After School Matters

Each year, After School Matters provides life-changing after-school and summer program opportunities to nearly 19,000 Chicago high school teens. Our hands-on, project-based apprenticeship and internship programs – in the arts, communications and leadership, sports and STEM – allow teens to explore and develop their talents, while gaining critical skills for work, college and beyond.

After School Matters full-time staff of approximately 85 supports the day-to-day operations and administration of the organization, as well as the provision of our signature programs across the city, while hundreds of individuals across Chicago work with us part-time as After School Matters instructors and program providers.

We seek to serve our teens and achieve our mission by:
• Advocating for teens and youth development
• Building opportunities for teens through partnerships
• Engaging teens in skills development for work and higher education
• Showcasing teen accomplishments
• Disseminating research and best practices about out-of-school time for teens