Citizen Schools Joins the National Celebration October 18, 2007 Lights On Afterschool is a nationwide celebration of afterschool and the importance of afterschool programs for America's children, families and communities. The Afterschool Alliance began the event in October 2000; seven years later, it's celebrated by more than 1 million Americans. Citizen Schools was proud to spread the word at our programs this year in California, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina and Texas!

California

New Jersey

New Mexico

Citizen Schools in Albuquerque shared a Lights On Afterschool event with fellow community after-school programs including DARE and the YMCA.
At the Wilson Middle School, students and staff were joined by many members of the community for food, fun, and learning. The event concluded with the lighting up of a hot-air balloon!

North Carolina 

Citizen Schools at the Albemarle Road Middle School in Charlotte hosted an open house, where students led community members on tours of the campus. Enthusiastic students shared stories of success with special guests, including city councilors, foundation representatives, and school board members.  

At the Eastway Middle School, campus visitors toured the program, learning about hands-on, volunteer-led apprenticeships including improv, art, music, and marketing!    

Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School also celebrated Lights On Afterschool with an open house.

Texas

Six separate events kept the Lights On Afterschool in Austin and Houston!

At the Bedichek Middle School in Austin, TX, Citizen Schools staff members were joined by over 200 students and family members as well as over 20 Bedichek teachers and staff to celebrate achievement and opportunity after school. Families shared homemade dishes of all kinds, while Citizen Schools staff contributed over 40 batches of cookies for dessert. After the meal, student presenters Audiel Nieto and John Espinosa took the stage to talk about the prestigious Jack Kent Cooke Young Scholar award and the importance of after-school programs, followed by Bedichek Principal Gail Belcher and Texas State Representative Valinda Bolton. 

Citizen Schools at the Long Middle School in Houston, TX, hosted over 150 guests at their open house, including parents, relatives, teachers, volunteers, and the principal.  After dinner, dishes contributed by families in attendance, four students presented their winning essays about the importance of Citizen Schools before welcoming the principal of the school to the stage.

The Kealing Middle School in Austin, TX, held a family potluck and showcase, open to the greater school community, in collaboration with the Boys and Girls Club.

Citizen Schools at the Grady Middle School in Houston, TX welcomed students, families, and the school community to an open house exploring cultural diversity. Student speakers were joined by special guests JoAnne Davis Jones, Professor of Multicultural Studies at the University of Houston, and Azar Delpassand, renowned speaker on Middle Eastern Affairs. The evening was star-studded with performances by the Regan ROTC Drill Team, Westbury Step Team and Citizen Schools Step Team.

Neighborhood Centers Inc. joined Citizen Schools for a Lights On Afterschool celebration at Sharpstown Middle School in Houston, TX. The event featured student speakers, words from the Director of NCI, Sharpstown Principal Amerson, and Diana Clark, Campus Director of the Citizen Schools program.

Also in Houston, the Revere Middle School opened their doors to the community for an open house and potluck in honor of Lights On Afterschool.