LEWISTON – Mayor Lionel C. Guay met several kindergarten through grade six students at the Multi-Purpose Center on Oct. 20 in celebration of the nationwide sixth annual Lights On Afterschool event. Nationally sponsored by the Afterschool Alliance, the initiative is striving to provide all children with after-school programs by the year 2010.

Guay noted, “In Lewiston, we are very fortunate to have programs such as the one here at the Multi-Purpose Center that provides recreational opportunities, homework help, arts and crafts, snacks and community service project opportunities.”

The mayor also praised the commitment of program Director Mary Ratsavong, highlighting her “unwavering commitment to making 3 to 5 p.m. each day a window of time when young people are nurtured and cared for in a very meaningful way.”

The program’s children demonstrated their excitement to meet the mayor with a wall-size “Welcome Mayor” poster they’d made and also presented him with a T-shirt they’d decorated with their handprints.

Guay said at the Oct. 19 Governor’s Summit on Improving Afterschool and Extra Learning Opportunities held in Augusta, after-school programs were touted as vital resources for children – keeping them safe and engaged in the hours between the end of the school day and home.

Sue Martin, director of service learning at Bates College, was also on hand and stressed the value of community and college partnerships, with special mention of Bates students who assist with the MPC program. Martin also noted that this past year Bates students “gave over 48,000 academically related hours of service” to the community.

Martin expressed concern on continuance of after-school program funding, as many programs across the country are facing funding shortfalls, which could result in doors being closed and lights turned off. The MPC program is funded through a Community Development Block Grant and Weed and Seed.

As the event came to a close, Guay stated, “May we all continue to think creatively and collarboratively regarding new and enhanced partnerships towards providing afterschool learning opportunities for our young people.”