ASAP, Boston, MA (2026)

09/27/2026

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT coming soon, but first:

At the start of this school year ASAP began receiving letters from the City stating FY27 budgets would be cut for . For small CBO’s like ours, every grant counts. We were devastated!

We had to face a hard decision— how will we sustain programming with just $10,000?

So, in our 4th year partnering with Boston Public Schools 5th quarter, ASAP decided not to apply for summer programming.

In one instant, we no longer qualified for:

1. A youth employment partner. (New criteria now requires youth organizations to cover summer payroll, out of pocket ($16/hr, 5 days a week, for 5 weeks, at a minimum of 34 youth)

2 The City of Boston cut youth programming funds and 1900 youth job opportunities.

Last year ASAP received over 200 applications for our summer programming, and we knew, we could not continue.

Yet, our biggest challenge was the launch of our students first youth magazine which they worked on all year — IT’S ALL GOOD featuring PARIS ALSTON (Paris Alston )🚀 with funding cuts, how will we print?

We decided to move forward with an FIRST LOOK instead of a launch party. The event was hosted by Museum of Fine Arts, Boston MFA teens and Dave & Buster's donated an exclusive gift bag 🎉

Private donors came on board to support, and in the spirit of show business— the show went on.

Yet, we had to place THIS school year on hold.

AND THEN 🥁🥁🥁 one of our largest grants came through! 🚀🚀🚀

FY27, here we come!!!

Leading up to our major announcement, we will RECAP the last 5 years.

🎥 Our student’s interviews
📸 Enrichment trips
🎬 Behind the scenes

And more.

Thank you to all of our partners who held us down over the years (ICA Teens Boston After School & Beyond Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Black Male Advancement Human Services Cabinet Mass Cultural Council ) and so many more!

Ya’ll ain’t seen nothing yet.

06/14/2026

Last week, around this time, we wrapped the launch of our first limited edition magazine “IT’S ALL GOOD” 🚀 We are Boston’s first print + and video, magazine. Written by and for teens + interviews conducted and research by teens.

Our students have been training in at the intersection of since our first guest in 2020. ASAP students have developed q&a’s for the following:

💫 Smith (Actor / Executive Producer of
💫 Tyson Hall (Actor , )
💫 Super Film Producer , who generously critiqued our student’s first short film screenplay STATIC!) WINNERS 🏆 “Best Youth Film” at the Roxbury International Film Festival (2024).

Over the years, ASAP have continued to hone their craft. Last summer, they interviewed (Paris Alston) of new show — our COVER STORY!

Our young people Directed, Produced, Researched and ran a full video set to complete her interview. We can’t wait for you to read it! The Paris issue will be revealed at our Issue Release event - NEXT UP!

At last week’s launch, everyone who attended got an EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK. Thank you to everyone who made our event a success!

💫 for the In-Kind space
💫 for volunteering
💫 for donating a gift basket, valued at $100 to our raffle.
💫 for the decor

And a very special THANK YOU to our private donors who jumped in when funding didn’t arrive as scheduled and order our fabulous cake. The show must go on, and it was a major success!! More pics / video to come. 🎬 to find out how to support our ISSUE RELEASE PARTY, message us. 🎬

04/24/2026

After 6 years of impactful and Award Winning programming, The After School Arts Program is facing a disruption, along with many Community Based Organizations across the . These grant cuts do not just impact our program — they impact the future of our students.

ASAP has had returning students over the last 6 years - most enter our program heading into high school. Over the years, we witness their growth, their confidence build, and the light that clicks on when they discover a pathway toward college and a creative career.

Without getting into the critical issues our young students face in a Boston School system where Charter School students are undervalued, are bullied by their teachers, run by Boards which do not have oversight by DESE, in addition to being excluded as Boston Public School students — After School Programs become a safe haven where students get to see facilitators who represent their neighborhoods, their ethnicity, and their livelihood. They begin to blossom in environments that care about their well being and want them to succeed.

These funding cuts are cruel, and come at a critical juncture in their lives.

As our students face a summer of unemployment due to new criteria and systemic barriers which prevent our organization from running this summer, we are facing the challenge of having to put summer programming on hold. I am sharing the letters we began to receive a week ago — today, we are uncertain if we will receive our Boston Cultural Council Grant. Without these grants, we are unable to move forward with summer programming, which is a detriment to ASAP and programming across the city — but especially for our students expecting to return this summer.

A blanket chain of letters will not save the lives of Boston youth left without jobs or enrichment activities this summer. DM us for those interested in supporting our program this summer. Running Mid July - August 2026. Feel free to

04/16/2026

The stands with all youth in the City of advocating for this summer and beyond. Let today’s rally at City Hall be an indication of the impact and need. The urgency and a cry for help.

Our program began receiving letters this past weekend of the funding cuts, which affects our summer too. Systemic barriers have prevented us from applying to city agencies for youth employment. Which means we can not hire youth this summer.

Budget cuts amongst the most vulnerable populations in this city is shameful. This is a trickle down of poor leadership and an administration that is a failure.

We are proud of our youth leaders exercising their rights and advocating for themselves. we are with you. 💪🏾✊🏾 we call on every in this city who care more about our youth than proximity to power to lead the charge, together. Our young people need all hands on deck. Shame on

03/16/2026

BIG CONGRATULATIONS to for your WIN, playing the roles of “Smoke” and “Stack” in the movie SINNERS (Directed by ). 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

Our Founder and Executive Director , pictured with Michael B. here, attended in New York City for an exclusive sneak peek of his first major role, “Red Tails” — back then, her thriving online publication Crème was securing major content with top talent, and today’s icons, on their rise up. 🚀

3 years ago, when his film broke the franchise record for a sports movie, we wrote this about him. 👇🏾 still true. Below are a few takeaways to learn from his career.

⭐️ Perseverance — he kept going, after the WIRE.
⭐️ FOCUS — it’s not the QUANTITY of roles, but the QUALITY of roles. You never see him everywhere. Just the right places.
⭐️ Representation Matters — the roles he chooses are BLACK and EMPOWERING. Which leads us to,
⭐️ Authenticity — the power of originality and uncovering your true authentic self resonates
⭐️ A great team. A team with vision will take you far.
⭐️ Don’t give up on your dreams.

At the we teach our students to find their voice which leads to a path of originality and authenticity in film and journalism careers. 💫

Address

Boston, MA

Website

http://www.afterschoolartsprogram.com/

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