The Common Place Family Learning Center’s Teen REACH will sponsor a Lights On Afterschool rally on Thursday, October 20, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., at Common Place, 514 S. Shelley Street, Peoria, Illinois. The rally will be one of more than 7,500 such events around the nation that day, which calls attention to the importance of afterschool programs and the resources required to keep the lights on and the doors open.

To help celebrate the Lights On Afterschool rally, Common Place’s Teen REACH will feature a luminaire light display, performances of poetry, dramatic reading, singing, dancing, and stepping. There will also be a special guest performance by Kappa Alpha Phi Inc.

According to the America After 3PM, 2009 survey:

·        28% (641,975) of Illinois’ K-12 children are responsible for taking care of themselves after school.  These children spend an average of 6 hours per week unsupervised after school.

·        Parents of non-participants believe that their children would benefit most from afterschool programs in the following ways: by having fun, taking advantage of opportunities for community service and learning, receiving academic enrichment and staying safe and out of trouble. The America After 3PM report is available online at www.afterschoolalliance.org.