National Youth Leadership Council Empowers Three State Afterschool Networks with Transformative Funding for Service-Learning Growth

Published On: February 2, 2024

St. Louis Park, Minnesota | February 2, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

National Youth Leadership Council Empowers Three State Afterschool Networks with Transformative Funding for Service-Learning Growth

In an effort to elevate the impact of afterschool programs across the nation, the National Youth Leadership Council (NYLC) has awarded a prestigious two-year grant to three State Afterschool Networks. The initiative, generously supported by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, aims to bolster the quality and quantity of service-learning initiatives within these networks, fostering positive outcomes for youth.

The grant recipients, selected from a competitive pool of 12 applicants, include:

MASN – Missouri AfterSchool Network
Beyond School Bells – Nebraska’s State Afterschool Network
NMOST – New Mexico’s Out of School Time Network

Service-learning stands at the heart of this initiative, serving as a catalyst to amplify youth voice, engage young minds, and empower them to generate real-world change. Beyond these immediate benefits, it also enhances program capacity and cultivates youth leadership within communities. Since 2017, NYLC has collaborated with 14 members of the 50 State Afterschool Network, offering in-person and online training, curricula, coaching, grants, and resources to integrate service-learning into afterschool programming.

In a testament to the transformative power of service-learning, NYLC published a comprehensive report last year. Titled “Pathways to Impact: Service-Learning for State Afterschool Networks,” the report examined how four members of the State Afterschool Network successfully utilized service-learning to elevate youth engagement. This insightful document encapsulates best practices, lessons learned, and strategies for advancing service-learning at a statewide level.

The three networks receiving the NYLC grant are poised to build on this knowledge, contributing to the field by showcasing exemplary efforts to strengthen statewide initiatives for youth engagement. As these networks embark on this transformative journey, they not only commit to enhancing their afterschool programs but also to becoming beacons of inspiration for communities nationwide.

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Miranda Taylor

Marketing Manager | [email protected]