Weekly Media Roundup: April 8, 2026

A Collective Way Forward: Taking Action for After-School in Western NC, EdNC (North Carolina)

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, individuals, community organizations, afterschool programs and elected leaders came together to meet immediate needs, share resources, and rebuild communities. That spirit of collective action could help the community meet another urgent challenge: unlocking access to afterschool programs. In a guest column for EdNC, Western North Carolina (WNC) After 3PM Collaborative leader Annie Jonas notes that North Carolina is one of 23 states without dedicated state funding for out-of-school time programs, despite strong, bipartisan support for it.  “The strength of the WNC After 3PM Collaborative rests in its members who are willing to invest in something that defies a traditional model defined by competition and isolation,” Jonas writes. “We know that, together, we are better able to serve the needs of children and families in our region.”

City Steps Up to Support Warehouse 505 Youth Programs, KOAT (New Mexico)

The Warehouse 505 afterschool program in Albuquerque, New Mexico will continue to help students gain creative and professional skills, thanks to a $300,000 allocation in the city’s 2027 budget. The free program offers a range of artistic activities to help students gain confidence, explore careers and prepare for the workforce, including sewing, music, mural arts and screen printing. “They can come in here also just to hang out, because first and foremost, we are a third space, which is much needed in the city, and we are a safe space. Once they're in here, they feel like they're safe, they're protected, they make friends," Warehouse 505 Executive Director Robert Stokowy told KOAT.

NYC Students Playing Tennis in Unlikely Places as After-School Program Aims to Boost Sport Citywide, CBS News (New York)

Despite limited space and resources, New York City students are learning tennis in school hallways, cafeterias, and auditoriums through a free afterschool program run by New York Junior Tennis & Learning. The program shows full courts aren’t necessary to enhance tennis skills and encourage team building. “We're very creative when it comes to not having the gym. We love to use our imagination to really play tennis,” 9-year-old participant Addison Absolam told CBS News.

Hundreds Rally to Support Ongoing Funding for Arlington After-School Programs, ARL Now (Virginia)

About 300 students, educators, and community leaders gathered at a recent rally in Arlington, Virginia to urge the County Board to make its $2 million investment in afterschool programs permanent. At the event, students shared how afterschool programs have improved their lives, from building their confidence to helping them learn new skills. All five County Board members and a majority of School Board members attended the rally, which was organized by the community’s new Afterschool Coalition, comprised of afterschool programs, faith-based groups and other community organizations. “We are going to make every effort that we possibly can,” County Board Vice-Chair Maureen Coffey assured the crowd. “We want to invest in you.”