After School Matters Information

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