After School Matters® is accepting applications for the spring.
Programs in the arts, communications, science, sports and technology will be offered starting the week of Feb. 2 at Chicago public high schools, parks, library branches and community-based groups across the city.
Citywide, about 7,000 paid apprenticeships and internships in more than 300 programs will be available to Chicago high school teens.
Programs meet roughly three days a week for three hours per day over the course of 10 weeks.
Participating teens will be eligible to earn a stipend of between $275 and $425 (depending on the program level), more than double the previous school year stipend amount. Interns can earn $8.25 per hour.
Here are a few of the programs offered on the West Side:
Move Me Soul (advanced apprenticeship program) at Austin Business Entrepreneurial Academy @ Austin campus: The goal of the program is to teach youth how to function as a dance company by providing leadership opportunities and empowerment through dance and life skills. By the end of the program teens know how to produce a dance performance and how to create a dance portfolio. The final product is a teen produced community dance performance. This is an advanced program where teens are expected to enter the program with some knowledge and basic dance experience.
West African Drumming (apprenticeship program) at Westinghouse High School: Teens learn traditional drum and dance techniques as well as the cultural context and significance of this music in West Africa. Emphasis is given to working as part of a group and planning a final product. Participants learn about the creative process, as well as what a professional artist must go through to produce their own work, network and earn a living.
Sports37@ Columbus Park (apprenticeship program) at Columbus Park: Teens get an opportunity to earn a stipend as they train to become coaches, instructors or officials in a variety of sports such as basketball, football, baseball, soccer and volleyball. The apprenticeship incorporates SPARK-Active Recreation Curriculum, youth development, officiating, lesson planning, engagement principles and group management. After the fourth week, teens participate in a weekly practicum delivering sports to youth ages 6-12 at a local park, school or community-based organization.
True Star & Chicago Park District Multi-Media Central (words) at Garfield Park Field House, Garfield Park: In this writing and journalism program, teens build their oral and written communication skills through the development of a quarterly magazine. Teens have the opportunity to showcase their work to the community by researching and writing articles to be published in True Star Magazine and The Park.
BeatLAB (tech) at Better Boys Foundation, Lawndale: This digital music program that teaches teens the basics of music theory and note reading, recording, improvising and composition instruction. Teens work in BBF’s music technology studio, which houses 12 individual workstations each outfitted with an Apple MacBook computer and MIDI keyboard.
Music Video Production (tech) at Prosser Career Academy High School, Belmont Cragin: Participants explore video production with an emphasis on original music and content. In this program, teens will learn to mix beats, produce, direct, shoot and edit their own music videos.
To get information about these and other programs, click here.
All After School Matters programs are free and open to Chicago teen residents who are at least 14 years of age (16 years of age for internships) and entering or currently enrolled in high school.
Teens who have been in After School Matters for three or more sessions will be given priority consideration for internships.
As part of the application process, teens interview with program instructors to discuss and present their skills and interests. Teens are encouraged to apply early, as program opportunities fill up quickly.
For questions about programs and applications, call (312) 742-4182 or email: info@afterschoolmatters. org.