Weekly Media Roundup  June 10, 2015

Internet Rapper Mingles with Jersey City Afterschool Program Students (Jersey Journal, New Jersey)

Internet phenomenon Kevin “DJ Lil Man” Brown, also known as Mr. New Jersey, recently dropped in on St. Peters University’s afterschool program, where he was greeted by dozens of frenzied, excited students. According to the Jersey Journal Brown led the students in an altered game of musical chairs, where the winner had to answer a history question before receiving a $20 prize, and a dance contest. Afterwards, he stuck around to take pictures with the students. In addition to hosting celebrity guests, the afterschool and summer program offers kids a number of fun activities each year – last summer they performed step routines and directed and acted in TV commercials promoting products they had created.

Lincoln Students Race to Improve Reading Skills (Mason City Globe Gazette, Iowa)

Sixty-five fifth- and sixth-graders finished their nine-week commitment to read and exercise more with the Lincoln Intermediate Read and Run 5K last week. Sixth grade literacy instructor Kathleen Nutt told the Globe Gazette that she decided to develop Read and Run after learning that students often show improved academic performance after exercising. Participants in the afterschool program prepared for the race using the Couch to 5K training plan, then spent a half-hour reading. First-place finisher Christian Rodriguez said the program has helped him improve his reading scores, and he credits his math teacher’s encouragement to “push to do better than I know I can” with keeping him motivated throughout the race.

New Boise Partnership Will Bring Produce Along with the Fun and Games (Idaho Statesman, Idaho)

Each summer, a van known as the Mobile Recreation Unit travels through lower-income Boise neighborhoods and provides free, supervised, drop-in activities for kids who don’t have access to programs near their homes. This year, the Mobile Rec van is teaming up with the Boise Farmers Market to offer those neighborhoods another helpful service: farm-fresh produce. While the kids play, their parents will be able to shop for farm-fresh produce from a refrigerated mobile market traveling alongside the van, according to the Idaho Statesman. The two programs are working together to promote Boise’s initiative to curb childhood obesity.

At Santa Monica PAL, Youth Chefs Get a Taste for Success (Santa Monica Daily Press, California)

The Santa Monica Police Activities League’s afterschool cooking class has high school students producing everything from pasta and rice dishes to salads to flatbread pizzas and grilled kabob skewers. The culinary arts program not only teaches kids to make quick, healthful meals, but also aims to foster self-sufficiency, keep young people engaged afterschool and nurture their development as upstanding citizens. Students recently showed off what they’ve learned by cooking a meal for dozens of donors and community members, whipping up dishes like chicken piccata, salmon and spinach cannelloni. Program supervisor Karen Humphrey said she hopes the students continue to use these skills outside the classroom to keep themselves and their families healthy. “My hope is that they continue to cook at home,” she told the Santa Monica Daily Press. “We want the kids to be able to cook food for their entire family.”