After School Programs Highlighted Monday In Yakima

Northwest Community Action Center and Yakima School District are partnering to host a Lights On Afterschool celebration on Monday, October 24 from 4:30-7:30pm. The eleventh annual Lights On Afterschool celebration, organized by the Afterschool Alliance, is meant to call attention to the importance of afterschool programs for America's children, families and communities. This event will be one of over 7,500 hundred Lights On Afterschool celebrations happening across the country.

Speakers at the event include Yakima County Sheriff Ken Irwin, Nicole Yohalem with the Forum for Youth Investment and David Rolfe with Citizens for Safe Communities who will call for expanding afterschool opportunities so that every child who needs a program has access to one, and discuss the harm that results from budget cuts and freezes to these programs. The event will highlight the significant contributions that afterschool programs make to Yakima and the entire state of Washington in keeping kids safe and healthy, reducing crime and gang involvement, improving school attendance and engagement in learning and helps working families.

The event will also include youth performances and a presentation of School’s Out Washington’s Afterschool Hall of Fame awards to this year’s champions who include Sherriff Irwin as well as City of Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland; City of Pullman Mayor Glenn Johnson; Tulalip Tribes Charitable Fund; Pam O’Brien, Educator from Olympia; Joanne Benham, Community Leader from Spokane; and Jack Albaugh, Community Leader from Fife. These awards recognize those individuals and organizations that have demonstrated leadership in advancing the afterschool field in Washington State.

Over 500 parents, supporters, and community members are expected to attend this celebratory event. Event sponsors include School’s Out Washington, Yakima Police Athletic League (YPAL), Yakima County Sheriff’s Department, and OIC of Washington.

What: Lights On Afterschool Celebration

When: 4:30-7:30p.m., October 24, 2011

Where: Yakima Convention Center

10 North 8th St, Yakima

Who: Yakima County Sherriff Ken Irwin, local business leaders and community leaders, school

Principals and Administrator, school partners, afterschool providers, parents and 300 youth