Jannette Adams, senior development officer and grants administrator at Mississippi Valley State University, has been named one of 15 Afterschool Ambassadors by the Afterschool Alliance, a Washington-based nonprofit that aims to expand access to afterschool programs.
As an ambassador, Adams will receive communications, advocacy and media training to work as a spokesperson on the importance of afterschool programs.
Adams will also organize public events and communicate with policy makers to foster support for afterschool programming in Mississippi.
A 2014 study commissioned by the Afterschool Alliance found that participation in afterschool programs has reached upwards of 10 million students nationwide.
The study also found that for every student participating in afterschool programming, there are two more whose parents would like to enroll them in an afterschool program but do not have access to one.
“I am excited to be part of the Afterschool Alliance’s work to increase resources for afterschool programs across the county,” said Adams. “I’ve seen firsthand how afterschool programs give students opportunities to explore their interests and discover their passions, while giving parents the peace of mind that comes with knowing that their children are safe and supervised, with engaging, educational activities, after the school day ends.”
Adams, who developed an afterschool science, technology, engineering and math program in Columbus, is currently working on an afterschool consortium made up of MVSU, the Boys & Girls Club and Leflore County school district. The program will serve 100 students and focus on developing elementary-level reading skill.
• Contact Nick Rogers at 581-7235 or nrogers@gwcommonwealth.com.
