Denver Celebrates National Lights On Afterschool Week
Published on October 17, 2022
DENVER – The City and County of Denver is celebrating National Lights On Afterschool by lighting the City and County Building in orange all week, and the city council proclaims Thursday, October 20, 2022 as National Lights On Afterschool Day.
The
Denver Afterschool Alliance, housed in the
Office of Children's Affairs, is leading this celebration and raising awareness about the need for comprehensive after-school programs across the city. Today, youth from the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Denver, the YMCA of Metro Denver and ViVe Wellness lined the steps leading to the doors of the City and County Building with personalized, decorated luminaries. They attended the council meeting to discuss the positive impact after-school programs have had on their lives and witnessed the official reading proclaiming Thursday, October 20, 2022 as National Lights On Afterschool Day in Denver.
"National Lights On Afterschool Day recognizes the work our communities are doing to engage our youth in activities that produce positive academic, physical and mental health outcomes," said Council President Jamie Torres. "Now more than ever, we need to support these meaningful programs to uplift Denver's youth."
Research shows that youth enrolled in after-school programs attend school more regularly, engage more in learning, perform better on academic assessments, and develop stronger social-emotional skills to build healthy relationships with their peers and other trusting adults.
"Quality after-school programs provide a healthy space for positive youth development, a sense of safety for children and working families, and a means to building strong communities across the city," said Melissa Janiszewski, executive director for the Office of Children's Affairs. "We celebrate these programs and our after-school providers who have dedicated their careers to providing a supportive environment for children and youth to learn."
Parents and caregivers can find after-school programs and other youth services in Denver by searching the Youth Program Locator.