Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Staff report
YOUNGSTOWN
The Youngstown Afterschool Alliance will host “Lights On Afterschool,” beginning at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the Youngstown Board of Education offices at the Irene L. Ward Building, 20 W. Wood St.
The event will include more than 150 students who attend after-school programs at Martin Luther King Jr. and Williamson Elementary schools, Rayen Early College, and Chaney and East 7th and 8th Career and College Pathways.
Youngstown will be one of more than 7,500 sites across the nation sending the message in October that after-school programs are key to our children’s success and that “we must keep the lights on and doors open after school,” according to a school-district press release.
Parents, media, employers, neighbors, school officials and others are invited to help the Youngstown Afterschool Alliance rally support for safe, stimulating after-school programs.
After students meet at the board offices, they will march up Wood Street to Choffin Career & Technical Center from 4:30 to 4:45 p.m. At Choffin, several speakers will address the audience from 4:45 to 5 p.m.
Speakers will include state Sen. Joe Schiavoni of Boardman, D-33rd; schools Superintendent Connie Hathorn; Beverly Hosey, compliance director, Youngstown Community Development Agency; and Kathy Mock, director of education and initiatives, United Way of Youngstown and the Mahoning Valley.
Students later will participate in interactive and educational activities, including a nutrition station, science station and fun with reading and math from 5 to 6 p.m.
For information, contact Claudia Charity, the school district’s manager of community partnerships, at 330-742-2211.