Weekly Media Roundup: November 22, 2023

Bend Park District Helps Student Workers with College Tuition, The Bulletin (Oregon)

At Bend Park and Recreation District’s Kids Inc. afterschool program, college students from Central Oregon Community College (COCC) and Oregon State University-Cascades are leading STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) activities, organizing group games, and promoting social emotional learning each day after school. Not only do the college students receive an hourly paycheck as youth leaders but they also earn up to $5,250 in tuition assistance per year. “I feel like when [college students] help kids and families, it helps them focus on education. They stay in school ‘cause they have less debt to worry about,” Sue Boettner, recreation services manager for Bend Park and Recreation District, told The Bulletin. “It’s a big help to us, ‘cause we’re hiring kids that are in school...We get kids that are committed to bettering themselves, getting an education, but this gives them some really good valuable experience.”

Macklemore Spotlights Seattle Teens in Recovery with After School Program, King 5 (Washington)

The Bridges afterschool program in Seattle provides teens who are in recovery from addiction with a safe, sober space to connect with peers and mentors.  Recently, the rap star Macklemore, whose real name is Ben Haggarty, has used his platform to highlight and fundraise for the program. “Bridges is doing an amazing job with the activities, with the meetings that they're doing, giving kids something to do that's clean and sober,” Haggarty, who has shared his personal struggles with substance abuse, told King 5. “I think that that's what we as human beings are striving for, is to be seen and heard as part of a community.”

After-school Program Helps Students Level Up in Math and English, Spectrum News 1 (Kentucky)

Students at the Jefferson County Public School’s Elev8 afterschool program in Louisville, Kentucky take part in music, dance, STEAM (science, technology, art, engineering and math) activities, and more each day. The program was launched in 2022 to support and engage students who have failed classes, missed a significant number of school days or who have fallen behind in math and English skills. “Of course there’s going to be math, science, English, social studies. Those are the basic classes that students will have in school, regardless of age. But with these different activities and funds that we have here at Elev8, we might introduce a student to their career,” teacher Michael Zachary told Spectrum News 1.

Girls Inc. of Santa Barbara Mentors Girls in a Safe, Inclusive, Pro-Girl Environment, Noozhawk (California)

Since 1958, Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara, California, has provided a safe, supportive pro-girl environment for kindergarteners through sixth graders. “Our mission is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold,” Roxanne Pereira, lead program facilitator at Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara, told Noozhawk. “Our evidence-based programming provides opportunities for girls to follow their curiosities, cultivate their strengths and build leadership skills.” Students get academic support, participate in sports, and take part in STEAM activities.