Community Rally Celebrates Students and Importance of After-School Programs
After-School All-Stars celebrated “Lights On Afterschool,” a nationwide celebration to raise awareness about the importance of afterschool programs for children, families and communities and to advocate for increased investment in the afterschool field. ASAS chapters across the country hosted dozens of events and millions of people in over 8,000 communities nationwide participated in the 17th annual “Lights On Afterschool” campaign organized by Afterschool Alliance.
As part of the national celebration, After-School All-Stars South Florida, the local ASAS chapter, hosted a hands-on showcase celebration and pep rally on October 20th from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at Kinloch Park Middle School.
Eighty students participated in high-energy activities including: a kickball game and “spin the wheel” game with the Miami Marlins and team executives; healthy cooking and meatball rolling contest with international chef, Leonardo La Cava and MIC Food; robotics class with Florida Power & Light Company (FPL); and live junior broadcasting interviews directed by FOX Sports Florida. The festivity culminated with a spirited pep rally, with DJ Ryan of the Irie Foundation, and with “The Fittest Man on Earth,” three-time Crossfit Masters champion, Shawn Ramirez, who shared inspirational words with the students.
“Our programs provide a safe haven for students during the ‘danger hours’ of 3-6 p.m., the peak hours for juvenile crime and unsafe behaviors,” stated Natalia Sol, VP of External Relations for After-School All-Stars. “The support of afterschool programs and events like ‘Lights on Afterschool’ are vital give our kids the confidence and tools they need to have brighter futures and make positive contributions to their communities.”
Event partners included MetroPCS, Florida International University, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Creative Artists Agency, 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CCLC) and Afterschool Alliance.
After-School All-Stars is the largest comprehensive, school-based afterschool program in the United States. It serves over 70,000 students nationwide in 353 schools across 19 chapters, including 2,000 students in 18 schools throughout South Florida.