May 2005 Archives

AS220 Broad Street Studio Rhode Show was the featured performance at the 4th Annual Afterschool for All Challenges conference in Washington, DC on May 17-18. The youth performers showcased their talents to members of Congress, House of Representatives, and other Afterschool Alliance programs from around the country.

"Every day, 14.3 million children leave school without a safe place to go," said Afterschool Alliance Interim Executive Director Jen Rinehart. "We are here to ask lawmakers to honor the commitment they made in the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, which established a multi-year roadmap for slow but steady growth in afterschool funding, reflecting our strong national consensus that afterschool should be expanded."

The young members of the Rhode Show met with US Senator Jack Reed and Congressman Patrick Kennedy to explain how the Broad Street Studio has helped them find a passion in their lives as well as a healthy alternative to growing up on the streets of Providence. They acted as real-life evidence that after-school programs have a drastically positive effect on today's youth, and should be supported and encouraged by our government.