 Special Initiatives
Each year the national Lights On After School event celebrates and honors the accomplishments of programs that continue learning and development during after-school hours.
Local Celebration Commemorates National Lights On Afterschool Day
indianapolis – The Afterschool Coalition of Indianapolis (ACI) and area youth services agencies celebrated National Lights On Afterschool on October 15. Lights On Afterschool is celebrated nationwide to call attention to the importance of afterschool programs for America's children, families and communities.
Several student groups gathered at the Keenan-Stahl Boys & Girls Club for the primary Indianapolis event. The event included educational activities, prizes for participants and special performances by the Francis Scott Key Dance Crew and A+ Performing Arts. Indiana State Representative Mary Ann Sullivan and David Klinkose, Director of the Indiana Afterschool Network also gave remarks to the students about the importance of Indianapolis afterschool programs.
In addition to the celebration at Keenan-Stahl, the West District of the Indianapolis YMCA also hosted celebrations at two of their sites. On October 22, each site hosted activities focused on the value of quality afterschool programming for both parents and students.
At all Indianapolis Lights On celebrations, students created light bulb artwork that will be sent on to Indiana representatives to bring awareness to the cause.
To watch a slideshow from the event, visit this link.
To see the Proclamation about Lights on from Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, click here
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Preparations for 2009 Lights On Celebration---
The 2009 Lights On After School event in Indianapolis will take place October 15 from 3 to 5:30 pm at Keenan-Stahl Boys & Girls Club, 1949 East Troy Ave, Indianapolis.
To be a part of the event, download any of the following documents: event information sheet; booth space/vendor info sheet; registration forms for student performances and visual arts displays; student registration form; vendor registration form; and WIN PRIZES with the Lights On coloring worksheet.
TWO WAYS TO PARTICIPATE-
1- Come to our event at Keenan-Stahl Boys & Girls Club (1949 East Troy Ave.)!
OR
2- Host your own event at your site!
In communities today, 14.3 million children take care of themselves after the school day ends. Afterschool programs keep kids safe, help working families and inspire learning. Join us, along with 7,500+ afterschool programs nationwide, in celebrating our afterschool programs.
* Who: The students in your Afterschool Program!
* What: The event will include fun & educational activities, guest speakers & presentations, PLUS prizes for participants
(at Keenan-Stahl Boys & Girls Club)
* When: Thursday, October 15th, 2009 – 3 pm until 5:30pm
* Where: Keenan-Stahl Boys & Girls Club, 1949 East Troy Ave., in Indianapolis OR at YOUR SITE!
* Why: Nationally, the Afterschool Alliance created Lights On Afterschool Day nine years ago to rally for the importance of afterschool programs. Come help us celebrate and get the word out about the importance of your afterschool program!
To RSVP- please return the attached from by October 5th to Sara Beanblossom at VSA arts of Indiana 317-974-4124 fax or email sbeanblossom@vsai.org
*If you are attending as an administrator without students OR would like to volunteer, please also RSVP by sending an email or calling Sara at the contact info above.
Can’t make it to our celebration at the Boys & Girls Club? No problem!! Celebrate at your site.
** If you are unable to join us – please host your own Lights On Afterschool at your site to help the ACI call attention to the importance of afterschool programs for Indianapolis’ children, families and communities. **
Below, you will find several downloadable resources for your Lights On afterschool celebration:
Light Bulb Directions: Copy the bulbs and let your community get creative. Children and adults can fill out and color these light bulbs to show support of the afterchool initiative. After your Lights On celebration. Please contact Sara Beanblossom at 974-4123 or sbeanblossom@vsai.org to arrange for pick up OR mail to Sara Beanblossom at VSA arts of Indiana, 1505 North Delaware, Indianapolis, IN 46219. These light bulbs will be sent to our Congressional District Offices to show our lawmakers and their staff see the creativity and energy of your students! Feel free to include letters from yourself or your students about the importance of afterschool programs in your lives.
Keep the Lights On After School Petition Directions: Please contact Sara Beanblossom at 974-4123 or sbeanblossom@vsai.org to arrange for pick up OR mail to Sara Beanblossom at VSA arts of Indiana, 1505 North Delaware, Indianapolis, IN 46219. These petitions will also be sent to our Congressional District Offices.
Need more ideas, ? Feel free to check out- http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/loaEventKit.cfm
Don’t forget to take some photos and let us know how your event went!
Some of the Afterschool Alliance’s ideas include-
Who to Invite:
* kids!
* educators and school personnel
* parents, grandparents and extended family
* business and community leaders
* policy makers
* media
* youth organizations: sports teams, school bands, academic and service clubs, volunteers, etc.
* local celebrities: tv news anchor, radio host, athletes
* the community!
What to do:
* student-created and led activities like raps, skits, dance, music and poetry
* sell items to raise funds for your program (see Buttons and Bracelets page - available for order)
* student demonstrations of afterschool activities, for example yoga, basketball, karate, mural painting, chess, debate
* ask attendees to show their support for afterschool by signing on to Afterschool for All: Project 2010 (see instructions at Project 2010)
* contests and competitions (kids versus adults or kids versus kids)
* short dance and music performances
* special guest speakers: parents, local elected officials, the superintendent, mayor, a member of Congress, local celebrities, etc.
* presentations by youth about their afterschool experience
* a snack or pizza dinner
* light bulb art decoration by event guests
Don’t forget- the attached art contest is open to ALL Indianapolis area afterschool students!
***So we can share your efforts with others- please send any info on what you plan to do or did do to:
Sara Beanblossom at VSA arts of Indiana 317-974-4124 fax or email sbeanblossom@vsai.org
RECAP of 2008 program---
 
Local Celebration Commemorates National Lights On Afterschool Day
On October 16th, the Afterschool Coalition of Indianapolis hosted the city’s annual Lights On Afterschool celebration at Garfield Park’s Burrello Family Center. Celebrated nationally, Lights On Afterschool was created by the Afterschool Alliance to call attention to the importance of afterschool programs for America's children, families and communities.
The Garfield Park event welcomed 150 students from local afterschool programs and featured performances by NCAA Stay In Bounds, Indy Air Bears and Clarian Health Jump Kids Jump. Participants also listened to remarks by Indiana Afterschool Network Executive Director David Klinkose, Leslie Power from Indy Parks, and City County Council member Janice McHenry.
Local agencies hosting interactive activities and information booths, included Peace Learning Center, Drug Free Marion County, Urban Mission YMCA, Indiana State Museum, Vincennes University, Mary Rigg Community Center, Kool Smiles, AYS, Inc., Indiana Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs, Girl Scouts, IndyGo (IPTC), Jump Kids Jump Movement®, Indy PAL Club and IndyParks.
In addition to the celebration at Garfield Park, several other local afterschool programs also participated at their sites. Twenty Marion County AYS program sites hosted community members in celebration of Lights On. Afterschool sites affiliated with the YMCA also participated on site. The Challenge Foundation Academy displayed a large light bulb made from smaller light bulbs saying why they enjoy the YMCA afterschool program and letters from parents were gathered in support of the YMCA afterschool programs. IPS schools 93, 107, and 14 created artwork and signed petitions in support of afterschool programming. The IPS YMCA student art was displayed at the event at Garfield Park.
Overall- the event included hundreds of student participants and was driven by dozens of dedicated volunteers from many local youth serving organizations. A huge “Thank you” to all who participated this year.
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