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City students celebrate programs that begin after dismissal bell rings
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The students marched from the Steel Museum to Choffin. Carrying a banner for the event were sixth-graders, from left, Deshaun Finley, Tyrauie Jefferson, Stephon Abron and Deland Richardson.
By Denise Dick
Youngstown
More than 150 city elementary- and middle-school students marched along Wood Street, chanting the praises of their schools and the Youngstown Afterschool Alliance.
The alliance hosted Lights On Afterschool on Thursday at Choffin Career and Technical Center, one of 7,500 sites across the country conducting events to emphasize the importance of after-school programs to students’ success.
Xavier Felder and Brandon Savada, both 13, and eighth-graders at Rayen Early College Middle School, participate in the after-school program at their school.
“We do activities and homework and a lot of fun things,” Brandon said.
This marks the first year in the program for both boys, who say it’s been a help to them.
“It helps with our homework and having time to do it,” Brandon said.
“Especially math,” Xavier added.
The program runs Monday through Thursday, from 3:15 to 5:30 p.m. for middle schoolers and from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. for elementary school students.
“It’s a lot of time to get to work on homework and to make sure we have alignment with what’s going on in the day school,” said LaDonna Walker, program director.
Superintendent Connie Hathorn, YSU President Cynthia E. Anderson, state Sen. Joe Schiavone of Boardman, D-33rd, and DeMaine Kitchen, chief of staff for Mayor Charles Sammarone, encouraged the students.
“Realize that school is a wonderful thing, and it’s your key to success,” Anderson said.
The Youngstown Afterschool Alliance, with Youngstown City School District, United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley and other community partners, began more than 10 years ago with a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
Last year, the alliance served 279 students, and this year students at Harding, Taft and Williamson elementary schools and P. Ross Berry, Rayen Early College, Volney and Wilson middle schools are being served by the program.
Programs are supported by community partners who help provide children with healthy snacks, homework assistance, mentoring, tutoring and youth development activities including tennis, health and nutrition, photography and dance.
Bottom Dollar Food, based in Salsbury, N.C., with three city stores, donated healthy snacks for Thursday’s event.