Afterschool Partnership is a proud recipient of Greater New Orleans Foundation Community Grant award. The grants are a wonderful support to non-profits around the region who are doing important work. Congratulations to all our fellow GNOF Community Impact awardees and thanks GNOF for its generous contribution. Times-Picayune announcement available here.
Community Center Reopens!
On December 1, 2009, Katy Reckdahl was able to report that the Iberville Community Center has reopened with community support. Afterschool Partnership is proud to be part of the funding effort that has allowed Boys and Girls Club to keep this location open. Full article available on nola.com.
Closing Community Center
On November 22, 2009, Katy Reckdahl featured Iberville’s Community Center that was closing due to budget shortfalls. Afterschool Partnership’s Lauren Bierbaum and Gina Warner were featured in the article making the case for the community’s need for this type of programming. The full article is available at nola.com.
Youth Voice on New Orleans Afterschool
On November27, 2009, Afterschool Partnership’s Youth Liaison Cornelle Carney was featured in the Times-Picayune as a guest Op-Ed columnist writing on the need for high quality out of school time activities for youth. His article is also available at nola.com.
Between school and home a gap to fill:
A guest column by Cornelle Carney
November 27, 2009
Times-Picayune, New Orleans
Young people possess an innate curiosity to explore the city and learn new things. But in my opinion, there aren’t enough positive venues for New Orleans youth to explore and foster their curiosity.
Often, youth like me are criticized for our choices, behaviors, styles and interests. Well, I am old enough to know that adults haven’t always made the best decisions either. Let me point the finger back at you. Case in point: when I evacuated to Georgia after Katrina, I went to a fine, clean school that had a media center and a variety of afterschool programs. When I returned to New Orleans I realized I had been cheated out of a quality education, supportive community and learning environment conducive to academic and personal growth. My friends and I could not believe how far behind our New Orleans schools and youth programs were, compared to places we’d been.
Our Katrina lesson? Adults have failed to make good opportunities for kids — in and out of school — a priority in our community. On this basis, New Orleans adults get an F.
I’m one of nine children and was only 3 years old when my father, a former Army sergeant, died. My mom struggled to provide for us on a limited income. None of my older brothers graduated from high school. According to the statistics on young African-American males living in poverty with no father — especially in New Orleans — I was not supposed to succeed.
With a handful of caring adults in my life, I graduated from O. Perry Walker High School, completed Initial Entry Training with the Louisiana Army National Guard and began college at Loyola University New Orleans. Tom Hayes, my former math teacher, became my mentor and role model. He made himself available to me before and after school and provided the college planning guidance I needed.
Then I met Eric Jensen, Youth Programs Director at Afterschool Partnership, who included me in the Partnerships’ initiative. Eric’s contacts have helped me find summer jobs, and he invited me to work with him at the Afterschool Partnership as the Youth Liaison. Without these people, I would have probably been another high school dropout or landed in jail.
Most adults don’t seem to understand that one of our biggest challenges occurs during out-of-school hours. This is a critical time when young people are unsupervised until their parents return from work. Let me put this into some revealing perspective. Did you know that East Baton Rouge Parish funds its recreation department at $37 million per year, as opposed to NORD funding, which is under a measly $5 million per year? On top of that, many schools have cut extracurricular activities to save money. Where can young people go in New Orleans to find safe, constructive places to be between school and home?
A new mayor will be elected in 2010. As part of the Afterschool Partnership’s “Ten for 2010″ initiative, I demand that the new mayor make youth a priority!
He or she can make a big difference. For example, cities such as Boston, Atlanta and Jackson, Miss., have youth councils that empower and engage their youth in community service, youth-led dialogues and other community initiatives. New Orleans should do the same.
We have to reform NORD and establish it outside city government so we can more efficiently invest in new programming and improvement of the dilapidated facilities. We need an executive-level administrator in the mayor’s office to coordinate youth initiatives with NORD, educators and community organizations. We have to provide older youth with more job opportunities to work and learn.
The vast unmet needs of our city’s youth cry out for attention and reform of the status quo. New Orleans adults must commit to improving the quality of life of youth now.
Is there anything more important?
Cornelle Carney is a student at Loyola University.
Candidates’ Responses
At November’s Candidates’ Panel we had the pleasure of hosting Mayoral and City Council Candidates. After the meeting we provided each campaign with a list of questions from our provider network that could not be addressed during the meeting. Their responses are posted as we receive them. Thanks again to each candidate who was able to attend and our provider network for making this such a successful event.
Mayoral Forum
For Immediate Release
New Orleans –
Youth Advocacy Coalition Announces Mayoral Forum
A coalition of local non-profit youth advocacy organizations led by the Afterschool Partnership has announced plans to host a mayoral candidates public forum exclusively devoted to community youth issues on Tuesday, January 5th, at 7:00pm at Walter L. Cohen High School, 3520 Dryades Street, moderated by WDSU anchor Rachel Wulff.
In addition to the Afterschool Partnership, sponsoring organizations include:
- Agenda for Children
- Children’s Defense Fund
- Family Service of Greater New Orleans
- Juvenile Justice Project of New Orleans
- Operation Reach
- Youth Empowerment Project
Youth coalition event organizers said all major mayoral candidates will be invited to participate in the unique forum, the first of its kind ever devoted exclusively to youth advocacy issues. The forum will include questions from youth and parents on subjects ranging from NORD to afterschool and summer programs, juvenile justice and funding for youth programs.
“This event will be a key benchmark in our efforts during this campaign to light a fire under our political leadership on behalf of youth,” said Gina Warner, Afterschool Partnership Executive Director. “Families and schools need more safe places and high-quality opportunities for young people to learn during the hours outside of the school day, and scores of hard working community and faith-based organizations who serve youth simply need more public support.”
The Afterschool Partnership has published a youth initiatives reform blueprint, 10 for 2010, which includes specific policy solutions for leveraging improved outcomes for underserved youth throughout the community. Plan components include:
• Committed mayoral leadership to champion children and youth programs and initiatives
• Streamlined and coordinated public and private funding resources
• Expanded opportunities for youth to learn and work
• Increased youth voice in municipal decision-making
Contact: Dara Lum Shackelford, 504.304.9591, ext 33, dlum@gnoafterschool.org
PRESS RELEASE from Afterschool Alliance
Louisiana Losing Ground in Making Afterschool Programs Available; Fewer Kids in Afterschool; Unmet Demand Growing
Afterschool Alliance Survey of Louisiana Households, sponsored by the JCPenney Afterschool Fund, Finds No Progress Since 2004, Vast Unmet Demand & More Children Unsupervised
Washington, DC – A new survey finds no progress in participation in afterschool programs by Louisiana youth over the last five years, even as the nation made progress and demand for afterschool programs in Louisiana increased dramatically. The rate of participation in afterschool dropped to just 13 percent in 2009, trailing the national average of 15 percent – and a significant percentage of the state’s children are still unsupervised each afternoon after the school day ends. The data come from the landmark America After 3PM study, conducted for the Afterschool Alliance and sponsored by the JCPenney Afterschool Fund. It is being released this month in conjunction with Lights On Afterschool, a nationwide rally for afterschool set for October 22.
“This new study is sobering for Louisiana, which is losing ground in making afterschool programs available to children,” said Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant. “The data tell us that the great majority of Louisiana parents who want their kids in afterschool programs aren’t able to find them, usually because programs aren’t available, they can’t afford the fees, or transportation issues make it impossible. But this is a solvable problem. These are all barriers we can and should overcome. Quality afterschool programs keep kids safe, inspire them to learn, and help working families. Every Louisiana family that needs an afterschool program should have access to one.”
According to the new study, fully 23 percent of the state’s schoolchildren are on their own in the afternoons, and another 15 percent are in the care of their brothers or sisters. By comparison, 13 percent of Louisiana schoolchildren are enrolled in afterschool programs, down from 15 percent in 2004. In addition, the parents of 52 percent of children not already in afterschool say they would enroll their kids in a program if one were available.
Ninety percent of Louisiana parents say they are satisfied with the afterschool program their child attends.
The Louisiana results can be compared to the new America After 3PM national findings:
· The number and percentage of children participating in afterschool programs in the nation has increased significantly in the last five years, with 8.4 million children (15 percent) now participating. That compares with 6.5 million children in 2004 (11 percent).
· But the number of children left alone after the school day ends also has risen, to 15.1 million children (26 percent of school-age children) in 2009. That is an increase of 800,000 children since 2004. Thirty percent of middle schoolers (3.7 million kids) are on their own, as are four percent of elementary school children (1.1 million children).
· The parents of 18.5 million children (38 percent) not currently participating in an afterschool program would enroll their children in a program if one were available to them, a significant increase from the 15.3 million (30 percent) seen in 2004.
· The vast majority of parents of children in afterschool programs are satisfied with the programs their children attend, and overall public support for afterschool programs is similarly strong. Nine in 10 parents (89 percent) are satisfied with the afterschool programs their children attend. Eight in 10 parents support public funding for afterschool programs.
In conjunction with Lights On Afterschool events across the nation, the JCPenney Afterschool Round-Up program will kick off in JCPenney stores throughout the U.S. From Oct. 16 to Oct. 25, customers will have the opportunity to “round-up” their JCPenney purchases to the nearest whole dollar and donate the difference to afterschool programs in their local communities that provide life-enriching programs for children in need. Last year, through “Round Up” and other initiatives, JCPenney contributed approximately $260,000 in Louisiana to support local afterschool initiatives.
“With more than $80 million contributed to afterschool programs over the past 10 years, JCPenney stands out among the nation’s corporations for helping to frame and solve the afterschool issue and increasing access to afterschool programs that provide meaningful activities for children in need,” Grant added.
The America After 3PM report and accompanying data are available online at www.afterschoolalliance.org. CONTACT: Gretchen Wright, 202.371.1999
Findings from America After 3PM are based on 29,754 parent/guardian responses to survey questions about after school child care arrangements during the 2008-2009 school year. RTi, a market research firm, conducted the survey and analyzed the data for the Afterschool Alliance. The entire survey was sponsored by the JCPenney Afterschool Fund. RTi also conducted the 2004 America After 3PM household survey.
That is why, on October 22, at more than 7,500 sites across the nation, Americans will rally in support of afterschool programs, as part of the Afterschool Alliance’s tenth annual celebration of Lights On Afterschool. For more information or to find a local event, visit www.afterschoolalliance.org, or contact the Afterschool Alliance media office at 202.371.1999.
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The Afterschool Alliance is a nonprofit public awareness and advocacy organization working to ensure that all children have access to quality afterschool programs. More information is available at www.afterschoolalliance.org.
The JCPenney Afterschool Fund is a charitable organization committed to providing children in need with access to life-enriching afterschool programs that inspire children to be smart, strong and socially responsible. To date, JCPenney and the JCPenney Afterschool Fund have contributed more than $80 million to local afterschool programs in every JCPenney community through partnerships with the YMCA of the USA, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, National 4-H and FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology). For more information, visit www.jcpenneyafterschool.org.
Radio Story: The Take Away
Eric Jensen represented Afterschool Partnership this morning on the radio program The Take Away. He was able to speak about the struggles New Orleans afterschool faces and the real advantages a strong afterschool system provides children, youth, and the community. Great work Eric!
New NLC report available
A groundbreaking new report has been published by National League of Cities’ Institute for Youth, Education, and Families highlighting the broad range of innovations and trends in municipal leadership to promote child and family well-being, and identifies 32 of the nation’s most cutting-edge strategies to help children and families thrive.
Download the full report, The State of City Leadership for Children and Families here.
City Budget Report
I hope many of you read the article in Monday’s Times-Picayune about the Inspector General’s report on the city budget process. Especially interesting (but not surprising) to me was the part about how the City of New Orleans spends considerably less for recreation funding compared to other cities. I was able to obtain a copy of the report and it was both enlightening and depressing. In many, many categories the City spent considerably more than the other cities (Toledo, Corpus Christi, Atlanta, St. Louis, Wichita, Cincinnati, Baton Rouge and Tampa) – areas like sanitation, police, “executive functions” and others. But, when it comes to parks and recreation services, New Orleans spends significantly less – $33 dollars person. The average city spends $65 – with Tampa and Baton Rouge at the high end, spending $102 and $89 respectively. As a city, we must commit to investing more in our youth!