This summer, more than 10,400 teens across every Chicago neighborhood brought their talents to life through more than 670 After School Matters programs. From coding and vibrant art installations to live performances and interactive workshops, our program spaces transformed into labs, galleries, stages, and immersive experiences for family, friends, and community members.
Teens didn’t just showcase their creativity — they earned a stipend while gaining hands-on skills in areas like welding, sports management, cooking, and community organizing. Along the way, they built essential life skills in communication, collaboration, and leadership that will serve them well in college, careers, and beyond.
Our investment went beyond teens — we supported instructors, partnered with 116 community-based organizations, and provided the tools and resources needed to make these programs thrive.
Here’s a glimpse into some of the incredible programs and final showcases that made this summer unforgettable.
At the Lutz Center, teens offered guests a little bit of everything—art, flavor, and innovation:
- Cooking & Baking: Guests lined up for a build-your-own pasta bar, watching their dishes cooked to perfection, and enjoyed delicious cakes prepared by our teen chefs.
- Grounded and Growing + Gardening: Teens led guided plant walks through their gardens, sharing their knowledge about herbs, vegetables, and pollinators. They even brewed teas and kombucha using their own fresh-grown ingredients.
- Trendy on a Budget: From custom t-shirts and tote bags to jewelry and face painting, teens shared their handcrafted creations and entrepreneurial spirit.
- Welding: Teens displayed intricate welding projects, including ornate metal roses.
- Nailed It: Creative Confidence through Nails: Guests admired—and bought—press-on acrylic nails featuring stunning 3-D designs crafted by our teen artists.
- Dungeons & Dragons: Teens invited visitors into their worlds of imagination, showcasing original character designs and interactive tabletop games they developed.
View all Lutz Showcase photos here.
Gallery 37 came alive through creativity, performance, and hands-on experiences:
- DJ Fundamentals kept the energy high with live sets in the Mezzanine and Gallery.
- Advanced Drawing & Painting Portfolio teens displayed a vast collection of paintings and sketches.
- Astronomy participants wowed guests with handmade 3D spacecraft models and interactive physics demonstrations.
- Gallery Buddies shared custom-painted picture frames and led a friendship bracelet-making activity.
- Creating with Scent introduced guests to their custom line of perfumes.
- Mosaics programs showcased colorful and detailed pieces.
- The Blackbox Theater featured live performances from Les Enfants and screenings from Advanced Video Production.
- Printmaking teens displayed their artwork and created custom prints on-site.
- Photography students shared cyanotype prints, photo albums, and digital galleries.
- The Poetry Lab offered guests collections of original poems.
- Leadership Council presented projects tackling public policy reform, showing how teens are using their voices for change.
View all Gallery37 Showcase photos here.
The Gately Park Summer Jam Showcase brought the community together for a day full of flavor, movement, and inspiration:
- A Slice of Hope delighted guests with sweet treats, while Culinary Arts @ Zion impressed with live cooking demos.
- Advanced Visual Arts and Building Leather Sneaker transformed the gallery walk into a one-of-a-kind visual experience.
- Les Enfants and Dance 4 Our Lives lit up the stage with dynamic performances.
- Nu Sound Studio provided the soundtrack for the day, with two talented teen emcees keeping the crowd engaged.
- The Art of Rap and Poetry teens delivered powerful spoken word and original rap performances.
- Design. Build. Grow. Eat. guided visitors through the rooftop garden.
- Braidology 101 and Intro to Lash Extensions wowed guests with next-level beauty skills.
View all Gately Park Showcase photos here.
This successful summer session wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our incredible teens, instructors, families, staff, donors, elected officials, and all our supporters. Thank you for making this summer unforgettable and showing up for our young people year-round!
We can’t wait for our fall session to start! The application opens late August. Teens can apply at afterschoolmatters.org/apply.