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Where: Dallas, Texas
Who: More than 150 adult participants, including city council members, other state and local elected officials and staff from federal elected officials’ offices, business leaders and representatives of local foundations
Highlights: The Dallas Afterschool Network hosted a bus tour of afterschool programs in north and south Dallas for local dignitaries and community leaders, affording them a realistic look at “a day in the afterschool life of a Dallas child.”
As a direct result of the bus tour, the local ABC television affiliate, WFAA, committed to doing a weekly segment on afterschool, and Dallas Afterschool Network, Executive Director Tanya McDonald was able to establish relationships with federal and state representatives and schedule follow-up meetings.
THE PROGRAM:
The Dallas Afterschool Network organized two 90-minute driving routes taking participants to different afterschool programs across Dallas. Each bus stopped at three distinct afterschool sites – a school-based program, a community-based site and an afterschool program housed in a local apartment complex. The programs served a wide-range of students and showcased programs of all shapes and sizes.
Each bus rider, began the tour at the last stop (so that when the tour was over, everyone would be back at their cars) to meet and get on their assigned bus. See the event program. Buses departed promptly at 3:30 PM, and drove to the first of three afterschool program sites. On the way, that site’s program director gave brief remarks (about seven or eight minutes) about the status of the program and what bus riders would see students doing, and then answered questions. Then when the bus arrived at each site, riders disembarked and headed into the classroom or recreation area to see the afterschool students at work or play. At each site, the students went about their scheduled activities as riders observed. McDonald and staff at each afterschool program visited served as de facto emcees, answering questions about afterschool and providing wrap-up remarks outside the last stop.
THE OUTCOMES:
WFAA-TV Executive News Director Michael Valentine and General Manager Mike Devlin attended the south Dallas bus tour and were so moved by the conditions in the community and the work being done by the afterschool providers and staff that, a few weeks after the event, WFAA began airing two news stories each week on afterschool. See some of those stories here.
In addition, another participant, an area-fashion designer, approached McDonald about the possibility of designing an afterschool program for students interested in fashion design.
Prior to the event, McDonald had tried to get a meeting with members of Dallas’ congressional delegation, without success. But after the tour, she was able to schedule a time to meet with legislative aides to U.S. Senator John Cornyn and U.S. Representative Pete Sessions – a direct result of her Lights On success!
OVERHEARD AT THE EVENT:
“I am inspired by the work of these program leaders. They are doing incredible things for the children of South Dallas.”
“Everyone should ride the bus! What an eye-opening experience to see how so many of our children live.”
“We need to help more students like Lola (a student at one of the sites). She deserves the opportunity for a world-class education.”
“I never knew that these issues existed so close to what many of us call home. I am stunned by what I have learned.”
KEYS TO SUCCESS:
Keep it Simple! McDonald credits much of her success to the decision to show Lights On participants a typical afterschool day, rather than a special showcase event. Afterwards, some bus riders told McDonald how authentic the event felt, because they were getting a genuine glimpse into the reality of students’ afterschool activities.
ADVICE FOR COORDINATORS:
