Afterschool Alliance

The Afterschool Alliance is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization whose mission is "to ensure that all children have access to affordable, quality afterschool programs". It uses communications and advocacy strategies to try and increase public and private investments in afterschool programs. The organization grew out of a public-private partnership between the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and the U.S. Department of Education to expand afterschool programs through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers. It was formally incorporated as a nonprofit in 2000 by the Mott Foundation along with J.C. Penney, the Open Society Institute, The After-School Corporation, the Entertainment Industry Foundation and the Creative Artists Agency Foundation.

== About Afterschool ==


 * In communities today, 14.3 million children take care of themselves after school.
 * A study of the federal afterschool initiative (21st Century Community Learning Centers) found that 45 percent of participants improved their reading grades, and 41 percent improved their math grades.
 * On school days, the hours between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. are the peak hours for juvenile crime and experimentation with drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and sex.
 * Teens who do not participate in afterschool programs are nearly three times more likely to skip classes than teens who do participate. They are also three times more likely to use marijuana or other drugs, and they are more likely to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes and engage in sexual activity.
 * Parents with children in afterschool programs are less stressed, have fewer unscheduled absences and are more productive at work.

Examples of Afterschool Alliance Efforts
==== Afterschool for All Challenge ====

The Afterschool for All Challenge is a conference held in Washington, D.C. for afterschool stakeholders, staff and youth. The meeting includes workshops and panels, but its main focal point is an awards event where the honorees are typically elected officials. After the event, conference participants meet with Congressional offices to talk about afterschool programs.

Lights On Afterschool
Lights On Afterschool is a nationwide rally the Afterschool Alliance organizes to call attention to afterschool programs. 7,500+ events are held each year for Lights On Afterschool, with an estimated 1 million Americans in attendance. In 2001, Arnold Schwarzenegger became Honorary Chair of the event.

==== Afterschool for All ====

Afterschool for All is a national petition in support of afterschool programs stating that all children and youth should have access to quality, affordable afterschool programs. Roughly 19,000+ individuals and organizations have signed on. Among the partners are governors, mayors and law enforcement leaders, and others who support the cause of afterschool programs. Examples of entities that have signed on include: the YMCA of the USA, the NAACP, the National Council of La Raza, the National PTA, the National League of Cities, AARP, 100 Women in Hedge Funds, Time Warner, IBM, the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL and the US Conference of Mayors.

==== Afterschool Ambassadors ====

A leadership development effort whereby local afterschool leaders and staff are given communications, advocacy and media training to be spokespeople on the issue.

Afterschool Alliance Board of Directors

 * Terry Peterson, Chairman
 * Director, Afterschool and Community Learning Resource Network
 * Charleston, South Carolina


 * Herb Sturz, Secretary
 * Trustee, Open Society Institute
 * New York, New York


 * Jaemie Ballesteros Altman
 * Independent Consultant, Food and Restaurant Industry
 * San Francisco, California


 * Mayor David Cicilline
 * Mayor, City of Providence
 * Providence, Rhode Island


 * Tyler Florence
 * TyFood Media Inc.
 * Mill Valley, CA


 * Dr. Lucy Friedman
 * President, The After-School Corporation
 * New York, New York


 * Glenda E. Hood
 * Former Secretary of State, State of Florida
 * Orlando, Florida


 * Donna Klein
 * President/CEO, Corporate Voices for Working Families
 * Washington, D.C.


 * Reinaldo Llano
 * Director, Corporate Community Relations, Bright House Networks
 * Orlando, Florida


 * Lisa Lucheta
 * Principal, Torani Syrups and Flavors
 * South San Francisco, California


 * Kenneth C. Montague, Jr.
 * Former Secretary of Juvenile Justice, State of Maryland
 * Baltimore, Maryland


 * Gilbert Moreno
 * Senior Relationship Manager, JP Morgan Chase, NA
 * Houston, Texas


 * Mary Peavey
 * President, Peavey Electronics Corporation
 * Meridian, Mississippi