Shoestring Receives $225K Mott Foundation Grant to Help Create State-Wide Afterschool Network

November 29, 2016

It’s a short article but BIG news that we’re thrilled to announce: Operation Shoestring has received funding from the C.S. Mott Foundation to help create a much-needed afterschool network for our state. This is a huge step in the direction of more quality out-of-school programming being made available to more Mississippi children – and that’s great news for our state as a whole! We’re honored and eager to embrace the challenge and opportunity that lies ahead, alongside every stakeholder ready to join in on this important, collective investment in our future.

“Afterschool programs not only help kids do better in school and stay on the path to graduation — they also provide an important opportunity for bringing school and community together in partnership to ensure our children’s success,” said Robert Langford, our executive director. “We are honored to help lead and strengthen such efforts in our state.”

We will use the three-year grant to help build a statewide network in support of afterschool programs and coordinate a unified vision to inform policy and improve the quality of afterschool initiatives. During the grant period, the network will: (1) identify and map out-of-school-time programs in Mississippi; (2) establish a representative and durable structure of governance for the network; and (3) develop quality standards to advance out-of-school time programs in the state.

For information about participating in the state-wide network email Amber May at amay@operationshoestring.org.

#WeAllRiseTogether #AfterschoolMatters #InvestingInOurChildren #InvestingInOurFuture