ASAP

After 6 years of impactful and Award Winning programming, The After School Arts Program is facing a disruption, along with many Community Based Organizations across the . These grant cuts do not just impact our program — they impact the future of our students.

ASAP has had returning students over the last 6 years - most enter our program heading into high school. Over the years, we witness their growth, their confidence build, and the light that clicks on when they discover a pathway toward college and a creative career.

Without getting into the critical issues our young students face in a Boston School system where Charter School students are undervalued, are bullied by their teachers, run by Boards which do not have oversight by DESE, in addition to being excluded as Boston Public School students — After School Programs become a safe haven where students get to see facilitators who represent their neighborhoods, their ethnicity, and their livelihood. They begin to blossom in environments that care about their well being and want them to succeed.

These funding cuts are cruel, and come at a critical juncture in their lives.

As our students face a summer of unemployment due to new criteria and systemic barriers which prevent our organization from running this summer, we are facing the challenge of having to put summer programming on hold. I am sharing the letters we began to receive a week ago — today, we are uncertain if we will receive our Boston Cultural Council Grant. Without these grants, we are unable to move forward with summer programming, which is a detriment to ASAP and programming across the city — but especially for our students expecting to return this summer.

A blanket chain of letters will not save the lives of Boston youth left without jobs or enrichment activities this summer. DM us for those interested in supporting our program this summer. Running Mid July - August 2026. Feel free to