Afterschool

Neutral Zone

During non-school time, there is a tremendous opportunity to expose kids to activities that not only complement what’s learned in school, but also prepare them for meaningful work in the future and spark a journey towards becoming curious, fulfilled and well-rounded adults.

While the Foundation continues to invest in the capacity and quality of afterschool programs – including cohort-based learning for STEM and mentorship programs – we have now reached an evolution in our work with the launch of a teen-driven grantmaking initiative called “Generator Z,” birthed from the Teen Opinions Count effort we embarked on in 2019. In this effort, we have engaged 1,000 teens across Southeast Michigan and Western New York to share their personal stories and ideas on afterschool. The initiative flips the script on traditional grantmaking by inviting “Gen Z” to lead the conversation on afterschool and inviting afterschool providers to turn ideas into action.

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Grantee Spotlight

STEM 2035 grantee – Neutral Zone

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Special Initiatives

Generator Z

Last year, 1,000 teens aged 13-18, from across Western New York and Southeast Michigan, were chosen to participate in Generator Z - the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation’s newest grantmaking initiative in afterschool – and given the opportunity to share their personal stories and ideas to reimagine the future of afterschool. Over three-phases of engagement, teen “Generators” are collecting up to $1,000 for their participation, valuing them as the ultimate experts of their own lives.

In early 2021, afterschool providers from Western New York and Southeast Michigan were invited to apply for grants to bring the ideas of these Generators to life. In June, Generator Z announced more than $4 million in grants – ranging from $10,000 to $100,000 - to over 90 organizations that will turn the teen insight into action, ultimately fueling the development of new afterschool opportunities driven by and for young people. Meet the Generators and Grantees here: Generator-Z.org.

BACKGROUND

Generator Z is asking "Gen Z" to be the voice of their own afterschool experience. Generator Z was birthed from the Foundation’s data collection effort - Teen Opinions Count - aimed to better understand what teens want during their time outside of school and to better support the afterschool organizations who serve teens every day. From this data exploration, 10 themes were recognized as areas that teens were interested in:

Mental, Social & Emotional Health
Identity & Acceptance
Growth & Wellness
Friends & Community
Excellence in Learning
Jobs & Careers
Creative Arts & Culture
Fun & Games
Play & Sports
Life Skills & Balance

Driven by teens and powered by Lakeshore Connections with the support of RCWJRF, Generator Z flips the script on traditional grantmaking by inviting teens to lead the conversation on afterschool and inviting afterschool providers to turn ideas into action.