Get the Latest

Our blog features ExpandED staff and other contributors describing the latest efforts to ensure that every young person thrives and how we’re building a robust system of K–12 afterschool in New York City.

Funder Spotlight: Altman Foundation

Deborah T. Velazquez, the President of the Altman Foundation, briefly talks about our decade-long partnership. Q&A Q: How did the Altman Foundation first connect with ExpandED Schools, and what inspired your support for the literacy program Ready Readers program? A: ExpandED and Altman share a commitment to providing more high-quality learning time for children and youth in New York City—in

Read More

Celebrating a Decade of Literacy: MS ExTRA Live Project Empowers Middle School Readers

By Natalie Colón Recently, ExpandED Schools’ MS ExTRA Initiative celebrated its 10th anniversary with the participation of over 13 middle schools from across the city in its annual Live Projects Convening. Since its inception, the live project showcase has placed students at the center, allowing them to be creative, focus on content, and drive the process themselves. The concept is simple:

Read More

Students Lead the Way in Career Exploration at Virtual Careers in Sports Panel

By Alex Fendrich In April, ExpandED Schools, in partnership with the NYC Department of Youth & Community Development, hosted a “Careers in Sports” virtual panel aimed at bringing together sports professionals and middle school students attending Beacon, Cornerstone, and Compass after-school programs. The event provided a glimpse into various careers in the sports world for early exploration. The spring panel

Read More

Empowering Communities Through STEM Education: The Journey of Keturah Pelle

By Antoineta Meekins Photo courtesy of Keturah Pelle Born and raised in The Bronx, Keturah Pelle embarked on a mission fueled by her passion for empowering the next generation and uplifting her community. Armed with dual degrees in English and Africana Studies, Keturah’s academic background laid the foundation for her commitment to working with young people in her neighborhood. Keturah’s

Read More

Principles, Guidance, and Literacy Activities for School-Based Community Partners in Support of NYC Reads​

By Saskia Traill, PhD At the end of January, the New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) hosted a second session for community partners about literacy before and after school, and during summer or other holidays. Experts from the New York City Public Schools (NYCPS) central literacy collaborative updated community partners about the changes in public schools

Read More

Stay updated on ExpandED Schools in the news here.

Celebrating Literacy: The Roger Blissett Learning Library Book Bundle

It brings us great joy to share that the Roger Blissett Learning Library book sets are now accessible to students and educators, a tribute to our esteemed board member and honoree at our 25th Anniversary Gala, Roger Blissett. In honor of his dedication, we’ve donated 25 book bundles to local schools. Each library features four books, a lesson plan, and

Read More

ExpandED Schools Promotes Candace Brazier-Thurman to Chief Operating Officer

Candace Brazier-Thurman NEW YORK CITY, April 15, 2024 – ExpandED Schools, the largest intermediary nonprofit in New York City exclusively focused on advancing educational equity and delivering full-scale learning and development opportunities to students and educators, is pleased to announce the promotion of Candace Brazier-Thurman to the position of Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately. In her new role, Brazier-Thurman will

Read More

School Community Partnership: A Model for Educational Success

ExpandED Schools organized “School Community Partnership: A Model for Educational Success,” a policy breakfast that brought together Chancellor David Banks, DYCD Deputy Commissioner Denice Williams, and students Kenneth from PTech and Tyler from Humanities Preparatory Academy. The purpose of the panel was to delve into the state of school-community partnerships and explore the necessary steps to advance beyond the current

Read More

NYC STEM Network And ExpandED Schools Host Harlem’s District 4 Summer Rising STEAM Fair

NYC STEM Education Network, a coalition of over 100 STEM education organizations partnered with ExpandED Schools. A nonprofit that matches hundreds of the city’s schools with STEM providers, today hosted the District 4 Summer Rising STEAM Fair at PS/MS 007 Samuel Stern School in Harlem. The fair showcased students’ STEAM Summer Rising program projects and gave STEAM providers the opportunity to network

Read More

Explore reports on our various initiatives and annual reports:

25th-Anniversary Report

This report presents a comprehensive 25-year ExpandED Schools retrospective, highlighting our rich history, esteemed partners, and our transformative work in the field of afterschool.

View Report
Work-Based Learning Coalition Press Release Report Urging Citywide Coordination of Youth Opportunities
Toward Career-Connected Learning Recommendations for Systems Building, Coordination and Improvement
Annual Report 2023
25th-Anniversary Report
ExpandED Schools 2020 Annual Report