Event spotlights Valley after-school activities

YAKIMA, Wash. -- More than 500 students, parents, school officials and community members gathered at the Yakima Convention Center on Monday to celebrate the wide range of after-school opportunities offered in the Yakima Valley.

A few dozen students from elementary through high school were bused in from around the Valley for the event, and they sang, danced, cheered and played musical instruments to highlight all their activities.

The "Lights On Afterschool" celebration was organized by the Northwest Community Action Center and included Valley school districts and other community organizations, and was in solidarity with 7,500 other "Lights On" rallies nationwide last week.

The program stressed the importance of keeping kids occupied and off the streets during after-school hours.

"We want to give these kids every chance there is to succeed and make good choices along the way," said Yakima County Sheriff Ken Irwin.

The event was both a celebration and a way to show people what's out there, said NCAC program coordinator Melanie Willis.

"Sometimes we hear that there's nothing for youth to do after school, and we want to build awareness of the fact that we do have services in Yakima Valley," she said.

Willis said there are more than 30 centers around the Valley that receive federal funds for after-school programs from the 21st Century Community Learning Centers initiative, and that together they serve more than 5,000 students.