The Obama Foundation and After School Matters Announce Youth Programming Partnership for Chicago Teens

CHICAGO – The Obama Foundation announced today that After School Matters (Opens in a new tab) (ASM) will serve as its signature youth programming partner at the Obama Presidential Center when it opens in June. After School Matters will bring high-quality, paid out-of-school-time opportunities to Chicago teens in surrounding communities on the South Side.

Through this partnership for the Obama Presidential Center’s Teen Action Lab, After School Matters will deliver paid, hands-on programs that give teens opportunities to build skills, explore interests, get active, and connect with peers and mentors in a supportive environment. Programs will take place at Home Court on the Obama Presidential Center’s campus and engage teens from surrounding communities including South Shore, Woodlawn, and Washington Park.

The partnership reflects a shared commitment between The Obama Foundation and After School Matters to expand opportunities for young people and invest in the next generation of leaders in Chicago.

“The Obama Presidential Center is committed to supporting Chicago’s young people, and there’s no better partner in that work than After School Matters,” said Valerie Jarrett, CEO of The Obama Foundation. “Through the Obama Presidential Center’s Teen Action Lab, we are teaming up with After School Matters to provide Chicago teens with access to meaningful programs that build their skills, provide tools to strengthen their communities, and inspire them as the next generation of changemakers for our city and beyond.”

The partnership will launch with two co-ed Teen Action Lab sports programs — “ASM @ Obama Center: Basketball, Health & Wellness” and “ASM @ Obama Center: Volleyball, Health & Wellness” — marking the first pilot offerings in what will be an expanding slate of youth programs at the Center in partnership with After School Matters and other local community-based organizations. These programs are designed to support teens’ physical wellbeing through sport and play, while building teamwork, leadership, and resilience, with additional opportunities expected to be introduced as the partnership grows.

“Chicago teens deserve spaces where they feel welcomed, challenged, and inspired — and that’s exactly what this partnership creates,” said Mary Ellen Caron, Chief Executive Officer of After School Matters. “The Obama Presidential Center will be an extraordinary new civic landmark for our city, and we’re proud that Chicago teens will help bring it to life. Sports can be a powerful gateway for young people — creating connection, building confidence, and opening the door to mentorship, leadership, and new opportunities that extend far beyond the court or field.”

The partnership will grow over time, along with additional organizations aligned with The Obama Foundation’s youth engagement goals, including My Brother’s Keeper Alliance, Girls Opportunity Alliance, Chicago Public Schools, the Chicago Park District, the Chicago Public Library, Laureus USA, and other community partners.

Chicago teens interested in participating in Teen Action Lab programs at the Obama Presidential Center should submit a Program Interest Form in order to be considered for an interview. Programs begin in July, and space is limited. These two initial programs are open to Chicago high school teens ages 14-18 who live and/or go to school in the South Shore, Woodlawn, or Washington Park communities. Teens will earn a stipend for participating and completing the program.

To learn more and submit an interest form for the Basketball, Health and Wellness Program or the Volleyball, Health and Wellness Program, click here (Opens in a new tab) .

To learn more about After School Matters, visit: afterschoolmatters.org (Opens in a new tab) . 

For b-roll and photos,  click here (Opens in a new tab) . 

### 

About The Obama Foundation

The Obama Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization with a mission to inspire, empower, and connect people to change their world. That mission begins on the South Side of Chicago, where the Foundation is building the Obama Presidential Center. The Obama Presidential Center represents a historic opportunity for Chicago: a chance to build a world-class museum and public gathering space that celebrates our nation’s first African American President and First Lady, steps away from where he began his career, where she was raised, and where—together—they made their home. Not only will the Center generate billions of dollars of economic opportunity and help reconnect and revitalize Jackson Park, it will also serve as a reminder to young visitors—from around the city and from around the world—that their potential is limitless. 

About After School Matters   

After School Matters is a nonprofit organization that provides high-quality, after-school, and summer opportunities to Chicago high school teens to explore their passions and develop their talents while gaining critical skills for work, college, and beyond. After School Matters programs are project-based, led by industry experts, and provide a pathway to progress in skills development and independence. Teens earn a stipend while participating in programs in the arts, communications and leadership, sports, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Over 35 years, After School Matters has engaged hundreds of thousands of teens throughout the city of Chicago.  www.afterschoolmatters.org (Opens in a new tab)   

Media contact:  

Emily Bittner, press@obama.org

Michael Crowley, michael.crowley@afterschoolmatters.org