Weekly Media Roundup: May 6, 2026

Wayfinders Opens Doors to Opportunity for Charlotte Students, WCNC (North Carolina)

Wayfinders, a Charlotte, North Carolina nonprofit, helps 180 students in Mecklenburg County access summer camps, enrichment programs, career exposure and long-term mentorship from fourth through twelfth grade. By partnering with community organizations, the program connects students to experiences they might not otherwise have while building lasting mentor relationships supporting their growth.  “Summer camp helped me step out of my comfort zone and believe in myself,” Faduma Osman, a Wayfinders graduate, told WCNC. “It showed me new possibilities and helped shape who I am today.”

Project STORY Celebrates Five Years Supporting Local Youth, Concord Monitor (New Hampshire)

Students in Project STORY’s afterschool and summer program in Concord, New Hampshire take part in a wide range of activities, including dance classes, college visits, nature hikes, sports, career workshops with local professionals, advocacy training, and more. Founded five years ago to help immigrant and refugee students sign up for sports teams, the organization currently serves 130 young people from diverse cultures, providing the mentorship and wraparound support students need to pursue their dreams. With a newly donated physical space and official 501(c)3 designation finalized earlier this year, the program is seeking to expand. “We’d love to have multiple program directors, an advocacy coordinator, a family liaison,” founder Charm Emiko told the Concord Monitor. “And I would love for the majority of them to be past kids that were in the program.”

‘It’s a Summer Thing’ Returns With Free Programs, Jobs for Philly Youth, Metro Philadelphia (Pennsylvania)

Philadelphia’s “It’s a Summer Thing” initiative returns with free and low-cost programs designed to keep youth safe and engaged while school is out, offering a variety of activities and programs at 130 sites across the city for nearly 21,000 students. “Our goal is to make sure every young person in Philadelphia has access to safe, enriching opportunities all summer long,” Vanessa Garrett Harley, Philadelphia’s chief deputy mayor for social impact and strategic initiatives, told Metro Philadelphia. “These investments help children and teens build skills, stay engaged, and connect to opportunities that support long-term success.” The initiative includes academic programs, paid job experiences, camps, and designated pedestrian streets for play spaces while also providing meals and community resources.

Travis County Proposing Millions in New Childcare, After-School Funding to Support Working Families, KVUE (Texas)

Building on the success of the “Raising Travis County” initiative, which Travis County, Texas voters approved to dedicate $75 million annually toward childcare, county leaders are now proposing a new $13 million investment in 11 nonprofits to expand access to afterschool and summer programs for more than 5,000 students. According to the latest America After 3PM report from the Afterschool Alliance, for every child in an afterschool program in Texas, five more are without access. “When children, families and local businesses thrive, all of Travis County rises,” Travis County Judge Andy Brown told KVUE.