Nearly 2,000 people, mostly elementary school students, marched around Boston Common last night in the Lights On After School Parade, an effort by the Parents United for Child Care to highlight the importance of after-school programs.
The event was sponsored by several organizations, including the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and the WCVB-TV Channel 5’s ‘Keeping Kids on Track’ program. It began at 2 p.m. with a showcase of several after-school programs and culminated with the parade later in the evening. Local comedian Jimmy Tingle served as the master of ceremonies.
The main objective of the gathering was to convince state legislators not to cut funding for after-school programs.
Caroline Shaw, a spokesperson for KKOT, said after-school programs are in jeopardy because ‘[Acting] Governor Swift says we will have to make painful cuts in our yearly budget to make up for this year’s deficit.’
As the state budget is worked out, several state services may be severely affected by budget cuts, several government officials have said over the past few months.
Mary Kay Leonard, chief operating officer of the United Way, emphasized several reasons after-school programs are so important.
‘After-school programs improve academic achievement,’ Kay said. ‘They also reduce the crime rate and support parents who work.’
Executive Producer of KKOT, Elizabeth Chang, concurred with Leonard.
‘There are approximately 220,000 students in Massachusetts between the ages of eight and 16 who go home alone,’ Chang said.
Jim Smith, a parent of a Somerville student enrolled in the Healy School, is a firm believer that after-school programs not only enrich the lives of children but also maintain their safety.
‘They are good because you always know where [the children] are,’ Smith said. His son is in the African Drum program that performed during yesterday’s events.
Elizabeth Agneta, a sixth grader at the Healy School who is also in the African Drum Ensemble, said she became interested in the program last year because it was fun.
According to Chang, creating fun programs in which kids will want to participate will only be possible if state legislators take genuine notice of the cause and avoid cutting the budgets of such programs.
If cuts are made, ‘communities are going to have to come together,’ said Jane Feinberg, project manager for KKOT. In addition, she said many programs will need the aid of private organizations.
Although there is a lack of consensus as to how budget cuts will effect specific programs, Swift, in a statewide proclamation announced by one of her representatives, said ‘Quality after-school programs are a critical link to promoting the adult lives of children.’
After-school programs are essential and should be available to every child who wants to be involved, said President and CEO of the United Way of Mass Bay, Marian Heard.
‘Every child here is important,’ Heard said. ‘Every child has a chance to be successful in life.’