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Advocacy

Nearly 200 teens participate in a peace march through the East Garfield Park neighborhood while carrying flags they created during summer 2018.

Since 1991, After School Matters has provided life-changing after-school and summer opportunities for teens in Chicago’s most under-resourced and underserved communities. All of our programs share the goal of helping our teens reach their full potential by providing opportunities to learn directly from positive mentors who are professionals in their fields.

Our Outcomes

After School Matters programs are proven to have four major outcomes for participating teens.

Teens are engaged in their after-school program.

The average daily attendance rate for teens attending After School Matters programs was 93%, compared to the national average daily attendance rate of 75%.

Teens are prepared for life after school.

  • 90% of our high school seniors graduated in 2018, while the statewide graduation rate for low-income students is 80%.
  • 66% of After School Matters 12th graders had enrolled in college by the fall following their graduation, compared to 58% of school-based peers.

Teens develop 21st century skills.

84% of After School Matters teens reported gains in professional skills from the beginning to the end of their program. Skills include leadership, teamwork, problem solving, public speaking, and receiving constructive feedback. The largest improvements were in leadership, teamwork, and public speaking skills.

Teens are safe and supported in their programs.

  • 92% of our teens report they feel safe in our programs.
  • 91% of our teens say their instructors show concern for their well-being.
  • 83% of our teens feel that other teens in their program make them feel like they belong.

Our Priorities

At After School Matters, we advocate on behalf of teenagers all across the city of Chicago. Our teens come from diverse backgrounds and care about many of the issues that impact their lives and our city.

Youth safety and violence prevention

We know that many teens in our programs have encountered violence in their communities. We continue to give youth a place to be safe and engaged after school and during the summer while empowering teens to create peace in their communities through our anti-violence initiative programs.


Diversity, inclusion, and access

We’re committed to providing safe, accessible spaces for all teens, regardless of gender, ability, or citizenship status.


Youth voice and civic engagement

We empower teens to find their voice though our programs, and we want to help them speak about the issues that matter to them on the ballot.


Youth development

Creating opportunities for teens to build skills, engage their community, reflect on changes, and realize their growth is the heart of what we do.

Become an After School Matters Advocate

If you believe, like we do, that our teens are our future, we encourage you to advocate for Chicago’s youth by voicing your support for continued After School Matters program opportunities to your pastors and faith leaders, block clubs, community schools, and elected officials. Our goal is to prepare our young people for success during their high school years and beyond, and we must ensure sustained public funding and support to do so.

As an After School Matters Advocate, you will:

  • Support more than 18,000 Chicago teenagers as they learn, develop, and reach their potential.
  • Strengthen communities across the city.
  • Keep our young people safe.
  • Let teens know they matter.
Advocate today

Use our sample script to tell your elected offical what After School Matters means to you.

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Teens
MATTER

66 East Randolph Street

Chicago, IL 60601

(312) 742-4182

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