHERE:

• your afterschool program facility, indoors or outdoors
• city hall
• public library, park or recreation center
• museum
• places of worship
• school gymnasium or auditorium
• shopping mall or local retail partner, such as a JCPenney store
• be mindful of picking a location that is convenient for your target audience