>> ADVOCATES FOR AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS ARE SOUNDING THE ALARM.

THEY SAY AS MANY AS 40,000 STUDENTS IN ILLINOIS COULD LOSE ACCESS TO TUTORING SERVICES, RE CREATION AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.

IF LAWMAKERS DON'T APPROVE FUNDING.

THE ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION DISTRIBUTES THIS FUNDING AND GRANTS ARE MADE IN 3 OR FIVE-YEAR CYCLES.

BUT IN 2003, THE AGENCY MISCALCULATED.

HOW MUCH MONEY WAS AVAILABLE AND APPROVED MORE GRANTS THAN THE STATE COULD A FORT.

JOINING US NOW TO TALK ABOUT THE POTENTIAL IMPACT OUR.

SUSAN STANTON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF AFTERSCHOOL CHILDREN AND TEENS ALSO KNOWN AS ACT.

NOW, STEPHANIE GOT TO SEE A DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS AT THE BRIGHTON PARK NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL AND ERIC WORDS, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE SCHOOL'S INITIATIVE OF YMCA OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US.

I GUESS MY MY FIRST QUESTION RIGHT AWAY AS HOUCK HAS HAPPENED AND SUSAN, I WANT TO GO TO YOU.

WHAT SHOULD PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT WHAT'S AT RISK FOR DOZENS OF PROGRAMS?

ACTUALLY HUNDREDS OF PROGRAMS AT THIS POINT WHAT THAT RISK IS THAT STARTING ON JUNE 30TH 2024.

>> WE'RE GOING TO SEE FUNDING COMPLETELY CUT OFF TO HUNDREDS OF PROGRAMS ACROSS THE STATE.

AND THAT MEANS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE FUNDING TO PAY STAFF.

THEY DON'T HAVE FUNDING TO KEEP SITES OPEN IN BUILDINGS OPEN AND THERE WON'T BE SOMEWHERE SAFE FOR CHILDREN TO GO IN THE AFTER SCHOOL HOURS AND DURING THE SUMMER AND IS A NETWORK COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS LOCAL YMCA CHAPTERS AND BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB.

CAN YOU TELL ME A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT WHICH AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS COULD LOSE THEIR FUNDING AND HOW MANY STUDENTS AND STAFF COULD BE IMPACTED.

>> SO THIS IS A STATEWIDE PROGRAM THAT'S ACTUALLY FUNDED TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT CALLED 21ST CENTURY COMMUNITY, LEARNING CENTER'S.

>> AND THE SITES THAT ARE AT ISSUE, THERE'S ABOUT 300 STATEWIDE THAT SERVE ABOUT 40,000 YOUTH.

WE'RE LOOKING ABOUT 2000 STAFF STATEWIDE THAT WILL END UP BEING IMPACTED.

A LOT OF STUDENTS.

STEPHANIE, I WANT TO GO TO WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SERVICES AT BRIGHTON PARK NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCIL PROVIDES THROUGH THE AFTER AFTER PROGRAM.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK ON THIS PRESSING AT THE MOMENT, WE SERVICE 1500 STUDENTS, 400 PARENTS.

SO THEY ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED THROUGHOUT THE SCHOOL YEAR IN THE SUMMER.

IN THE SUMMER WE SERVICE CLOSE TO 2000.

WE WE SEE A LOT OF STUDENTS THAT ARE COMING IN TO RECEIVE THE SERVICES FOR ACADEMIC SUPPORT FOR ENRICHMENT FOR SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL LEARNING AS WELL.

WE HAVE INSTRUCTORS THE TIME TEACHERS THAT ARE SEEING AN EXTRA HOUR TO SUPPORT THE STUDENTS.

AND WE ALSO HAVE ADDITIONAL SUPPORT STAFF FROM THE SCHOOL THAT PROVIDES WE HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS AND FAMILIES SAID REALLY RELY ON US FOR DAY CARE 4 REALLY SELF-DISCOVERY.

WE HAVE A LOT OF STUDENTS THAT HAVE A HARD TIME IN THE CLASSROOM.

SO BURNING THE MATERIAL AND UNFORTUNATELY, DAYTIME IS NOT ENOUGH MYSELF.

I BENEFIT FROM AFTER SCHOOL WHEN I WAS YOUNGER STUDENTS.

YOU KNOW, THE PRESSURE OF UNDERSTANDING THE MATERIAL WHEN YOU ONLY SPEAK SPANISH, THIS HATCHED ABOUT THIS THESE ARE PROGRAMS ARE DEFINITELY NEED IN THE COMMUNITY.

ABSOLUTELY.

TALKING A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THAT.

WHAT WOULD YOU SHARE?

SOME OF THE NEGATIVE EFFECTS SECOND HAVING A CHILD OR FAMILY IF THESE PROGRAMS ARE CUT?

>> WELL, A LOT OF OUR PARENTS HAVE MORE THAN ONE JOB RATE SO THAT IT'S CRUCIAL FOR US TO HAVE A PLACE FOR THEM TO BE SAFE BETWEEN AFTER SCHOOL HOURS AND A LOT.

LIKE I SAID, A LOT OF THESE PROGRAMS OFFER KIDS A MIX SUPPORT.

SO A LOT OF THE STUDENTS THAT AREN'T YEAH, GRADE POINT AVERAGE.

THIS IS A PLACE FOR THEM TO GET THAT ADDITIONAL SUPPORT THEY ARE AT RISK OF NOT BEING I'M ABLE TO PASS TO THE NEXT GRADE LEVEL THEY WERE GOING TO BRING YOU IN.

THE YMCA HAS SEVERAL SITES AS WELL.

CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT WHERE WE'RE AT THIS PROCESS AND HOW DOES IT ALSO YMCA PROGRAM?

AND AND AGAIN, THANK YOU FOR HAVING >> SO THE YMCA MUCH FOR CHICAGO, WE HAVE COMMUNITY SCHOOL SITES IN THE CITY.

>> ALL IN THE MOST UNDER RESOURCED COMMUNITIES IN THE CITY.

I THINK THAT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT TO WE SERVE SO FAR.

THIS JUST THE SCHOOL YEAR ACROSS ALL OF OUR SCHOOL SITES.

WE'VE SERVED ABOUT 3100 STUDENTS AND 2000 ADULTS AND ABOUT 95% OF THOSE STUDENTS ARE STUDENTS OF COLOR.

AND ABOUT 91% OF THEM ARE LOW INCOME.

WE ARE COMMUNITIES SUCH AS WORLD'S LINE WEST GARFIELD PARK ENGLEWOOD, NEW CITY 22 SITE.

22 AND THE FUNDING DOESN'T COME WITH SOME SITES HAVE TO CLOSE.

THAT LOOKS SO AT THE END OF THE WE WOULD HAVE 7 OF OUR 22.

>> ALSO BASICALLY ABOUT A 3RD OF OUR PROGRAM THAT WOULD BE LOSING ITS JUST AT THOSE 7 SITES ALONE.

SINCE WE HAVE STARTED OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOLS.

WE'VE SERVED OVER 4,000 STUDENTS IN 1600 ADULTS.

SO THE WHOLE THAT IT WOULD LEAVE, YOU KNOW, IT TAKES A LONG TIME TO BUILD THESE PROGRAMS AND TO BUILD UP TRUST IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND YOU KNOW, BEFORE, YOU KNOW, IT, THESE COMMUNITIES REALLY DO COME TO RELY ON THESE PARTNERSHIPS FOR EVERYTHING THAT I'M SUSAN, STEPHANIE, OF TALK ABOUT THESE KINDS OF PROGRAMS.

AND SO TO JUST LEAVE THEM WITHOUT FUNDING BECAUSE A MASTERFUL AND ALL OF YOU HAVE MENTIONED THAT YOU WERE AT THE AFTER SCHOOL RALLY AT THE STATE IN SPRINGFIELD.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THIS EVENT AND WHY ARE YOU SO PASSIONATE?

>> BEING THERE?

YEAH, BECAUSE WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME AT THIS TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.

THE ONLY SOLUTION IS FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ALLOCATE FUNDING TO KEEP THESE PROGRAMS OPEN.

THERE'S NO OTHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FUNDING SOURCE AVAILABLE LARGE ENOUGH TO BE ABLE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AT THIS POINT.

SO THE TIME TO ACT FOR THEM IS RIGHT WE GATHER TOGETHER THAT DAY BECAUSE WE SEE THE URGENCY IN THIS.

WE KNOW THAT TIME IS RUNNING OUT TO GET INTO THE STATE BUDGET.

SO WE SAW AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS COME TOGETHER FROM ALL ACROSS THE STATE WITH OUR LEGISLATIVE CHAMPIONS TO RALLY TOGETHER FOR SUPPORT FOR THIS ESPECIALLY LOOKING AT SENATE BILL.

29 43, WHICH CHIEFLY SPONSORED BY SEN VALLEY AND STEPHANIE TALKING ABOUT THAT, WHAT HAS COMMUNICATION BEEN LIKE WITH ILLINOIS STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION DOLLAR?

IT'S BEEN VERY AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT LEAVES WONDERING WHAT THE NEXT STEPS ARE.

WE HAVE TO >> INTERNALLY DISCUSSED WHAT OUR NEXT STEPS WILL BE BECAUSE WE HAVE A COMMITMENT TO THESE FAMILIES AND WE CANNOT LEAVE THEM WITHOUT THESE RESOURCES.

HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THIS, THIS FAMILY'S?

WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE FOR THEM TO KNOW?

OKAY, MAYBE THAT THIS PROGRAM IS NOT GOING TO BE OFFERED HERE?

WELL, WE HAVE A LOT OF PARENTS THAT ARE READY TO FIGHT.

THEY REALLY CARE ABOUT THESE PROGRAMS EXTREMELY BENEFICIAL FOR THEM AS A WHOLE, NOT JUST FOR THE STUDENTS.

THEY ARE EXTREMELY COMMITTED AND THEY ARE WORKING WITH US WITH THESE DEMANDS.

AS CAN SEE ACTION.

WE HAD A LOT OF PARENTS BECAUSE THEY SHARED THAT IT'S NOT HELPFUL FOR THEIR STUDENTS.

IT'S BEEN EXTREMELY HELPFUL FOR THEMSELVES.

AND ERIC, WHY IS IT IMPORTANT FOR THE STATE TO ACT NOW?

>> AS WE 15,000 STUDENTS IN CHICAGO, 40,000 STUDENTS STATEWIDE CRITICAL AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMMING.

WE KNOW HOW AT-RISK STUDENTS CAN BE DURING HOURS OF BETWEEN 03:00PM AND 06:00PM.

ALL THE NEGATIVE OUTCOMES, POTENTIAL VICTIMS OF AND SO THESE ARE SAFE SPACES, YOU KNOW, JUST AT A BEE-LINE, KNOW, FORGET EVEN ABOUT THE AMAZING PROGRAMMING PROVIDING JUST PROVIDING SAFE SPACES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE EVERY DAY.

MEAN, SO MUCH TO THOSE FAMILIES THAT YOU MENTIONED.

ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT YOU KNOW, PROVIDING THAT ENRICHMENT.

THOSE PROGRAMS, WHETHER IT BE CHESS OR DANCE OR THEATER OR MARTIAL ARTS WHERE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO SPARK A CHILD'S INTEREST IN MANY TIMES.

STUDENTS MAY NOT HAS ENGAGED IN SCHOOL DURING THE SCHOOL DAY AS ALSO MIGHT BE.

AND SO KIDS COME TO SCHOOL SO THAT THEY CAN COME TO AFTER SCHOOL.

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT WILL HAVE TIME FOR ONE LAST QUESTION SAYS WANT TO GO TO YOU.

WHAT ARE THE LAST WORDS WE WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW?

HOW CAN THEY JOIN?

>> RIGHT NOW WE NEED EVERYONE'S SUPPORT.

THIS NEEDS TO BE THE BUDGET PRIORITY.

NOT JUST A BUDGET PRIORITY.

WE'RE ASKING PARENTS USE COMMUNITY MEMBERS, ANYONE WHO'S EVER HAD FINDING AN AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM TO PLEASE CALL THEIR STATE REPRESENTATIVES AND SENATORS.

WE ALSO ACTION ALERT ON OUR WEBSITE.

WE REALLY NEED TO ECHO THE IMPORTANCE OF SAVING THE SERVICES FOR CHICAGO USE AND USE ALL AROUND THE STATE.

WILL.

THANK YOU ALL FOR JOINING US TODAY.

THANK YOU MUCH.

>> UP NEXT, BUILDING NEW HOMES AND GENERATIONAL WEALTH FOR SOME LOCAL FAMILIES.

WE EXPLAIN RIGHT AFTER THIS.

>> CHICAGO, TONIGHT'S COVERAGE