Lights on Afterschool

Welcome toLights On AfterSchool Workshop

Presenter: Jennifer BonnerAnd Alicia DeLaCruz Contact Information: Jbonner@battle-creek.k12.mi.us

Celebrating Afterschool Across America

Lights ON 2013 will take place on October 17th

3AgendaIntroductions

What is Lights On?

How to plan a great event

How to plan an effective advocacy event

4Begin Planning at Least 2 Months AheadFirst Month (August):Form your event team.Pick a theme.Select the date, time & best location.Find out if you will need a permit.Set the budget.Decide what activities/ entertainment will take place.Compile a list of community leaders, and partners that you plan to invite.Gather volunteers to help set up displays, work concession stands, etc(volunteers could be teachers, administrators, parents, etc)

5Planning Cont.Design the invitation using Lights on Afterschool artwork. Make sure to include: date, time, location, and RSVP instructions.Make sure you have contact information for everyone involved.Arrange for equipment, photographer, seating, greeters or ushers, restrooms, first aid supplies, decorations, entertainment etcRequest a proclamation from your mayor or city council.Register your program Online for your planning kit, which includes free posters.

www.afterschoolalliance.org

6Planning Cont.Second Month (September):Develop a list of reporters in your area.Update your guest listPick a backup date for outdoor events in case of inclement weather.Post signs and posters announcing the event.Mail invitations. Make follow-up phone calls to policy makers, community leaders, and others.Create an agenda.

7Planning Cont.Follow-up on invitations- Reconfirm attendance by policy makers, community partners, and others Update the agendaConfirm greeters, ushers, photographers etcUpdate RSVP list Write a news releaseGet a weather report for outdoor eventsCall media to ask if they will attend

8Breakout Session Part IGroup I: Plan an event that will be simple and not expensive

Group II: Plan an event that will incorporate some of the ideas in this presentation, but would not be overly expensive.

Group III: Plan an elaborate event that will focus on most of the ideas we covered in this presentation.

At this time lets have everyone breakout into three groups for 15 minutes

9The Day of Your Event:Go through agenda to make sure that you have everything in place.Set up stations for your community partners, or any other agency that will attend.Assign people to work stations.Set up decorations.Thank all policy makers, community partners, and all others for coming.Fax news release to media who did not attend.

CommunityFood

FriendsEntertainment

11After Your Event:Collect news clips on the event, tape any news programs that covered the event, and collect photos

Save news coverage for future uses fundraising, distribution, etc

12Breakout Session Part IIAdvocacyRemember when planning your event to ensure that youare connecting to your community, talking to individualsat the state level, and consistently campaigning toheighten awareness of after-school.

Lets break up into three groups for 15 minutes:Group I: Talk about advocacy at the local and community level Group II: Talk about advocacy at the state levelGroup III: Talk about advocacy at the federal level

13Questions to DiscussWhy is Lights On important in our after-school programming?

How do we build upon Lights On during the rest of the year?

14AfterSchool Alliance Website:The Afterschool Alliancehttp://www.afterschoolalliance.org/

Lights On Afterschool is a project of the Afterschool Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that all children have access to afterschool programs.Visit www.afterschoolalliance.org to see how you can help. The Alliance gratefully acknowledges the JCPenney Afterschool Fund, National Presenting Sponsor of Lights On Afterschool.

15Contact InformationJennifer Bonner, Project Director, Battle Creek Public Schools, 21st CCLC:JBonner@battle-creek.k12.mi.us

The Afterschool Alliance:http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/THANK YOU!

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