After School Matters

For 15 years, Maureen has supported After School Matters, Chicago’s largest and a leading national provider of after school and summer programs for high school students.

Each year, After School Matters offers more than 20,000 program opportunities for Chicago teens in the arts, communications and leadership, sports and STEM. For each program session, the MarComm and Programs teams lead an effort to build participation in the programs from Chicago teens across the city. Maureen supports this ongoing effort through media relations, diverse media advertising strategies, social media and collateral materials with a special emphasis on recruiting teens of color from low-income communities.

She regularly collaborates with the organization’s Research and Evaluation team to create communications strategies and accompanying materials for an annual teen survey. The research outlines the lived experiences of Chicago youth and the ways various audiences and stakeholders can play a role in supporting local teens. Recent research caught the attention of US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy’s office, which led to a two-day visit and series of events with the USSG and ASM on youth mental health, of which Maureen supported coordination and an NBC “Nightly News” segment.

Throughout the year, Maureen supports the team in building teen participation, thought leadership and donor engagement through an integrated communications strategy that highlighted the achievements of teens, instructors and alumni and showcases the impact of program participation on students and communities.

Learn more about After School Matters at afterschoolmatters.org.