Missouri State Representative Honored
June 05, 2008
NEWS RELEASE
May 14, 2008
Missouri State Representative Honored as an Afterschool Champion in Nation’s Capital
Parents, Educators, Students, Afterschool Leaders, City and State Leaders Urge Congress to Reject Proposed Funding Cut
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Afterschool Alliance today honored Missouri State Representative Danie Moore for her support for afterschool programs at the “Breakfast ofChampions,” a gala event in Washington, D.C. Representative Moore was one of 17 individuals and four organizations honored for their tireless work on behalf of afterschool programs.
Representative Moore has worked with the Missouri Afterschool Network, the Afterschool Alliance, and the Governor’s office to educate both legislators and the public about the importance of afterschool programs and the need for sustained funding. As Chair of the Joint Committee on Out-of-School Time, Moore held numerous public hearings across Missouri to allow afterschool professionals, attendees, and parents to testify about the benefits of programs and the importance of quality afterschool programs. She also worked with the Missouri State Network to coordinate several afterschool events and summits with the Governor.
Representative Moore helped direct funding to the Missouri Afterschool Network and worked with the Network and the State Department of Education to support Governor Blunt’s request for one million dollars in afterschool grants in the areas of math, science, technology, engineering, and health. She has also coordinated efforts to encourage the private sector to become involved in the afterschool movement.
The “Breakfast of Champions” is part of the seventh annual Afterschool for All Challenge which brings together hundreds of parents, educators, children, program directors and advocates from around the country for a series of events and meetings with Members of Congress. The 2008 Challenge is co-sponsored by the National League of Cities and the Afterschool Alliance. Following the “Breakfast,” the advocates fanned out across Capitol Hill for meetings with their U.S. Senators and Representatives, and congressional staff.
“Parents, children and communities rely on afterschool programs to keep kids safe, inspire them to learn and help working families,” said Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant. “But federal funding isn’t keeping up with the demand for afterschool, and President Bush proposes to cut federal afterschool funding even further. We’re in our nation’s capital this week to honor afterschool champions and remind lawmakers that these cuts are short-sighted and counterproductive. All kids need the opportunities that afterschool programs provide. Bipartisan support in Congress defeated the last proposed cut to afterschool programs, and we are seeking bipartisan support again this year so we can counter the President’s proposal and bring quality afterschool programs to all children who need them.”
This year, President Bush proposed cutting the federal budget for afterschool programs by $281 million and converting the successful 21st Community Learning Centers afterschool initiative (21st CCLC) into a risky voucher system. If Congress agrees to his proposal, 300,000 students would lose access to afterschool programs.
Other city champions honored at the Afterschool for All Challenge are: Boise Mayor David Bieter; Columbia Mayor Bob Coble; St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman; Kacy Conley, YMCA of Central Maryland in Baltimore; Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey; Morgantown Mayor Ron Justice; Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell; Savannah Mayor Otis Johnson; U.S. Attorney Jim Letten of Louisiana; Charlotte City Council Member James Mitchell; New York City Commissioner of the Department of Youth and Community Development Jeanne Mullgrav; San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom; Linda Robinson, Kentucky Department of Education; New Hampshire State Senator Kathleen Sgambati; Maxine Quintana, Denver Mayor’s Office for Education and Children; and Pennsylvania State Representative Jake Wheatley.
The Afterschool Alliance and MetLife Foundation also presented the first-ever MetLife Afterschool Innovator Awards at the “Breakfast of Champions” to four organizations that have developed and implemented innovative afterschool practices. The awardees are profiled in Afterschool Innovations in Brief, a series of Issue Briefs developed by the Afterschool Alliance with funding from MetLife Foundation. They are: The After-School Corporation in New York; LA’s BEST in California; The Native Youth Club in South Dakota; and Lincoln Community Learning Centers in Nebraska.
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The Afterschool Alliance is a nonprofit public awareness and advocacy organization working to ensure that all children and youth have access to quality afterschool programs. More information is available at www.afterschoolalliance.org.
