Event at Shawnee Park Center today celebrates after-school programs

The Boys and Girls Club of Cape Girardeau will hold a special event today at the Shawnee Park Center as part of a national event to recognize the importance of after-school programs.

The event is open to the public from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Lights On Afterschool Day encourages communities to turn on lights in homes and schools between 3 and 6 p.m. to symbolize support of safe learning environments following the regular school day. Many communities hold related events to display skills learned in after-school programs to the public.

According to a news release from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, 2009 data from the Afterschool Alliance shows 12 percent of children in grades kindergarten through 12th grade participate in an after-school program and another 32 percent would be if an after-school program were present in their community.

The Cape Girardeau event coincides with the Rising Stars program held daily at the Shawnee Park Center. The program is a collaboration of the Boys and Girls Club, the city's parks and recreation department and staff of the now-closed Family Resource Center. The program began at the start of the school year and is in part funded by the United Way of Southeast Missouri.

According to Teresa Teague, director of the Boys and Girls Club, the new program has revealed a definite need for after-school programming in the area. The program's staff expected less than 50 children to participate when the program began, but there are 67 currently attending. Teague said approximately 80 percent of the children come from low-income families.

Children participating in the Rising Stars program and other area Boys and Girls Club programs will display literacy activities and artwork during the event.

Pertinent address:

835 S. West End Blvd., Cape Girardeau, MO