Thousands of Chicago teens decided to spend their summer with After School Matters, participating in rewarding programs, learning new skills, earning a stipend, and meeting friends from all over the city. In every Chicago neighborhood, young people took part in ASM programs, learning things like graphic design, civic leadership, sports management, and coding, just to name a few of ASM’s great programs.
Teens spent six weeks in safe and engaging programs immersed in new content, gaining skills they can apply to college, their future careers, and life. They worked on projects with their peers and expert mentor instructors, presenting their finished work in their final showcases.
Young people constantly share that their program has positively impacted them – 78 percent of teens felt more hopeful about their future after participating in their programs, and 90 percent reported a stronger sense of belonging in their programs. This is important as young people who feel a greater sense of belonging have lower stress levels – a key metric with the rise of anxiety and depression among American teens.
Check out a few of our amazing teen summer projects and testimonials – click the photos below to learn more!
