BUILD’s youth, parents, supporters, business and community leaders came together on October 22 at a Lights On Afterschool rally at BUILD Headquarters located at 5100 W. Harrison. The event celebrated the achievements of afterschool students and drew attention to the need for more afterschool programs to serve the millions of children nationwide who are unsupervised and at risk each weekday afternoon.  The gathering was one of more than 9,000 such events across the nation emphasizing the importance of keeping the lights on and the doors open for afterschool programs.  Speakers at the rally celebrated the many benefits of afterschool programs and encouraged lawmakers to support afterschool funding.

Lights On Afterschool attendees saw the short film “For the Love of Mom”, described as thoughtfully capturing the heartache and agony two mothers faced–almost in real-time, of learning of the tragic and unexpected death of their innocent child.  Cook County Commissioner Robert Steele, Film Director Mike Oquendo, parents and students discussed the film and the importance of afterschool programs. This year marked the 14th Annual Lights On Afterschool, sponsored by the Afterschool Alliance.  More than one million Americans took part in the nationwide rally to support afterschool programs.