“The opportunity to impact students during the out-of-school time was so important to me,” Bearapy Bookshelf Founder Kenesha Barnes-Adams explained. “As a former educator, I knew students needed more, and OST work allowed me to deepen my relationships with the network, the community, and the limitless possibilities.”

“There is something special about providing a fresh, smiling face for kids after school,” Winn Area Activity Center Program Director Kristen Bridges shared. “School days can be long and draining. We get to be a reset for children from a mixture of grades, abilities, and walks of life. I really love that!”

OST work tends to be a field where purpose-driven leaders thrive, but it’s also where individuals bring their strengths and passions to the table regardless of where they’re seated.

“My purpose is to create safe spaces for youth, to build, engage and empower them,” Project Gametime CEO & Founder Kenrick Wagner stated. “If I inspire one young person to say, ‘Wow, this is incredible. My whole life, I've been told I can't do this, but I’m in a safe space now where I can do that and be creative and be celebrated…’ that's what I want to inspire.”

NAA is committed to elevating the OST field by  empowering professionals through a variety of opportunities for professional development, meaningful content, conversations, and connections.

“The National Afterschool Association has been a significant support for me in my OST career so far by providing regular resources, tips, and opportunities to connect and network with other leaders throughout the United States,” Promise South Salt Lake Center Coordinator Patrick Holman said. “Being able to attend webinars and the NAA Convention has magnified my development and the identity I have, and am proud of, within the field as a professional.”

We love to see both seasoned and new afterschool leaders forge their paths with passion and purpose. NAA is grateful to serve alongside professionals in the field by providing support, leading advocacy efforts, and disseminating resources. Are you an OST professional with a story to share? Tell us about it here.