LIGHTS ON AFTERSCHOOL DAY
2024
BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA
A PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS, quality afterschool programs provide safe and engaging learning experiences that help children realize their full potential, support working families by ensuring their children are safe and productive when they are out of their classrooms, and engage families, schools, and community partners in advancing the welfare of our children; and
WHEREAS, quality afterschool programs build stronger communities by involving students, parents, business leaders, and adult volunteers in the lives of young people, thereby promoting positive relationships among youth, families, and adults; and
WHEREAS, afterschool programs continue to provide innovative hands-on opportunities for youth to reengage in their learning and connect with caring adults and peers in a safe and supportive environment; and
WHEREAS, the demand for afterschool programs continues to grow, for every child in a program in North Carolina, three are waiting to get in; many afterschool programs face operating challenges so severe that they are forced to consider closing their doors and turning off their lights; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina is committed to investing in the health and safety of all young people by providing afterschool programs and other expanded learning opportunities that help our children learn and grow, while helping them develop the skills essential for success in life and work; and
WHEREAS, Governor Roy Cooper has declared 2024 as the 'Year of Public Schools,' highlighting North Carolina's unwavering commitment to ensuring equitable access to educational opportunities for all students, and afterschool programs serve as a critical extension of our public schools by providing enriching experiences that reinforce academic learning, foster personal growth, and support the overall mission of our public schools, as celebrated by Lights On After School, the national event held this year on October 24, 2024, promoting the importance of quality afterschool programs in the lives of children, families, and communities;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, ROY COOPER, Governor of the State of North Carolina, do hereby proclaim October 24, 2024, as “LIGHTS ON AFTERSCHOOL DAY” in North Carolina, and commend its observance to all citizens.
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Roy Cooper
Governor
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State of North Carolina at the Capitol in Raleigh this twenty-first day of October in the year of our Lord two thousand and twenty-four and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-ninth.