Washington, DC – The Afterschool Alliance has selected Cherry Penn, Afterschool Childcare Program Supervisor/21st Century Grant Programs Manager for Baldwin County Public Schools, to serve as a 2011-2012 Afterschool Ambassador.

She is one of 20 local leaders from 17 states chosen for the honor this year. Each ambassador will continue directing or supporting a local afterschool program while also serving a one-year Afterschool Ambassador term organizing public events, communicating with policy makers, and building support for afterschool programs.

“Quality afterschool programs are invaluable to students, families and communities,” said Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant. “These programs keep kids safe, help working families and inspire students to learn. But in Washington, D.C. and all across the country, the afterschool programs that families rely on are being threatened by budget cuts and efforts to divert afterschool funds to other programs.

“We need to spread the word about the urgent need to make opportunities to attend afterschool programs available to all children who need them.

Cherry will bring great skill and energy to that work in her role as an Afterschool Ambassador. I look forward to working with her to build even stronger support for afterschool programs among parents, business and community leaders, lawmakers and others.”

“I am delighted to have this chance to help increase support for afterschool programs, which give students opportunities to explore their interests and give parents the security that comes with knowing that their children are safe and supervised, with engaging, educational activities after the school day ends,” said Penn.  “Afterschool programs are critical to students’ success in school, to families trying to surviving in this recession, and to America’s workforce in the future.  We need to strengthen the afterschool programs we have and ensure that there is a program for every child who needs one.”

The After School Childcare Program in Baldwin County serves more than 1,200 students each day on 30 school campuses.  Beginning October 3, the Program will kick off eight new 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) grant programs on 10 campuses.  Baldwin County has the largest number of 21st CCLC grants in Alabama and works diligently to provide quality programming.

Ms. Penn has been with the Baldwin County Board of Education since 1996 and began working with the After School Childcare Program in 2003.  Baldwin County won its first award for After School Programs in 2004.  Penn has a bachelor’s degree in organizational management and a master’s degree in corporate and public communication.  She was awarded the Charles Stewart Mott Award in March 2011, by the Alabama Community Education Association for exemplary services and model contributions that have supported children and families through Community Education throughout Alabama.

Each Ambassador will organize a major event for Lights On Afterschool, the Afterschool Alliance’s 12th annual national rally for afterschool, to be held on October 20 this year.  Last year, a million people participated in some 7,500 Lights On Afterschool events across the United States and at U.S. military bases worldwide.  Afterschool programs are under intense pressure this year, with the Senate considering legislation that would divert some of the already limited afterschool funds to other programs.