To support children and youth with distance learning during the 2020-2021 school year, the City of Alexandria’s expanded learning and out-of-school time (OST) providers responded. In partnership with Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS), providers created distance learning centers across the City, ensuring that our community’s vulnerable youth had safe spaces and necessities to learn. Most importantly, the providers shouldered the well-being of the children in their care. Providers ensured that youth and families were connected to support services, and with limited resources, found ways to create joy and fun for children during a traumatic, unpredictable time.
Recognizing the needs of Alexandria’s youth and providers, ACT for Alexandria and the Frank & Betty Wright Foundation partnered with ACPS, the City of Alexandria, youth-serving community organizations, and other stakeholders to establish the Youth Support Network (YSN) in November 2020. Taking a strong coalition-based approach, the YSN grew rapidly to encompass more than 80 youth-serving organizations.
As the network developed:
- The Forum for Youth Investment selected the YSN to participate in its Build Forward Together initiative, an effort to build “equitable learning and development ecosystems” in cities across the country. Through the initiative, the YSN learned about the possibilities and potential for strengthening local collaboration between the youth development and education sectors.
- Providers received free social-emotional learning professional development to support young people as the community emerged from the pandemic. These opportunities were provided through partnerships with ACPS, the City of Alexandria, and the Frank & Betty Wright Foundation.
- The City of Alexandria provided American Rescue Plan funding to support the network’s foundational efforts.
The YSN commissioned Weber Moore Partners, LLC, to conduct a community-wide landscape study, Increasing Opportunities for Alexandria City Youth: A Community Report. The purpose of the study was to document and map the current state of K-12 expanded learning/OST programming in the City and identify the hopes, needs, and barriers experienced by youth, families, and providers related to OST activities with a focus on middle and high school students. The study recommendations inform the continued development of the network and serve as a community-wide call to action about the value and importance of expanded learning programs for our children and youth.
As the network evolves into an independent entity, the YSN rebranded as “Alexandria Beyond the Classroom (ALX Beyond)” in 2024. ALX Beyond has grown to encompass 100+ youth-serving providers. The network provides supports to youth, families, and providers to ensure every youth thrives, regardless of circumstances, through equitable access and engagement in high-quality and meaningful out-of-school time and expanded learning programs. The network has been recognized locally, regionally, and nationally as a strong example of a coalition-based approach with a high level of collaboration between stakeholders, illustrating the possibilities of public-private partnership.