We’re proud to launch Across the Network, our new blog celebrating the stories, impact, and innovation happening throughout the After-School All-Stars network. Whether it’s student achievements, staff milestones, or program highlights, this is your go-to snapshot of what’s happening across the All-Stars community.

For our first feature, we’re excited to highlight Youth Leadership Week—a time dedicated to recognizing the power of young voices and leadership in action.

 

✨ Youth Leadership Week: Empowering Our All-Stars

At After-School All-Stars, youth leadership means giving young people real opportunities to lead, influence decisions, and contribute to the growth of their peers and programs. It’s about empowering students to build confidence, practice responsibility, and develop skills like communication, problem-solving, and teamwork.

Youth leadership can look like:

• Leading group activities or workshops
• Planning events or service projects
• Mentoring younger participants
• Serving on a youth advisory board
• Providing feedback to improve programming

We strive to create spaces where students feel heard, valued, and capable—where leadership is not just taught, but lived.

 

✍️ Reflection from the Field
By Guillermo Escobar, National Director of Programs

“Throughout our chapters, I’ve witnessed countless students stepping up and taking on leadership roles—leading activities, planning service projects, mentoring peers, and driving change within their programs.

It’s inspiring to see young leaders not only learning skills but putting them into action, creating a ripple effect that impacts their schools and communities. When we invest in youth leadership, we’re not just preparing students for the future—we’re empowering them to shape it, today.”

 

📣 Leadership in Action: Stories Across the Network

Recently, we held live focus groups with members of our Youth Advisory Boards (YABs) to hear directly from students about their leadership journeys. Here’s what they had to say about how the experience of being a YAB member has shaped them:

These reflections are a reminder: when students are empowered to lead, they don’t just participate—they inspire change in their communities.

 

🚀 Stay Connected

Across the country, the next generation of All-Star leaders is emerging—passionate, bold, and ready to create change.

Stay tuned for more inspiring stories Across the Network as we celebrate the people and programs empowering youth beyond the bell.