Afterschool Videos

Students learn financial and engineering skills as well as personal responsibility in the Tolleson Elementary School District’s 21st Century Community Learning Center summer program:

Faridodin "Fredi" Lajvardi is the co-founder of the Carl Hayden High School Falcon Robotics afterschool program in Phoenix, a hands-on program that allows students to engage in high-level engineering and robotics construction and competition. The program has been recognized nationally for its enormous success and undeniable impact on the lives of the youth that participate and their success stories are growing each year. Lajvardi was also the Keynote Speaker for the 2010 Arizona Afterschool Conference on November 20th, discussing the value of hands-on STEM learning in afterschool programming. Learn more about Lajvardi and the Falcon Robotics program by watching this video:

One Man’s Musical Mission

Gustavo Dudamel, conductor of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, changes the lives of children and youth with the magic of music! The 29 year-old native Venezuelan leads an afterschool music education program for over 300 children in South LA that seeks to develop extraordinary human beings by empowering children to not only learn new musical skills, but to be responsible and self-motivated individuals. 

Watch this inspirational clip from the CBS 60 Minutes feature on Dudamel's program...
 

The Expressions of Love afterschool program in Phoenix is based on the idea that through the practice of the fine arts, children learn essential life skills that the current education system tends to neglect. In the process, they find their own voice and creative expression. Ages five through seventeen, the participating children generally hail from low income neighborhoods. "Reality is that they may not be able to change their surroundings, but they are in charge of how they react," said Shelise Natae, founder of Expressions of Love.

Currently, Expressions of Love is held at facilities such as the Boys and Girls Clubs as well as schools and churches that donate their space; however, one day Shelise hopes to have her own site. Although Expressions of Love is challenged by financial barriers, her vision of the future includes deepening the scope of their influence. Committed to picking up where other institutions have left off, Shelise is giving Phoenix children the confidence and strength to speak up.

Take a look at this Know 99 Television video about the Expressions of Love afterschool program: