Summit to promote afterschool activities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: |
Contact: Joe McQuillen |
SUMMIT TO PROMOTE AFTERSCHOOL OPPORTUNITIES
Roseville - Afterschool advocates, state government and public safety officials, and business leaders will meet at the Amherst. H. Wilder Foundation in Saint Paul on Thursday, May 1 to discuss greater support for youth after school.
The Governor’s Afterschool Opportunities Summit will promote high-quality afterschool learning opportunities for Minnesota students. Governor Pawlenty will welcome participants from around Minnesota to the daylong event.
“Research has shown that students participating in afterschool learning opportunities have better attendance, higher academic performance and more positive attitudes about school and learning, “ Governor Pawlenty said. “This summit will focus on how we can improve afterschool programs for Minnesota students.”
In addition to Governor Pawlenty, speakers at the summit will include Erika L. Binger, McKnight Foundation Board Chair; Robert Bruininks, University of Minnesota President; Mark Hugo Lopez, Pew Hispanic Center Associate Director; and Deborah Lowe Vandell, University of California, Irvine. Two panels of local and state leaders will speak about how they can contribute to the overall goal.
“It is critical that government, nonprofit and private sector resources are leveraged to help support meaningful afterschool learning opportunities for Minnesota youth,” says Laura LaCroix-Dalluhn, Youth Community Connections Executive Director. “Afterschool learning programs can be a critically important element of workforce development for the state’s economy.”
This event is not open to the public, however press access is possible. Contact Laura LaCroix-Dalluhn for event information at 612.627.0161 or laura@youthcommunityconnections.org.
Sponsoring organizations include:
Minnesota Department of Education -- http://education.state.mn.us
National Governor’s Association -- http://www.nga.org
The McKnight Foundation -- http://www.mcknight.org
University of Minnesota Extension -- http://www.extension.umn.edu/youth
Greater Twin Cities United Way -- http://www.unitedwaytwincities.org
Amherst H. Wilder Foundation -- http://www.wilder.org
Youth Community Connections -- http://www.youthcommunityconnections.org
# # #
MDE E-mail Updates