Weekly Media Roundup: February 17, 2021

Santa Barbara Symphony, Santa Barbara Unified School District Present Encore of BRAVO! Program, Noozhawk (California)

Through an ongoing collaboration with the Santa Barbara Symphony, the Santa Barbara Unified School District (SBUSD) has continued to provide a free afterschool program to students during the pandemic by meeting virtually. Fifth and sixth graders in the BRAVO! After School Program attend a virtual class with music teachers and local professional musicians to improve their skills and enhance their love for music. “We recognize that the benefits of playing a musical instrument go beyond cultivating music appreciation, the benefits include an increase in students’ critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, art, expression, and mathematics skills. As such, we are thankful for this important partnership and eager to see and hear the music that students make as a result,” Sierra Loughridge, director of elementary education for SBUSD, told Noozhawk.

Lansing Native Hip Hop Artist Teaches Art and Life Skills Program, WILX-TV (Michigan)

Chadwick Phillips, an accomplished musician and entrepreneur, is sharing his talents with students from his hometown through a new afterschool program called Hip Hop, History and the Arts. Phillips credits many of his successes to lessons learned while attending an afterschool program as a child. He now wants to pay it forward with his afterschool program in Lansing, Michigan that will help students develop their creativity and learn life skills through poetry, songwriting, performance development and more. “I want them to be so inspired to live life the right way. Along with that, going after a career that has to do with their passion, and making sure that when they do succeed with that, giving back to the community,” Phillips told WILX-TV.

After-School Program “Racquet Up Detroit” is Building a New Facility in Northwest Detroit, WDET (Michigan)

At the Racquet Up Detroit afterschool program, students play court sports such as squash as well as connect with mentors and get the academic support they need to pursue their goals. By the end of 2021, the program plans to open a new, 19,000 square-foot facility that will be able to host world-class squash events and double the amount of students the program can serve. “We are a holistic and creative program,” Education Director Jessica Reed told WDET. “(In the) current context of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve done a lot to just make sure that our students feel supported during our virtual learning. We also provide creative literacy enrichment.”

Boys and Girls Clubs Pick-Up Where Schools Leave Off, Spectrum News 1 (North Carolina)

When the pandemic hit and schools needed to switch to remote instruction, the Community Boys and Girls Club of Wilmington adapted quickly to extend its afterschool program to an all-day distance learning site. The program provides students a safe, socially distanced environment to do online instruction, three meals a day, and academic support from trusted mentors. Parents pay just $25 a year for the program. “It's difficult because we do have to adapt, but we just have to keep these kids in mind and realize what would be best for them throughout this transition and how we can help the school system,” Education Specialist Shelbi Long told Spectrum News 1.