{"id":1435,"date":"2023-02-15T15:08:18","date_gmt":"2023-02-15T15:08:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/riley\/?post_type=furman-update&p=1435"},"modified":"2023-02-15T15:08:18","modified_gmt":"2023-02-15T15:08:18","slug":"the-riley-institute-selects-21-fellows-for-statewide-afterschool-leadership-initiative","status":"publish","type":"furman-update","link":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/riley\/news\/the-riley-institute-selects-21-fellows-for-statewide-afterschool-leadership-initiative\/","title":{"rendered":"The Riley Institute Selects 21 Fellows for Statewide Afterschool Leadership Initiative"},"content":{"rendered":"

FOR INFORMATION:
\n<\/strong>Katie Quine
\nMarketing and Communications Manager
\nThe Riley Institute at Furman University
\n864.294.3368; katie.quine@furman.edu<\/p>\n

February 15, 2023 \u2013 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:<\/p>\n

THE RILEY INSTITUTE SELECTS 21 FELLOWS FOR STATEWIDE AFTERSCHOOL LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE <\/strong><\/p>\n

South Carolina Afterschool Leaders Empowered equips afterschool and summer learning leaders in the state with the tools they need to grow and improve their programs.<\/em><\/p>\n

GREENVILLE, S.C. \u2014 Afterschool and summer learning leaders from across the state will gain new tools to grow and improve their programs through their participation in South Carolina Afterschool Leaders Empowered (SCALE), an initiative of the Riley Institute at Furman University.<\/p>\n

SCALE is offered in partnership with and funded by a $1.3 million grant from the South Carolina Department of Education as part of the monies the agency received from the American Rescue Plan to address the academic impact of COVID-19, particularly among youth in need of additional supports to complete unfinished learning.<\/p>\n

\u201cAfterschool and summer learning programs fill critical needs in our communities, providing a supportive environment for children as they learn and grow,\u201d said Amy Keely, SCALE director. \u201cOur first SCALE fellows have grown tremendously as leaders, and we\u2019re proud that our second cohort will build upon their work of ensuring quality, impactful afterschool programming across the state.\u201d<\/p>\n

The twenty-one leaders comprising the program\u2019s second cohort represent nearly a third of the state\u2019s school districts, a variety of community-based organizations, and a mix of rural, suburban, and urban areas.<\/p>\n

Taking place over the course of 10 months, SCALE offers a curriculum that addresses best practices on topics such as school-community partnership development, program sustainability, arts integration, and youth mental health. The program is led by national and local afterschool and summer learning leaders. In addition to convening on Furman\u2019s campus for a weeklong learning experience and participating in monthly webinars, members of the cohort will take a field trip to a nationally-acclaimed summer learning program outside of the state and work on a capstone project related to afterschool or summer learning in their home communities.<\/p>\n

High-quality afterschool and summer learning programs have been shown to improve student achievement, life skills, and mental health, all while helping working families keep kids safe. For more than a decade, the Riley Institute has conducted work in the afterschool field at the national level.<\/p>\n

Members of the 2023 SCALE cohort are:<\/strong><\/p>\n