Deadline Approaching for After School Matters Proposals

Lee Edwards | As of Wednesday, October 22, 2014

On Oct. 8, After School Matters (ASM) released its annual Request for Proposals (RFP) which provides the guidelines and pertinent information to independent contractors and community organizations who are interesting in to conducting after-school and summer programs for Chicago’s youth, through the ASM network. The deadline to respond is submit Nov. 7, 2015.

After School Matters is a non-profit organization that offers Chicago high school teens innovative out-of-school activities through science, sports, tech, words and the nationally recognized Gallery programs, according to the organization's website.

After School Matters programs are developed and delivered through a network of public and private partnerships, including Chicago Public Schools (CPS), the Chicago Park District (CPD), the Chicago Public Library (CPL) and a wide range of community organizations. These programs will be provided by more than 750 instructors.

"After School Matters is regularly building a network of skilled professionals and community organizations to develop and deliver quality programs to teens throughout Chicago," said Mary Ellen Caron, Chief Executive Officer of After School Matters. "By supporting teens' development of skills in a variety of content areas, as well as essential career readiness skills, After School Matters helps Chicago youth discover their potential and find their future."

After School Matters offers paid opportunities to teens through two program models:

Apprenticeships, in which teens work alongside talented professionals in safe, structured environments to develop hands-on skills in their areas of practice, as well college and career readiness skills

Internships, which are specialized opportunities for skilled teens to work directly with local organizations and businesses

After School Matters delivers these opportunities through three program cycles: Summer 2015, Fall 2015 and Spring 2016.

After School Matters offers professional development and training opportunities for program providers to develop and enhance their ability to engage teens, as well as to support enrichment skills such as relationship-building, conflict resolution and more.

After School Matters provides Chicago high school teens with high quality, out-of-school time opportunities to explore and develop their talents while gaining critical skills for work, college and beyond. Over the past two decades, more than 200,000 teens have participated in our hands-on, project-based after-school and summer programs in the arts, communications, science, sports and technology. Programs take place at locations throughout the city including Chicago public high schools, Chicago Park District and Chicago Public Library locations, community-based organizations and Downtown at the Gallery 37 Center for the Arts.

For more than two decades, After School Matters has offered Chicago high school teens high quality out-of-school time opportunities in the arts, communications, science, sports and technology that allow them to explore and develop their talents, while gaining critical skills for work, college and beyond. It is the largest provider of high quality after-school and summer programs for high school students in the nation, creating 22,000 opportunities annually for Chicago teens, of whom 97 percent are minority and 86 percent are living at or below the federal poverty level.

For more information visit http://afterschoolmatters.org/index.php.

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