Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool/Youth Development Network
Highlights from the Spring, 2005 Summit - Philadelphia
On Thursday, May 19, 2005 PA Statewide Afterschool/Youth Development Network partner, Philadelphia Safe and Sound, convened over 200 youth development leaders, lawmakers and community leaders in a day-long summit at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. The summit entitled, "Building Momentum: A Solid Commitment to Afterschool Programs for Pennsylvania Youth", brought state and national experts together to discuss afterschool programs and youth development.
Speakers included Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street, Dr. Heather Weiss, Founder and Director, Harvard Family Research Project; Jo Ann Lawer, President and CEO, Philadelphia Safe and Sound; Feather Houstoun, President, The William Penn Foundation; Janelle Cousino, Vice President, FowlerHoffman, Consultant to the Afterschool Alliance; Jeffrey Plaut, Partner, Global Strategy Group and Harriet Dichter, Deputy Secretary, Office of Child Development, PA Department of Public Welfare. A number of Pennsylvania state legislators were also in attendance.
Highlights from the Fall, 2005 Summit - State College
On November 14, 2005 the Pennsylvania Statewide Afterschool/Youth Development Network convened over 100 afterschool providers and advocates in State College for a second day-long summit, the Central Pennsylvania Regional Summit on Afterschool. The goal of this summit was to build awareness, sustainability and quality of afterschool and youth development programs in Pennsylvania.
Speakers included Mark Greenberg, Ph.D., The Bennett Endowed Chair, Prevention Research, Penn State's College of Health and Human Development; Janelle Cousino, Vice President, FowlerHoffman, Consultant to the Afterschool Alliance; Bruce R. Clash, State Director, Fight Crime: Invest in Kids Pennsylvania; Peter Trufahnestock, Youth Policy Director, PA Partnerships for Children; Charles R. Lyons, Interim President and CEO, Philadelphia Safe and Sound; Chief Thomas King, State College Chief of Police, Communities That Care; and Amy Brendlinger, Basic Education Associate, Pennsylvania Department of Education, Bureau of Community and Student Services.
Attendees received a wealth of resources, including research on school-based prevention and youth development as well as the state of funding in Pennsylvania and across the country. Attendees were given an opportunity to describe afterschool programs in their communities and to discuss programmatic and funding issues.
Lights On Afterschool! in Pennsylvania
On October 20, 2005, hundreds of thousands of children across America joined their parents, educators, and community and business leaders in the nation's largest rally in support of the afterschool programs that keep kids safe, improve academic achievement and help working families. Over 7,000 events were held around the country as part of the sixth annual Lights On Afterschool.
An Afterschool Champion Luncheon was held on October 19, 2005 in the Kunkle Gallery, Whitaker Center, Harrisburg, PA. To learn more about the Lights On Afterschool event, click here.
