November 14, 2017

ASP of Chicago Hosts Fourth Annual Afterschool Development Conference

Published by Christina DiChiara

On Friday, November 3, All Stars Project of Chicago hosted the fourth annual Afterschool Development Conference at East-West University.  The conference, convened by ASP of Chicago City Leader David Cherry, brought together 90 afterschool leaders and practitioners from more than 50 organizations in Chicago.

This collaborative event in downtown Chicago included panels, workshops, and grassroots conversations about new and innovative ways to engage young people in Chicago and across the US in developmental, outside of school programming.

ASP of Chicago board chair Margo Cook (President, Nuveen) kicked off the day and reaffirmed the commitment of the business community in building the afterschool movement.

David Cherry led a dynamic panel about “A New Way Forward for Chicago – and America”; thought leaders included: Pastor Marshall Hatch, New Mount Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, LaTanya Johnson, LaTanya and the Youth of Englewood, Greg Martinez, Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, Dorothy Smith, Teen HYPE Detroit, and Cheryl Hughes, Chicago Community Trust.

ASP President and CEO, Gabrielle Kurlander gave remarks about Afterschool Development as a new way of engaging poverty.  She spoke about Afterschool Development as a protest of traditional views of development and learning – and how we are going beyond traditional practices and ideas to create something new and positive to move our country forward.

A highlight of the morning plenary was “What Our Young People Have to Say”, co-moderated by Tiffany Jones, Program and Operations Manager of the All Stars Project of Chicago, and Dawn Harris, 2014 DSY graduate and Loan Processing Operator at CIBC.  You can watch this engaging and honest conversation here: What Our Young People Have to Say

The afternoon included a performance activity followed by two breakout sessions.  The first was a discussion about the process and impact of establishing a Center for Afterschool Development in downtown Chicago.  ASP of New Jersey City Leader Gloria Strickland and National Board Member Doug Balder (Principal Consultant, Balder Architecture) joined the conversation to share the process and impact of the Scott Flamm Center for Afterschool Development and what it has meant for downtown Newark, as a hub for youth, business leaders, and the afterschool community.

The second breakout, “Let Teens Develop”, was an active, hands-on workshop led by Tiffany Jones and Meghan Coen, DSY Program Manager for the All Stars Project of Chicago.  Participants explored their role as directors of young people’s performances and how they can provide youth with new ways of managing the emotional difficulties of their lives.  The workshop included activities, games, and discussion.

The conference concluded with all attendees creating a performance piece based on their experiences throughout the day.  They were asked to perform what inspired, challenged, or enlightened them during the conference.

Members of the Afterschool Development Working Group worked closely with David Cherry in convening the conference.  The Working Group is a self-organized group of afterschool, education, civic, and non-profit leaders and practitioners partnering to strengthen the voice and impact of afterschool in Chicago.  The group meets every other month in downtown Chicago, with the next meeting happening on Wednesday, January 24 at 9:30am at Grant Thornton (161 N Clark, 12^th Floor).  For more information, contact David Cherry at dcherry@allstars.org or (312) 994-3100.