After School Matters (ASM) - a partnership of the City of Chicago, the Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Park District, the Chicago Public Library, and the Chicago Department of Human Services - provides meaningful after school activities to Chicago youth. Youth over the age of 14 who attend a participating school or live in its neighborhood can apply to the program, which consists of apprenticeships and clubs. Apprenticeships meet three days a week for three hours a day after school in the areas of visual literacy, media, performing arts, technology, and sports. Clubs are designed to be social and are available Monday through Friday.

Currently reaching over 17,000 youth, the program relies on sponsors for its funding - the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation committed $5 million over five years in 2001, for example. Mayor Daley said "After School Matters is especially important because it helps young people who are "on the verge of adulthood…at an age when they have to begin making important life choices that can have serious long-term consequences. We have an obligation to point them in a positive direction. Because if they don't get proper guidance during this critical period, their lives could take off in the wrong direction."

The Afterschool Alliance points to After School Matters as a program that can "help youth strengthen their literacy and reading skills." In the ASM program at Juarez High School in Chicago, Illinois, participants learn the art of storytelling, a stimulating program that allows the students to interact with professionals from the real world. Through this reading skills and literacy-based after-school program, students have the ability to enhance their reading achievement and open the door to life-long learning.

Contact:

After School Matters
72 E. Randolph Street
3rd Floor
Chicago, IL 60601

Phone: (312) 742-4182
Fax: (312) 744-0862

Web sites:
http://www.asm.cps.k12.il.us
http://www.asm.cps.k12.il.us/about/press_releases.html#

Afterschool Alliance
Issue Brief: http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/issue_literacy.cfm