Make Time Matter: How Quality Afterschool Time Matters for Education and Innovation

Tuesday February 9, 2021
4:30 - 6:00 PM
Workshop 4

As schools rebound and re-imagine education, students may need more time to close learning gaps. Extra time, often known as expanded learning or afterschool, is most effective with community partnerships and learning that looks different than the school day. For decades, afterschool programs have been fostering positive youth development, a key to engagement and success. Research shows afterschool helps improve academics, and increase attendance and on-time graduation. Most important, programs offer spaces for social and emotional growth, interaction with caring adults, student voice and leadership. Many of today’s leaders often credit these programs with abilities to learn, adapt, and innovate. In this session, hear from afterschool leaders how they are partnering with schools, districts, and states to make extra time matter and discuss how policy, funding, and practice can expand quality afterschool access.

Presenters
Joanna Figueroa

Joanna is a first generation college graduate with a BA in Social Work and a minor in Women, Gender & Sexuality Studies and currently pursuing her Master’s in Social Work with a concentration in Community & Leadership Practice (Graduation December 2020). Joanna been working with inner-city urban youth and young adults in college since 2013. She has been working at the YWCA New Britain since 2017 as the Youth Development Assistant Coordinator and now program coordinator since September 2019. Her goal is to continue providing resources to youth and their families through guidance, mentorship and advocacy during out of school time.
Hillary Salmons

Hillary Salmons is the Executive Director of the Providence After School Alliance, which she helped found in 2004. PASA works with 1,560 students across 5 different schools and over 50 organizations and instructors to provide a wide range of experience for youth. Before founding PASA, Hillary led an education initiative called Rhode Island Scholars where business leaders spoke to students about the importance of college and taking math and science courses and she served as VP for Program Development for Health & Education Leadership for Providence (HELP). Hillary has a MA in Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma and a BA from Harvard University.
Alexis Steines Rao

As Vice President of Field Outreach, Alexis Steines serves as the liaison between the Afterschool Alliance and its growing network of afterschool providers. She keeps the field up-to-date on the ever-changing afterschool policy landscape and mobilizes them to affect the development of afterschool-related public policy. Alexis also manages the Afterschool Alliance’s national AmeriCorps VISTA project, focused on creating sustainable afterschool programs, increasing participation in the afterschool and summer meal programs and expanding access to STEM education afterschool.
type:
Workshop
theme:
policy
audience:
building leaders
tags:
parent family community engagement