• Facebook
  • Twitter

Tennessee Afterschool Network

Tennessee Afterschool Network

  • Home
  • About
    • Our Sponsors
    • We Accept Cy Pres Awards
    • Our Accomplishments Over 10 Years
    • Afterschool Heals Tennessee
      • Getting Started
      • Afterschool Heals Toolkit for TN 2021
      • Building Resiliency
      • Prevention Curriculum
      • Strengthening Relationships
      • Afterschool Heals Tennessee Resources
    • Raise Your Hand Tennessee
      • Tools & Best Practices
      • Read, Mentor, or Tutor
      • Volunteering & Training
      • Get Your Company Involved
    • Fit Foundations
      • Make a Plan
      • Move More
      • Snack Smarter
      • Fit Foundations Beyond the Basics
      • Fit Foundations Resources
    • Afterschool Serves TN
      • Getting Started
      • Youth Engagement
      • Service-Learning Curriculum
      • Service-Learning Resources
      • National Days of Service
      • Service Learning Profiles
    • Register2Vote
    • STEM
      • Career Awareness & Exploration
      • Million Girls Moonshot
        • STEM NEXT RESOURCES
      • Culture, Bias, and Equity in STEM
  • Resources
    • Afterschool Data
    • Mizzen by Mott
    • Network News
    • Summer Activity Guide
    • Tools for Parents
    • Tools for Programs
      • Meeting Presentations, Videos, and Documents
      • School-Age Developmental Standards and Afterschool Standards for Tennessee
      • Classroom Management Strategies
      • Funding Opportunities
      • Higher Standards and TNReady
      • Marketing, Media, and Funding
      • Professional Development
      • Program Ideas and Curriculum
  • Afterschool Snack
  • Advocacy
    • Public Policy Agenda
    • Lights On Afterschool
    • Hill Day 2025 is Wednesday, March 26!
      • Hill Day Resource Page
  • Contact Us
You are here: Home / Network News / Governor Proclaims Oct. 20 Lights on Afterschool Day

October 20, 2016

Governor Proclaims Oct. 20 Lights on Afterschool Day

Lights on Afterschool ProclamationGovernor Bill Haslam has named October 20 Lights On Afterschool Day in Tennessee to recognize the role of afterschool programs in enhancing learning and providing opportunities for children to develop interpersonal skills and relationships. The proclamation was requested by the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth, a Steering Committee member of the Tennessee Afterschool Network.

In his proclamation, the governor said, “The citizens of the State of Tennessee stand firmly committed to quality afterschool programs and opportunities because they provide safe, challenging and engaging learning experiences that help children develop social, emotional, physical and academic skills.”  He further noted that, “these expanded learning opportunities help close the achievement gap and prepare young people to compete in the global economy.”

On October 20, children, parents and business and community leaders across Tennessee will come together to celebrate the achievements of afterschool students and programming.  There will be events in other states as well, as Lights On is a national event organized by the Afterschool Alliance.  More than one million people will rally at more than 8,000 events across the nation.  Afterschool programs will hold be open houses, student art and stem projects, athletic activities, performances, festivals and beyond.

“Lights On Afterschool celebrates the remarkable work of Tennessee’s afterschool programs,” said Linda O’Neal, executive director of the Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth. “It is a powerful reminder that afterschool programs offer a range of supports for children and families. Research shows students participating in high-quality afterschool programs have better school attendance, grades and standardized test performance compared to students who do not participate.  They also have less misconduct and lower rates of drug and alcohol use.”

“Tennessee doesn’t have enough afterschool programs, and too many youths are home alone. We must open more programs and make sure lawmakers invest more in afterschool,” said Mary Graham, president of United Ways of Tennessee and lead staff for the Tennessee Afterschool Network.  “More than 170,000 Tennessee students are responsible for taking care of themselves after school, and nearly 264,000 students would participate if programming were available. The Tennessee Afterschool Network is committed to ensuring that in the near future, every child in our state who needs an afterschool program has one.”

More information about afterschool programs in Tennessee can be found at www.tnafterschool.org, and to find a Lights On event near you, link to http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/loaFindEvent.cfm.

The Tennessee Afterschool Network brings together a diverse group of stakeholders to advocate for and support afterschool programs, especially those that provide services to at-risk children and youth.  The Network is made possible through a grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, United Ways of Tennessee, and the United Ways of Greater Chattanooga, Greater Kingsport, Greater Knoxville, Mid-South, Ocoee Region, Rutherford and Cannon Counties, West Tennessee and Williamson County. www.tnafterschool.org

Lights On Afterschool is organized by the Afterschool Alliance, a nonprofit public awareness and advocacy organization working to ensure that all children have access to quality afterschool programs. www.afterschoolalliance.org

Share this:

  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook

Related

Filed Under: Network News · By Tennessee Afterschool Network

Copyright © 2025 · Tennessee Afterschool Network and United Ways of Tennessee · All Rights Reserved · Designed by Linda Curty

 

Loading Comments...