After School Matters® Offering Paid Remote and In-Person Programs for Nearly 7,000 Chicago Teens this Fall

September 21, 2021

Media Contact: Mallory Zapata, Communications Manager, mzapata@afterschoolmatters.org

Teens can apply to more than 400 programs and learn skills in visual and performing arts, coding, sports management, civic engagement, and more.

For Immediate Release – September 16, 2021

CHICAGO—Applications are open for more than 400 remote and in-person programs being offered this fall through After School Matters®. Program opportunities are available for nearly 7,000 Chicago teens in the arts, communications and leadership, sports, and STEM, and begin the week of October 12. Interested teens can apply by visiting afterschoolmatters.org.

After School Matters had a successful summer session, offering both in-person and remote programs to teens and will continue with both options in the fall. Most programs will continue to take place remotely but a variety of safe, in-person opportunities for teens will be offered across Chicago at After School Matters locations and in partnership with community-based organizations, following CDC, State, and City guidelines. All fall programs are paid apprenticeships and internships, and participants will earn a stipend between $275-$750, depending on the length of time and level of expertise required for the program.

“We are thrilled that our in-person and remote program models were a success this past summer and we’re excited to continue those program options for our teens this fall so they can explore, gain skills, and have fun however they feel most comfortable,” said After School Matters Chief Programs Officer Melissa Mister.

Fall programs provide teens an opportunity to expand their subject-matter skills while developing critical thinking proficiencies in problem solving, social awareness, collaboration, and more. Programs offer hands-on, project-based learning opportunities facilitated by highly skilled instructor-mentors. Teens who need access to technology will be able to acquire devices through After School Matters.

After School Matters programs have been an important part of the COVID-19 response, adapting services to meet youth and community needs, offering social-emotional supports, and filling the education gap through virtual programming. Results from a report in partnership between After School Matters and American Institutes for Research (AIR), found more than 76 percent of teens surveyed said their program made them more hopeful about their future, and 72 percent said their program helped them safely cope with their emotions through the current crisis. Read the full report on our website, http://afterschoolmatters.org/airreport/.

A few of the exciting programs offered this fall include:

ASM Youth Radio (Remote)

Teens will interview their peers and produce the interviews into long-form stories. Teens will learn how to structure an interview, transform the interview into a narrative, and edit the story for audio production purposes.

Astronomy & Space (Remote)

Teens will learn about urban astronomy and celestial bodies by viewing and discussing space-themed films, conducting physics experiments, studying NASA and manned space travel/rocketry, as they learn about careers in the astronomy and space field. By the end of the session, teens will be prepared to present and display newly gained astronomical knowledge for their friends and their family.

Game Design (In-person at the Michael and Karyn Lutz Center for After School Matters)

Teens will learn the fundamental concepts of game design and development through play, analysis, and game making. Participants will play and analyze existing games (digital and analog) and then create new ones based off of the knowledge they gathered in the program.

Les Enfants Dance (In-person at After School Matters at Gately Park)

Teens will be exposed to dance as an art form, professional opportunity, and tool of expression. Participants will learn a variety of dance styles, foster personal artistic growth, and professional discipline through this program.

Teens can search and apply for in-person and remote fall 2021 programs at afterschoolmatters.org. All After School Matters programs are free and open to Chicago high school students who are at least 14 years old (16 years old for internships). As part of the application process, teens interview with program instructors to discuss their interests. Teens are encouraged to apply early, as program opportunities fill up quickly.

For questions about programs and applications, call 312-768-5200 or email applications@afterschoolmatters.org. Para mas información en Español llámenos al 312-846-7106 o mándenos un correo electrónico al espanol@afterschoolmatters.org.

For more information, visit www.afterschoolmatters.org.

~~~

About After School Matters

Celebrating its 30th year in 2021, After School Matters is a nonprofit organization that provides after-school and summer opportunities to Chicago public high school teens to explore their passions and develop their talents, while gaining critical skills for work, college, and beyond. After School Matters programs are project-based, led by industry experts, and provide a pathway to progress in skills development and independence. Teens earn a stipend while participating in programs in the arts, communications and leadership, sports, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Over the span of three decades, After School Matters has engaged more than 350,000 teens throughout the city of Chicago. www.afterschoolmatters.org

 

 

Back to Pressroom