Close to 200,000 teens call Chicago their home. These teens are at the core of everything After School Matters does.

 

Teens have a lot of choices to make throughout the day.

These choices include what to do with their time once the school day is done, or even whether to go to school in the first place. The choices each teen makes throughout the day determines what type of person they will become – what kind of student, friend, family member, neighbor – and what role they will play in the future of this city and out society. That’s a lot of responsibility on top of the many challenges our teens face every day.

Braylyn is one of those teens.

Braylyn found her passion for interviewing people and learning their stories when she participated in the True Star Editorial program.

Braylyn participated in the True Star Editorial program which produces a quarterly magazine geared towards urban youth between the ages of 12-21. She knew she always loved writing so she applied and was accepted to this communications program. “I never knew how much I loved interviewing people until I joined this After School Matters program. Talking with people and uncovering their stories is so fascinating to me,” she said. After high school, Braylyn plans to attend college to study journalism and communications, much like her sister who inspired her passion for writing when she participated in the True Star program.

You can find your future with After School Matters, too.

Applications are currently open for Summer 2018 programs. Visit our Apply page to learn more about the application process, or click here to browse through our full list of programs.