Captured Event

October, 23 2008 - St. Louis for Kids' "Lights On Afterschool!" Awards Luncheon

What: Recognition & Awards Luncheon

Where: Saint Louis Science Center

When: October 23, 2008

Time: 11:30 AM

Ticket Prices: $30.00 for YDPN Members; $40.00 for Non-Members

Beneficiary: St. Louis for Kids

EMCEE: Ronald Jackson

Executive Director: Jama Dodson

Staff: Jama Dodson, Executive Director; Timothy Fowler, Training & Technical Assistance Coordinator; Lydia Huston, Fund Development Coordinator; Ron Jackson, Assistant Executive Director; Katie Kaufmann, Fit4Fun Coordinator; Lois Langford, Administrative Coordinator; Marissa Paine, Project Director, Compassion Capital Fund; Rose Anderson-Rice, Assistant Project Director; Vickie Robinson, Office Coordinator

Speaker: Merita Irby, Forum for Youth Investment

Attendance: 200 People

Attire: Business Casual

Information: Vickie Robinson 314-241-0011

Board of Directors: Chair: Michael Mueller, President, Ameren Energy Fuels & Services Co.; Vice Chair: James Campbell, Jr., Senior V.P., Sales & Marketing, Peabody Coalsales Co.; Treasurer: Rosella J. Wamser, Ph.D., Regional Superintendent, St. Clair County (retired); Secretary: Bruce Reppert, Assistant United States Attorney, Department of Justice; MEMBERS: Patrick Banger, Senior Vice President, Schaeffer Homes; Dena Ladd, It’s My Party Too; Bahi Okupa, Community Volunteer; Donn Rubin, Executive Director, Coalition for Plant and Life Sciences; Glen Slay, President, Cahokia Marine Services, Slay Industries; Deck Slone, V.P., Investor and Public Relations, Arch Coal, Inc. Les Sterman, Executive Director, East-West Gateway Council of Governments; John Urkevich, Executive Director, Cooperating School Districts; Frank Van Bree, President, UrbanFUTURE; David Vincent, Circuit Judge, State of Missouri; George White, Jr., Pastor, West End Mt. Carmel Full Gospel Church.

Blacktie Photos by: Harry R. Bean

Doug King, Saint Louis Science Center, president; Ron Jackson, St. Louis for Kids, assistant director; James Buford, Urban League of St. Louis, president
View all photos

St. Louis for Kids' "Lights On Afterschool!" Awards Luncheon

Lights On Afterschool! is an annual, nationwide event that calls attention to the importance of afterschool programs for America's children, families and communities. This year, nearly 7500 communities will participate.

Locally, St. Louis for Kids, the Afterschool for All Partnership (ASAP) and the Saint Louis Science Center celebrated by hosting the Lights On Afterschool! Recognition & Awards Luncheon on Thursday, October 23, 2008 at the Science Center. Guests included youth-program providers, educators, public officials, faith and business leaders.  Merita Irby with the Forum for Youth Investment in Washington D.C. was the guest speaker.

The Afterschool Quality Initiative (AQI) helps afterschool programs achieve measurable program improvements through a structured process consisting of an initial assessment, a quality improvement plan and on-site consultation.

The Afterschool for All Partner (ASAP), led by St. Louis for Kids and ARCHS (Area Resources for Community and Human Services) is creating a coordinated system of afterschool programs in the City of St. Louis. With public and private funders and youth services agencies, ASAP will significantly increase the availability of high quality programs. 

St. Louis for Kids grew out of community efforts to address the problems of youth violence and delinquency. Founded originally in 1996 as the Regional Violence Initia tive, Inc., the St. Louis for Kids name and mission were adopted in 2000. St. Louis 2004 played a key role in forming St. Louis for Kids after its citizen forums identified strong afterschool programs as critical to addressing the issue of youth violence. St. Louis for Kids was charged with meeting a pressing need for a central afterschool resource to provide information, technical assistance and advocacy.

Every child who needs it will have access to a safe, high quality program during non-school hours.

St. Louis for Kids provides leadership, coordination, technical assistance and advocacy to the region's youth-serving organizations focused on improving the quality, accessibility and sustainability of non-school hour programs so that our youth have the opportunity to achieve their full potential and grow into healthy adults.