Site Visits Completed

Special Commission Members Visit the United Teen Equality Center on September 18, 2007 and the Gregg Neigborhood House and Girls Inc. of Lynn on September 20, 2007.







The Massachusetts Special Commission had the pleasure of visiting 10 different afterschool programs throughout the Commonwealth as part of its public hearing process. Special Commission members had the opportunity to talk to afterschool providers as well as children and youth to learn more about their successes and challenges.

The programs that were visited are as follows:

•Pittsfield, May 1, Silvio O. Conte Community School
•Worcester, May 8, Boys and Girls Club of Worcester
•Framingham, May 29, MetroWest YMCA High Flight Program
•Quincy, June 7, South Shore Day Care s Atlantic Afterschool Program
•Dartmouth, July 19, Sgt. William Carney Academy
•Barnstable, September 11, Barnstable’s Recreation Dept. Afterschool Program
•Lawrence, September 18, United Teen Equality Center (UTEC)
•Lynn, September 20, Gregg Neighborhood House
•Lynn, September 20, Girls Incorporated of Lynn
•Boston, September 25, Roxbury Prep Charter School’s Enrichment Program

Thanks to all the programs who hosted members of the Special Commission. A lot was learned that will enhance the Special Commission's report when released later this fall.

Dartmouth Public Hearing a Success!

Co-Chairs Senator Thomas McGee and Representative Marie St. Fleur are joined by Representatives Alice Wolf and Patricia Haddad and Commission Member Gwynn Hughes at UMass Dartmouth for a hearing on how children and youth spend their time when not in school on Thursday, July 19th.

The Massachusetts Special Commission on After School and Out of School Time's sixth public hearing was a great success. Held in at UMASS-Dartmouth on Thursday, July 19th, over 40 people attended representing youth, parents, community-based providers, public education, and public safety perspectives on this critical issue to children, youth and families.

Co-Chairs Senator Thomas McGee and Representative Marie St.Fleur convened the hearing and were joined by Representative Alice Wolf, a member of the Commission and Representative Patricia Haddad, the House Chair on Education. Additional Commission members in attendance were: Gwynn Hughes of MAP, Joseph Gillis Jr. of the MA Association of School Committees, Fran Barrett representing Commissioner Ann Reale of EEC, Associate Commissioner Sally Fogerty of DPH, Deborah Kneeland of MADCA, Ben Lummis of Mass2020, Michael Cahill of the YMCA's of MA, and Dr. Deborah Dancy of the MA Association of Elementary School Principals.

Prior to the public hearing, members of the Special Commission toured the afterschool program held at the Sgt. William H. Carney Memorial Academy in New Bedford. The Academy serves 150 children in afterschool programs during 5 weeks during the summer months. Members of the Special Commission viewed an arts-based afterschool program taught by Brick by Brick - one of the many community-based partners that NorthStar Learning Centers uses with funding from the 21st Century federal grant program. A special thanks to Bob French, the Director of Policy and Program Development of NorthStar Learning Centers, Asst. Superintendent Karen Treadup, and Patty McGrath, Executive Director of Brockton's Get on Base for arranging the site visit for Special Commission members.

The public hearing was covered by the New Bedford Times and the Fall River Herald News. The hearing was also taped by DCTV-18, New Bedford's Community Access Channel.

The remaining four public hearings for the Special Commission will be held in the fall on September 11, 13, 20 and 25 at locations to be announced.