The city will set up a new commission to overhaul after-school care to ensure thousands of public school children can have access to programming.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Friday signed Executive Order 54, which creates the Commission on Universal After-School. The commission will bring together a cross-sector of leaders from community based after-school providers, advocacy groups, philanthropy and the business sector to develop a strategy to deliver a universal after-school system that is sustainable in the long term and ensures nonprofits have the tools they need to hire and train staff and deliver quality programming.
The commission’s work looks to strengthen City Hall's $331 million commitment to support the addition of 20,000 new seats over the next three school years, bringing universal after-school programming to a total of 184,000 public school students as funding is increased to a total investment of $755 million annually.
"It takes a city to raise a child, but for too long, families in the five boroughs have not had access to affordable child care or after-school programming, forcing many to leave the city they love," Adams said in a statement. "The Commission on Universal After-School will work hand-in-hand with our administration to develop a sustainable roadmap to deliver after-school programming for all children across the five boroughs."
The commission will produce strategic recommendations to address issues facing the after-school ecosystem, such as funding, provider capacity, program quality, areas for innovation and improving equity and access for underserved populations.
The members of the commission are:
- Grace Bonilla (co-chair), president and CEO, United Way of New York City
- Dennis Walcott (co-chair), president and CEO, Queens Public Library
- Karen Alford, vice president of elementary schools and United Community Schools executive director, United Federation of Teachers
- Phoebe Boyer, president and CEO, Children’s Aid
- Charles Buice, president, Tiger Foundation
- Christopher Caruso, managing director, school-age children, Robin Hood
- Laurie Dien, vice president and executive director of programs, The Pinkerton Foundation
- Marielys Divanne, executive director, Educators for Excellence – New York
- Mark Dunetz, president, New Visions for Public Schools
- Charissa Fernandez, president, Gray Foundation
- Lauren Geer, chief human resources officer, IAC
- Basha Gerhards, executive vice president of public policy, Real Estate Board of New York
- Raj Goyle, co-chair, 5BORO Institute
- Sharon Greenberger, president and CEO, YMCA of Greater New York
- Wayne Ho, president and CEO, Chinese-American Planning Council
- Brook Jackson, vice president,policy, Partnership for New York City
- Rose C. Lovaglio-Miller, associate director, DC 37
- Steven Matteo, executive director and CEO, United Activities Unlimited
- Jamie McShane, communications director, Con Edison
- Shawn Morehead, executive vice president and chief program officer, The New York Community Trust
- Lisette Nieves, president, Fund for the City of New York
- Alison Overseth, CEO, Partnership for After School Education
- Meisha Porter, vising senior fellow, Bronx Center for Educational Innovation
- Chad Purkey, vice president, Association for a Better New York
- Raysa S. Rodriguez, executive director, Citizen’s Committee for Children
- Sonia B. Sisodia, executive director, South Asian Youth Action
- Susan Stamler, executive director, United Neighborhood Houses
- Udai Tambar, president and CEO, New York Junior Tennis & Learning
- Saskia Traill, president and CEO, ExpandED Schools
- Andre White, executive director and CEO, Phipps Neighborhoods
- Michelle Yanche, executive director and CEO, Good Shepherd Services
Deputy Mayor for Strategic Initiatives Ana Almanzar, New York City Department of Youth and Community Development Commissioner Keith Howard, and New York City Public Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos will serve as ex-officio members on the commission. Deputy Mayor Almanzar’s chief strategy officer, Michael Nolan, will serve as the executive director of the commission.
