On Thursday October 20, after-school advocates across the country celebrated Lights on Afterschool. The annual event, started by the After School Alliance, highlights the importance of extended day programming from those who would know best: school staff and students. Despite the gains children receive from attending after-school programming, nearly 600,000 students are left unsupervised after school in New York State.

Children’s Aid is proud to offer after-school programming to youth at our community schools and centers across New York City. Whether its art classes, swimming lessons, or robotics programming, we are investing in children so that they can develop their natural talents and lifelong passions in safe and enriching environments. And it makes the difference for parents who cannot afford private lessons or child care during the hours between school dismissal and the end of the work day.

The Whitney Young Jr. Campus in the Bronx came out in strong numbers to showcase their appreciation for after-school programming. The after-school program there serves three community schools at the campus: C.S. 211, I.S. 318, and Children’s Aid College Prep Charter School. Students from all three community schools put on dance performances, skits, and used their platform to address the topic of bullying. The school community ended their evening by marching around the neighborhood with signs that expressed how much after-school programs mean to them.  

We are extremely proud of the young advocates at the Whitney Young Campus and thank all our after-school staff for supporting children every day after the school bell rings.