County afterschool programs to be showcased at Lights On Afterschool Rally

Pulaski County and Beans and Rice, Inc.’s 21st Century Community Learning Center grant program, in partnership with the YMCA and the Rock Youth Center of Pulaski, will sponsor a combined Family Night with a Lights On Afterschool rally on October 23, 2018 from 6:00 pm-7:30pm at Pulaski Middle School. 

The rally will be one of more than an expected 8,000 such events across America as part of Lights On Afterschool, the annual nationwide celebration of afterschool programs organized by the Afterschool Alliance.

Lights On Afterschool!  will feature the following afterschool programs:

Dublin Elementary’s Rockin’ Afterschool

Life After School at Dublin and Pulaski Middle Schools

Pulaski Elementary’s Excel after the Bell sponsored by the YMCA

The Rock Youth Center’s Full Access Youth

These local afterschool students will showcase their programs and demonstrate how participating in them enriches their educational experience.

The event will highlight the significant contributions that afterschool programs make to our community: keeping kids safe and healthy while inspiring them to learn. Parents, afterschool supporters and community members are expected to attend.

FREE dinner will be provided for ALL children 18 and under and parents of students enrolled in the 21st Century programs at Dublin Elementary, Dublin Middle and Pulaski Middle.   Dinner for all other adults will be provided for a nominal fee of around $3.00 per person.

  • What: Pulaski County Lights On Afterschool Rally
  • When: October 23, 2018 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm
  • Where: Pulaski Middle School – Cafeteria
  • Who:  Providers of RESOURCES to help support families including:
    • YMCA–Zumba and Cardio Circuit Demonstrations
    • Agency on Aging—Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
    • No Kid Hungry
    • Good Will—GoodCare Program
    • Good Will—Workforce Development
    • AmeriCorps—Information on how to sign up for free Basic Computer, Reading and Financial Literacy Classes
    • Pulaski County Public Library
    • The Fire Marshal
    • Big Brothers/Big Sisters
    • Micro Solutions – assistance in starting a small business
    • MORE TBA

21st Century Community Learning Centers grants have provided afterschool programs in Pulaski County since 2002.  These U.S. Department of Education grants have been instrumental in providing homework assistance, mentoring, tutoring, academic enrichment, summer programs and field trips to students. The Afterschool Alliance is a nonprofit public awareness and advocacy organization working to ensure that all children have access to quality afterschool programs. More information on Lights On Afterschool is available at www.afterschoolalliance.org.

Beans and Rice, Inc. is a community economic development organization that works to improve the economic well-being of low-to-moderate income families through: hunger relief; afterschool programs which raise academic achievement and develop pro-social skills; micro-business development programs that create jobs; and savings programs that help families purchase their first home and help children save funds for school.