July 11, 2013 Tinley Park, Illinois The Strong Link Between College and Career Readiness and Afterschool Programs – How to Build Strategic Partnerships with Afterschool Programs Samantha Hedges, ACT Now Coalition; Kelley Talbot, ACT Now Coalition; Ashley Murray, Illinois Student Assistance Commission; Diana Vazquez, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council

The ACT Now Coalition brings together afterschool and youth development stakeholders from across the state to work towards ensuring that young people in Illinois have access to quality, affordable afterschool programs. Join ACT Now and have an impact on kids and families; be a part of the solution to enhance every young person’s chance for success in life. Available opportunities: Network with other providers and youth advocates; learn about new policy developments in afterschool issues; receive message and advocacy training; draw on policy and technical expertise to inform best practices; and connect with experts on professional development. Samantha Hedges to join:

Project Exploration Building a love for science both in (and out) of the classroom

After School Programs Support a Well-rounded Education After School Matters’ Apprenticeship Model: Produced positive effects in improving teens’ abilities to work in groups, communicate effectively, plan and meet deadlines and cooperate with flexibility Enhanced students’ knowledge of various vocational skills such as how to apply and interview for a job, the importance of regular and prompt attendance, and guidelines for appropriate behavior

Project Exploration “With Project Exploration, they stress the fact that they want you to graduate high school…and that they want you to go to college and graduate…it’s just the people there, they push you to go further and far beyond anything and they don’t want you to stop.” 95% of participants and alumni have graduated high school or are on track to graduate, nearly double the overall rate of Chicago Public Schools 60% of students enrolled in a four-year college are pursuing degrees in STEM-related fields 60% of students who graduated college graduated with a degree in a STEM-related field 88% said Project Exploration introduced them to STEM career options they had not previously considered 32% of those surveyed held science-related employment

Erie Neighborhood House 91% of Erie afterschool participants increased at least one grade level with one-on-one tutoring 100% of their seniors graduated high school

Comer to College “Looking back at what GCCP and GCYC meant to me and to my hometown is that both the school and youth center provide a constructive place for young people to be and help to better them for the future—be it through education or having positive people around to be role models.” —Charles Abban, University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana 94% of GCYC’s 2012 seniors graduated and have enrolled in college.

Teen Perspectives “College has been a life-long dream, and MESA is helping make it a reality. I would have never thought that I could be going to college because I’m the only one in my immediate family that has tried to make an effort for further education. I am planning on going to veterinary school.” - Amanda Homas, Graduate of the Alternative Center for Education “Latinas y Que is one of the reasons I decided to apply to Berkeley, even though science was always a tough subject for me. Like everything at Girls, Inc., it helped me realize that hard things aren’t bad things, and that it pays to set ambitious goals.” - Zulma Perez “Since I’m a senior [in high school], I’m ready to go to work. I needed to learn how to fill out an application and write a resume. [The program] has helped me a lot. On my own, I was doing my resume wrong, but they taught me the correct way.” - Trina Charles, Boys & Girls Club Career Exploration

ISAC: Future at a Glance “The near peer model utilized by ISAC and similar programs, reaches youth who might otherwise not be able to envision themselves as college graduates or successful adults beyond high school.” “[The] workshops and presentations have expanded the knowledge base of our youth providing them with new learning platforms and meaningfully creative ways to improve their understanding of the college-going process.” - Angela Whitlow, Program Director, Christian Activities Center

Contact Information Samantha Hedges: Kelley Talbot: Ashley Murray: