I'm proud to share with you a few of the great accomplishments of our teens and instructors, and ways After School Matters continues to keep Chicago teens safe through opportunities to develop their talents and gain critical skills for work, college and beyond.

Sincerely,

Mary Ellen Caron
Chief Executive Officer

Teens Earn College Scholarships

Many of our teens are on their way to college this year!  After School Matters is committed to preparing students for their future by offering opportunities to explore their interests and strengthen their talents.Please join us in congratulating some of our graduating seniors, who will begin their college education this fall.

• Recently, 26 After School Matters teens were awarded the POSSE Scholarship, a prestigious full-tuition college scholarship in recognition for their academic and leadership potential. Our scholarship recipients are from high schools across the city, and plan to pursue their college degrees in a variety of fields of study at institutions around the country.

•  A Harlan Community Academy High School senior in our downtown Vocal Arts Ensemble program is the recipient of a full-ride scholarship to study vocal performance at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Music. He credits his experience in After School Matters with giving him the tools and opportunity necessary to earn a scholarship.

• One of our teens who lives in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood recently received a full-ride scholarship to study vocal performance at Oberlin College in Ohio. He believes the scholarship was a result of his participation in After School Matters vocal programs over the past three years.

• An After School Matters teen who has participated in our photography programs continually for the past four years was invited to spend this semester finishing her high school studies at The Oxbow School in Napa, California. She also recently received the San Francisco Art Institute’s Presidential Merit Scholarship to study photography.

We wish all of our teens the best of luck in their first year of college next fall. 

United Airlines Provides Opportunity to Reward Instructors

Thanks to the generous support of United Airlines, the official airline of After School Matters, we recently awarded seven instructors with round-trip airline tickets in recognition of their continued dedication to our organization and our teens.

Our instructors play a vital role in shaping the futures of our teens. Their leadership and expertise are what keeps our teens engaged and interested in returning to our programs. We are grateful for their commitment to helping Chicago teens find their future.

Teens Find Safe Haven in After School Matters Programs

At a time when violence is so prevalent, not only do we need to work hard to create programs that keep teens engaged and off the streets, but we must also recognize the importance of strong neighborhoods. After School Matters is helping to build strong communities through our program opportunities for teens.

For many Chicago teens, our programs are a safe haven where they are able to discover their talents and find their future. These programs provide a productive, positive environment where teens can express themselves and make their voices heard. We thank you for your support of our efforts.