By Guest Blog Contributor: Anthony Bacchus, CEO & Founder CAPE Universal INC.
As an afterschool program director for more than 10 years, I've witnessed firsthand the transformative power of out-of-school time programs. Our safe, family-oriented environment fosters lasting relationships and provides access to invaluable resources like financial literacy, life skills, social engagement, community outreach and mental health support. Youth attending our program not only complete their homework but also collaborate, empowering one another in the process. They develop ownership and a sense of comfort, exploring their abilities and skills. Community outreach projects help them hone public speaking skills, experience diverse cultures and accumulate meaningful community service hours.
The results are remarkable: strengthened self-esteem, confidence and a proactive mindset. Our students develop essential life skills like commitment, punctuality and active listening. These benefits extend beyond the program, positively impacting their academic performance, relationships with family members and overall well-being.
During the pandemic, the strong relationships forged at our afterschool program kept our students engaged, supporting one another through mental health challenges, schoolwork and adversity. Our program's phrase, "We empower each other," has never rang truer.
As funding decisions loom, sharing personal stories and highlighting the positive impact of afterschool programs is essential in making lawmakers understand their value. These programs aren't just about keeping kids off the streets; they’re about creating environments where kids can grow, learn, and build the skills they need for success in life. Together, let's ensure our leaders prioritize funding for these vital initiatives.
Issued by Afterschool Alliance
Spring is here, and Congress is starting work on its fiscal year (FY) 2026 spending bills. Please take a moment to ask your Senators and Representative for their continued support for afterschool and summer learning and share why your local afterschool and summer learning programs are so important to your community.
Congress has passed a full-year spending bill funding the government through September 20, 2025, and will soon be making funding decisions on the FY 2026 Labor, HHS, and Education spending bill. Please share with your elected officials the importance of local afterschool and summer learning programs, including those funded through the 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) initiative – the only federal funding stream dedicated to supporting local school and community-based afterschool, before-school and summer learning programs. And that federal support is essential to help the nearly 25 million children and youth who would be in an afterschool program if one were available. Increased program costs are making it harder for afterschool providers to serve families and children. In communities nationwide the need cannot be greater for math and reading enrichment, healthy activity and nutritious snacks, and hands-on, engaging activities that help children learn and grow. A significant funding increase will help programs cover rising costs and meet the nationwide demand for programs, and at least maintaining current funding levels will ensure nearly 1.4 million students continue to have access to quality programming. Please take two minutes to send a message to Congress in support of afterschool and summer learning programs.
