Lights On Afterschool

TXPOST is proud to join the Afterschool Alliance and thousands of out of school time organizations in the largest nationwide celebration of OST during the 24th annual Lights On Afterschool on October 26, 2023!

Lights On Afterschool celebrates the impact and elevates the importance of out of school time, especially as programs continue adapting to best support our kids, families, and communities throughout the pandemic. OST is a critical component of the functioning ecosystem of support necessary for whole child development, our economy, and our communities for recovery and beyond.

Join us in shining a light on out of school time in Texas on October 26! Whether you’re a program provider, nonprofit, community leader, business, or family, every one of our partners can help TXPOST amplify the impact and need for OST across our state. Click the section below that best describes your partnership with TXPOST to learn how you can celebrate!

How TXPOST Partners Can Celebrate

  • Participate – Visit the Afterschool Alliance’s Lights On Afterschool website to register your participation—big or small, virtual or in-person, everything counts!—and access a variety of ideas and resources to help you celebrate.
  • Plan – In addition to the numerous Alliance resources, you can access TXPOST supports such as our Advocacy & Communications Toolkit or our ESSER III Advocacy Toolkit in our virtual community for Texas OST professionals—register or log in to myTXPOST today!
  • Share – Share your story with TXPOST, your constituents, and our OST community:
    • Spotlight your program by telling us about your youth, families, staff, community, or how you’re celebrating Lights On through words, photo(s), and/or video by completing this form. TXPOST will spotlight you!
    • Communicate your program’s value and impact across your digital media platforms.
      • Include your Lights On event/participation details in an email or your newsletter.
      • Post photos and stories about your program, Lights On event, youth, families, and community partners on social media. Use TXPOST graphics (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) or Afterschool Alliance graphics & sample copy. Tag @TXPartners4OST and use hashtags #LightsOnAfterschool and #TXPOST so that we can reshare your posts!
      • Participate in the #LightbulbChallenge. You can also use TXPOST graphics for these posts.
    • Strengthen our statewide coalition of out of school time providers and supporters by sharing myTXPOST with OST colleagues and including TXPOST’s website, logos, intro video, and/or social media links/tags (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) in your Lights On communications and advocacy.

Share how you support or partner with out of school time programs as part of your work or how OST advances your mission to support Texas kids, families, and communities.

  • Tell your constituents you’re celebrating Lights On (and they can too!) in an email or your newsletter.
  • Post photos and stories about your partner programs, youth, families, and communities on social media. Use TXPOST graphics (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) or Afterschool Alliance graphics & sample copy. Tag @TXPartners4OST and use hashtags #LightsOnAfterschool and #TXPOST so that we can reshare your posts!
  • Participate in the #LightbulbChallenge. You can also use TXPOST graphics for these posts.
  • Strengthen our statewide coalition of out of school time providers and supporters by sharing myTXPOST with OST colleagues and including TXPOST’s website, logos, intro video, and/or social media links/tags (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) in your Lights On communications and advocacy.

Share why you support out of school time and TXPOST or how OST has had a personal impact on you.

  • Tell your constituents, family, and/or friends you’re celebrating Lights On (and they can too!) in an email or your newsletter.
  • Reshare TXPOST social media posts or post your own photos and stories about OST in your community. Use TXPOST graphics (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) or Afterschool Alliance graphics & sample copy. Tag @TXPartners4OST and use hashtags #LightsOnAfterschool and #TXPOST so that we can reshare your posts!
  • Participate in the #LightbulbChallenge. You can also use TXPOST graphics for these posts.
  • Strengthen our statewide coalition of out of school time providers and supporters by sharing myTXPOST with OST colleagues and including TXPOST’s website, logos, intro video, and/or social media links/tags (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) in your Lights On communications and advocacy.

Share how you support or partner with out of school time programs to advance your work and mission and how critical OST is for preparing youth for success with your organization.

  • Tell your constituents you’re celebrating Lights On (and they can too!) in an email or your newsletter.
  • Reshare TXPOST social media posts or post your own photos and stories about OST program partners or students/employees/members with OST experiences. Use TXPOST graphics (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) or Afterschool Alliance graphics & sample copy. Tag @TXPartners4OST and use hashtags #LightsOnAfterschool and #TXPOST so that we can reshare your posts!
  • Participate in the #LightbulbChallenge. You can also use TXPOST graphics for these posts.
  • Strengthen our statewide coalition of out of school time providers and supporters by sharing myTXPOST with OST colleagues and including TXPOST’s website, logos, intro video, and/or social media links/tags (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) in your Lights On communications and advocacy.

Share why out of school time or your OST program is important to you and your personal OST experience.

  • Reshare TXPOST social media posts or post your own photos and stories about your program and experience. Use TXPOST graphics (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) or Afterschool Alliance graphics & sample copy. Tag your OST program and @TXPartners4OST and use hashtags #LightsOnAfterschool and #TXPOST so that we can reshare your posts!
  • Participate in the #LightbulbChallenge. You can also use TXPOST graphics for these posts.
  • Strengthen our statewide coalition of out of school time supporters by including TXPOST’s website, logos, intro video, and/or social media links/tags (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) in your Lights On posts!