Young people raise their voices for afterschool in Youth Town Hall

Please join us on Thursday, October 22 at 6 p.m. ET for the centerpiece event of our Lights On Afterschool celebrations: the Youth Town Hall.

Each year, we celebrate Lights On Afterschool by lifting up all of the amazing things that afterschool programs do for families and communities across the country. This year, we decided to hand the mic over to those who know better than anyone the impact of these programs: the youth!

During our Youth Town Hall, we will hear from four youth leaders from afterschool programs about the difference that afterschool has made in their lives, both before and during the pandemic, and what youth need to thrive. With the election just around the corner, they'll talk about what our leaders need to do to make sure all youth can reach their full potential.

Our youth panelists have selected topics to discuss that they are passionate about, particularly the learning opportunities and mental health supports youth need, especially among BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. One panelist, Deborah Adekunle, said that she was excited to participate in this conversation, “because from my experience, I know that the youth that are in my afterschool programs are now students and adults with a wider perspective and they’re better resources for this earth and for our future, and the more we have youth in afterschool programs who can become better people, I think we have a bright future ahead of us. By sharing our stories, other youth can know that these programs are out there and that they’re life-changing.”

The conversation will be styled in a panel/Q&A format, moderated by Romeo Morris, National Urban League Youth Leader & recent Morehouse Graduate. We will also hear briefly from Jodi Grant, Executive Director of the Afterschool Alliance; Marc Morial, President of the National Urban League; and Rep. David Cicilline, Afterschool Alliance Board member and member of Congress representing Rhode Island's 1st congressional district.

Register today to join us for this incredible event!

Speakers:

• Deborah Adekunle, age 16, from PVDYoungMaker and Youth in Action in Providence, RI
• Aundre Smith, age 15, from Boys and Girls Club of Greater Houston in Galveston, TX
• Angeles Mejia-Sierra, age 14, from HANDY in Oakland, FL
• Quinn Stanford, age 13, from Summit Early Learning in Selinsgrove, PA
• Moderator, Romeo Morris, National Urban League Youth Leader & recent Morehouse Graduate
• Jodi Grant, Afterschool Alliance Executive Director, will open and close the event.