Weekly Media Roundup: January 6, 2020

Girls Inc. Takes Creative Approach to Programming During COVID-19, The Daily Times (Tennessee)

At the in-person and virtual afterschool programs run by Girls Inc. of the Tennessee Valley, about 200 girls explore engineering, science, and agriculture, reflect on song lyrics, journal, learn about mental health, and more. This year, the program has increased its focus on advocacy and youth voices with activities led by the program’s advocacy and social justice coordinator. “[The students] have discussions about what advocacy means, and what rights for women and girls in our community look like, and what we can do in the community to make sure our voices are heard,” Executive Director Kirby Deal told the Daily Times.

First Lego League Draws Kids into STEM Curriculum Using Play, Sparking Interest in Robotics, Treasure Coast Palm (Florida)

To increase access to science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) out-of-school time programming for low-income students, the All About Achieving Learning Center and the YMCA of the Treasure Coast have partnered to provide Lego robotics afterschool programs to nearly 400 students in the Treasure Coast region of Florida. In the program, students ages four to 14  work in teams to complete projects using Legos, developing their critical thinking and problem-solving skills in the process. “The most interesting piece is watching kids who I’m not sure have ever touched a Lego sit and build and work collaboratively together,” All About Achieving Founder Tina McSoley told the Treasure Coast Palm. “It’s been really interesting watching students after a few sessions engage, talk and create things.”

Hoops 4 L.Y.F.E. Switches Gears Amid Pandemic, The Winston-Salem Chronicle (North Carolina)

At the Hoops 4 L.Y.F.E virtual learning program in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, students doing school remotely have access to tutors, two meals and a snack, laptops and Internet, sewing and cooking classes and more, in a socially distanced environment. When the pandemic hit and schools closed, the program quickly pivoted from an afterschool program to an all-day remote learning center to meet students’ needs. Now Hoops 4 L.Y.F.E. is seeking to expand the program. Founder and Executive Director Brittany Ward told the Winston-Salem Chronicle, “I am proud, but we can do better by adding a second and third location to assist more kids.”

A Public Housing Learning Pod with In-Person Therapy Supports D.C. Students During Pandemic, The Washington Post (District of Columbia)

In 2017, Ryane Nickens created the TraRon Center, an afterschool program in Washington, DC that combines academic support and therapy to support students in the subsidized Langston Lane Apartments, many of whom have been impacted by gun violence. During the pandemic, the program is open all day to provide students a safe space to learn virtually and access counseling and art therapy, tutoring and more. Recently, students took a field trip to Ben’s Chili Bowl where they discussed their goals with the restaurant’s co-founder and took a cooking class. A main goal of the program is to equip students with tools to cope with trauma. “Since the pandemic, people have been protesting, people are dying, and it’s stressful,” 12-year-old Samiyah Coats told the Washington Post. “When I’m stressed, the therapist helps me stay strong.”