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The Afterschool Alliance has selected Sean Prospect, executive director at South Florida After-School All-Stars and the FIU After-School All-Stars Program, to serve as a 2026 Afterschool Ambassador – one of just 16 leaders in the entire nation chosen for the honor this year.
Afterschool Ambassadors continue supporting local afterschool programs while serving the one-year Afterschool Ambassador term during which they engage with policy makers and community leaders to organize events and in other ways grow support for the afterschool and summer learning programs on which students and families rely.
“The country urgently needs strong afterschool advocates, so we are thrilled that Sean Prospect will serve as an Afterschool Ambassador for the Afterschool Alliance this year,” said Jodi Grant, executive director of the Afterschool Alliance. “Sean will help spread the word that too many children and youth are without the afterschool programs that help them succeed in school and in life.
“This is a pivotal year when we must continue building support for these essential programs, which keep kids safe, inspire them to learn, and give parents peace of mind that their children are safe and supervised after the school day ends. Mr. Prospect is exactly the kind of champion we need,” Grant added.
“I am pleased and excited to have the opportunity to work with the Afterschool Alliance to increase awareness and support for afterschool and summer learning programs this year, a cause near and dear to my heart,” Prospect said. “Through my personal experience, I have seen how afterschool programs play an integral part in supporting families by coming alongside them and their students and addressing challenges together. This is especially important now, as many families are struggling with rising living costs, in addition to the distractions and challenges students face that affect their education and preparation for life.
“Afterschool and summer programs are uniquely positioned to help students connect with peers and caring mentors explore their interests, and discover their passions,” Grant continued. “I am proud to be part of the afterschool movement and to be a 2026 Afterschool Ambassador.”
The South Florida chapter of After-School All-Stars (SFASAS) was founded in 1996 and today serves 5,496 students across 50 South Florida school sites. SFASAS, in conjunction with Florida International University, takes a holistic approach in serving middle and high school students. Guided by youth voice and choice, programs are designed around five core areas:
Health and Wellness – Students build healthy habits through athletics, nutrition, gardening, cooking, dance, and mindfulness practices.
Science, Technology Engineering and Math – Project-based experiences in coding, robotics, virtual reality, forensics, and 3D printing strengthen collaboration, problem-solving, and creativity.
Visual and Performing Arts – Programs in dance, photography, music, stage production, fashion, and design foster confidence, self-expression, and leadership.
Workforce Development – Through intentional skill building, college readiness courses, mentorship, internships, and financial literacy opportunities, students gain exposure to career pathways and higher education options.
Academic Readiness – Homework help, tutoring, dual enrollment, test preparation and critical thinking skills prepare students to succeed in school and beyond.
All programming is intentionally designed to prepare youth for long-term success — academically, socially, and professionally.
Each Ambassador will organize a major event for Lights On Afterschool, the Afterschool Alliance’s annual rally for afterschool. Most of the thousands of local Lights On Afterschool events will be on or around Thursday, Oct. 22.
A 2025 household survey found that the parents of 29.6 million children want afterschool programs for their children – but less than 7 million kids are currently enrolled. Another 22.6 million children would attend an afterschool program if it were available. That means three in four kids whose parents want afterschool programs for them (77 percent) – including many in middle as well as low-income families – are being left behind.
Cost and accessibility are the barriers many families cannot overcome. It’s no wonder that 89 percent of parents favor public funding for these programs. Ninety-five percent of parents with children in afterschool programs are satisfied with the program their child attends.
A large and powerful body of evidence demonstrates improvements in grades, school attendance, behavior and more among children who participate in afterschool programs.
Researchers have also found that students in afterschool programs are more engaged in school, more excited about learning, and develop critical work and life skills such as problem solving, teamwork, and communication.
The Afterschool Alliance is a nonprofit public awareness and advocacy organization working to ensure that all children and youth have access to quality afterschool programs. More information is available at www.afterschoolalliance.org.
South Florida After-School All-Stars is a nonprofit that provides comprehensive after-school and summer programs that keep children safe and help them succeed in school and life.
Their vision for students is to be safe and healthy, to graduate from high school and pursue higher education, to find a career they love, and to give back to their communities.
SFASAS began a partnership with Florida International University in 2014, creating the FIU After-School All-Stars program to enhance opportunities and expertise available to students throughout the community. More information is available at www.sfasas.org.
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