With 80% of a young person's life spent outside of school, afterschool programs can play an important role in providing guidance, support and inspiration for students' career and college pathways. Sadly, many students miss out on the valuable resources and opportunities these programs have to offer.

Professional Development is an essential ingredient to high program quality and improving youth outcomes.

As the eyes of the nation have been focused on Baltimore these past weeks, I knew there was much more to the story than what we were seeing on our televisions and through social media. For a deeper perspective, I turned to Ellie Mitchell, director of the Maryland Out of School Time Network, and a long-time advocate for greater investments in young people throughout Maryland—and especially in Baltimore.