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After School Matters: Empowering Teens for 30 Years

This year, After School Matters, celebrates 30 years of empowering Chicago teens to find their futures through our world-class after-school and summer programs. All year long, we’re honoring those who make our programs so successful—people like you.

Join us as we look back on 30 great years by sharing your After School Matters memories and experiences through one of the simple forms below.

Under large white tents on an undeveloped Block 37 that first summer in 1991, 260 teens apprenticed with professional artists and earned a monetary stipend for their work under the original name of the organization: Gallery 37. Thirty years later, After School Matters has engaged more than 350,000 Chicago teens, and serves as one of the nation’s largest and most successful providers of after-school and summer programs for high school teens.

Our reach and impact are made possible by the many people, partners, and community organizations who have played such an important role in our story’s success—because of you, our programs continue to reach nearly 20,000 teens in every corner of Chicago each year.

To celebrate 30 years of serving our city, please join us as we reflect and celebrate the impact, connections, and treasured moments of being a part of the After School Matters community.

We invite all former and current teens, instructors, staff, supporters, and others to share your memories and experiences by submitting stories, photos, and videos below. We will be highlighting these virtual mementos on After School Matters’ website and our social media channels all year long. And stay tuned for more 30^th anniversary plans in spring 2021.