After School Matters® Applications Now Open For Paid Apprenticeship Programs and Internships!
Michael Crowley, ASM Communications Director
Published: August 11, 2015
Media Contact:
Michael Crowley
Communications Director
312-239-5233
michael.crowley@afterschoolmatters.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 11, 2015
Program photos available for download here
Applications Now Open for Chicago High School Teens Seeking
Paid Apprenticeship Programs and Internships with After School Matters®
Approximately 7,000 program opportunities available to Chicago teens this fall
CHICAGO—After School Matters is now accepting applications for its Fall program cycle. More than 300 programs in the arts, communications, science, sports and technology will be offered beginning the week of September 28 at more than 70 Chicago public high schools, Chicago Park District, Chicago Public Library and community-based organization locations throughout the city as well as downtown at the Gallery 37 Center for the Arts. Teens can search and apply for Fall programs online at afterschoolmatters.org. In total, approximately 7,000 paid apprenticeship and internship will be available to Chicago high school teens this fall through After School Matters. Fall programs will meet approximately three days a week for three hours per day over the course of 10 weeks. Participating teens will be eligible to earn a stipend of between $275 and $425 (depending on the program level), and interns can earn $10.00 per hour.
“As teens and families throughout the City get ready for the school year to start, After School Matters aims to support the numerous interests of our teens by offering programs that expand upon what they learn in the classroom,” said Mary Ellen Caron, chief executive officer of After School Matters. “With programs all over the city, in a variety of content areas, every teen has the opportunity to develop their passions and skill sets, which helps them succeed in school now while preparing them for college and a career.”
After School Matters’ unique programs offer teens an opportunity to explore and develop their talents, while gaining critical skills for work, college and beyond. Multiple independent studies and recent data have confirmed that teens who participate in After School Matters programs have fewer course failures, improved attendance and higher high school graduation rates.
A few of the innovative programs offered throughout the city this fall include:
Advanced Video Production – Tech
Location: Gallery 37 Center for the Arts,Loop
In Advanced Video Production, teens learn all the skills needed to make their own short movies, including script writing, editing and operating video cameras. After learning those skills, teens pitch ideas for their own short films, then write scripts, act, shoot, direct and edit to bring their visions to life.
Fashion Forward: The Beverly Center Arts Apprenticeship – Arts
Location: Harlan Community Academy High School, Roseland
In this apprenticeship, teens use fashion as self-expression, learning how to create a garment from start to finish. Garments made by students are modeled in a culminating runway showcase. In addition, teens learn about global fashion trends and career paths in the fashion industry.
Growing Power: Growing Food and Community Through Urban Farming – Science
Location: Seward Park,Near North Side
Teens in this program grow organic vegetables, herbs and flowers to better understand how to develop sustainable food systems. In addition to hands-on instruction at the farm, participants will explore the science behind farming and take part in nutrition, hunger, cooking food justice and food politics activities.
In the Forensics Lab – Science
Location: Foreman High School, Portage Park
Teens discover what it’s like to work as a forensic scientist through hands-on learning with professionals from the Illinois State Police Department. Topics covered include fingerprinting, biology and DNA, and how the local justice department works with forensic specialists.
MAVReC – Tech
Location: Alternatives, Inc.,Uptown
This program will explore topics relevant to teens today, such as media representation, gender expectations, street harassment, conflict and more. Participants will learn how to use their new knowledge to make their community a better place.
Ring Leaders – Sports
Location: Chicago Youth Boxing Club,South Lawndale
Ring Leaders prepares teens to become amateur boxing youth coaches, instructors and officials by teaching them the physical and professional components of the sport. After learning coaching techniques, methods of group management and sports instruction, teens create their own lesson plans to run weekly practicum sessions for youth in the community aged six to 12.
Second City Improv Comedy Leaders – Gallery
Location: Bronzeville Scholastic Institute, Grand Boulevard
The legendary Second City offers a 10-week apprenticeship that teaches teens to use voice, body, music and personal stories as an ensemble to create characters and funny scenes to empower their lives today and for the future.
Urban WE-COLOGY – Science
Location: George Washington High School, East Side
The Urban WE-COLOGY project aims to strengthen the understanding and appreciation of the symbiotic relationship between people in society and nature. Students in the program are exposed to various careers associated with urban ecology and educated to become leaders in their communities for environmental justice.
Teens can search and apply for Fall programs at afterschoolmatters.org. All After School Matters programs are free and open to Chicago teen residents who are at least 14 years of age (16 years of age for internships) and who are entering or currently enrolled in high school. Teens who have been in After School Matters for three or more sessions will be given priority consideration for internships. As part of the application process, teens interview with program instructors to discuss and present their skills and interests. Chicago teens are encouraged to apply early, as program opportunities fill up quickly. For questions about programs and applications, call 312-742-4182 or email applications@afterschoolmatters.org.
For more information, visit www.afterschoolmatters.org. Follow After School Matters on Twitter at @aftrschoolmttrs, on Facebook at facebook.com/afterschoolmatters, on YouTube at youtube.com/aftrschoolmttrs and on Instagram at AfterSchoolMatters.
About After School Matters
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 course of our history, 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.
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