Lights On Afterschool 101
Thursday, September 4, at 2 p.m. ET Lights On Afterschool is back for its 26th year, celebrating afterschool programs, students, and staff! Taking place this year on October 23, 2025, this nationwide event brings together more than 8,000 programs showcasing the important role that afterschool plays in supporting youth, families, and communities. Like afterschool programs, Lights On Afterschool celebrations come in all shapes and sizes and don’t have to be huge to be effective. Whether this is your first Lights On Afterschool or your 26th, join us for this webinar to inspire you to get the most out of your event! |
Building Better Communities: Youth Civic Engagement in Afterschool Programs
Wednesday, August 27, at 2 p.m. ET Young people have always been at the forefront of driving change in our country and around the world. Afterschool programs provide a powerful space for youth to lead with their interests and connect their talents and skills to the change they want to see. But are we doing enough to truly support youth-led civic engagement? Join us for a dynamic conversation with researchers and on-the-ground practitioners who are building pathways for youth to shape their communities. We’ll explore what’s working, where gaps remain, and how programs can do more to center youth voice in real-world change efforts. This webinar will also feature the debut of the Afterschool Alliance’s latest report on youth civic engagement and unveil a brand-new practitioner toolkit filled with resources to help programs take the next step in empowering youth-led action. Speakers: – James Fields, Senior Director of Youth Councils, Mikva Challenge – Noorya Hayat, Senior Researcher, Center for Information & Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE), Tufts University – Anita Krishnamurthi, Sr. VP, STEM & Youth Civic Engagement & President, Collective for Youth Empowerment in STEM & Society (CYESS), Afterschool Alliance – Luella Provenza, US Partnership Specialist, Technovation |