Last week I took a friend and colleague to see a teen program in Chicago. Describing After School Matters as a teen program is a bit like calling Saarinen a builder or Lake Michigan a pond. There are 10,000 Chicago teens in programs this summer, with more participating after school during the fall and spring for a total of over 20,000 participants.

With Chief of Strategy and Staff, Melissa Mister

I’ve known my friend for four years or so, and I’ve encouraged him to do this trip with me for more than a year. He finally committed several weeks ago and held fast to that commitment. We stopped at programs in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood and in the Loop at Gallery 37. Teens danced, sang, programmed, and developed games. They wrote, cut tiles, and planned bike trips. We saw them rehearsing, leading, painting, and cooking.

At each program stop we made, we were introduced to their work by the program ambassadors for the day – teens designated to greet visitors, give brief descriptions, and answer any questions. They gave their names and asked ours; they knew their stuff.

This past May was my 23^rd anniversary of working with ASM as a consultant and coach. During that time, I have worked with four executives and many officers of the organization. They continue to amaze me by instilling in teens confidence that is too often robbed from young people by policies, practices, and publicity that position teens as problems instead of assets, as unwilling learners instead of talented teachers.

On the way back to Milwaukee, my colleague confessed that his mind was blown by the experience. His depth of knowledge about adolescents and his years of working with them didn’t prepare him for After School Matters. Little can. You have to see it to believe it.

As I approach my 75^th birthday in a week, I hope you will consider joining me in supporting the work of ASM with gift of any size.