Lights On Afterschool: Celebrating 25 years of 21st CCLC programs

We are delighted to announce that this year Lights On Afterschool, the nationwide rally for afterschool, will highlight the contributions of 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) afterschool programs. 21st CCLC funding has enabled local programs to keep kids safe, inspire them to learn, and help working families for the past 25 years. Register today to be part of this year’s celebration!

Lights On Afterschool shines a spotlight on the important role of afterschool programs, as programs nationwide open their doors to showcase their offerings. In a typical year, more than 8,000 events take place, attracting 1 million Americans.

21st CCLC is the only federal funding source dedicated to supporting local afterschool and summer programs. Over the course of the past 25 years, millions of students have taken part in fun, academically enriching learning experiences in their 21st CCLC programs, making friends while exploring new areas of interest and finding their passions, all in a safe environment surrounded by supportive adults. A new brief on outcomes for youth participating in 21st CCLC details  strong results.

To honor the silver anniversary of 21st CCLC during Lights On Afterschool, we have created a special logo and will develop additional graphics and promotional tools for 21st CCLC sites.

Why celebrate Lights On? Programs tell us that holding events helps build support in their communities, especially among parents, school leaders, elected officials, local business and funders. It’s a great way to engage families and empower youth to share their perspectives and talents, and to strengthen local partnerships. Register today to be part of this year’s celebration, and you will get 10 free Lights On posters, be featured on our site, and receive weekly planning tips. Get inspired for your Lights On event by browsing examples of past events held by programs around the nation. You can search by theme, level of difficulty, time needed, and more!

Lights On is not just for programs – supporters can celebrate by attending local events, lighting up landmarks for afterschool, sending a message to Congress, or taking part in the social media Lightbulb Challenge.

We can’t wait to see how you will celebrate the 24th annual Lights On Afterschool!