Copyright M Live Michigan
FLINT, MI - For 11-year-old Nasser Hopkins-Smith, the best part of the day isn’t when school ends — it’s what comes after. “My favorite part is going outside,” the sixth grader said with a grin. “I asked my parents if I could join. I wanted to be part of it.” Hopkins-Smith is one of about 40 students who stay after class each day for the Thrive Afterschool program at Freeman Elementary School, one of several Flint sites operated by the Flint Center for Educational Excellence. The program, which serves students from kindergarten through sixth grade, is part of a citywide network celebrating Lights On Afterschool this month — a national initiative that highlights the importance of afterschool programming across the country. Inside Freeman’s gym, the hum of activity fills the air. Students start by washing their hands before sitting down for a meal, followed by games, homework help, and a rotating schedule of creative projects. On this particular day, they ended with a “sip and paint” activity — decorating bright lightbulbs on canvas, symbolizing the “Lights On” theme. “Every year we try to do something different,” said Alluna Calloway-Lang, Freeman’s community school director. “This gives our kids a safe environment after school. A lot of kids stay at home and don’t have nobody at home with them. Parents are still working. These parents need their kids to be somewhere. A safe program like this is where the kids should be.” Calloway-Lang oversees a team of six staff members who guide about 40 students daily. The Flint Center’s programs are licensed child care programs, offering structured care and learning opportunities for families who might otherwise struggle to find affordable options. A typical day begins with a meal, followed by homework help and enrichment activities designed to build both academic skills and self-confidence. Students take part in everything from art to team-building games — and even field trips. “We help them with homework and take them places,” Calloway-Lang said. “A lot of kids have never been out of Flint, but we’re able to take them there.” For Calloway-Lang, who has worked with children for three decades, the motivation goes beyond a paycheck. “I don’t do it for the money,” she said. “I’ve been doing it for 30 years and I do it for the expressions on these kids’ faces.” That passion is shared by her team. Michella Johnson, a success coach who works with five kindergartners and five first graders, said the energy from her students keeps her going. “They give me a lot of energy and motivate me,” Johnson said. “I love what I do.” Danae Bush, another success coach who joined the Flint Center in 2023, leads a class she calls Color Me Calm — where students learn about blending colors and “rainbow diversity.” “The kids get to have a voice in what they do,” Bush said. “They get input into what activities they want to do and have structure. I like seeing the kids grow.” While Freeman’s site offers a glimpse into one school’s experience, the effort extends across the city. More than 3,500 Flint students have participated in Thrive Afterschool programs since the Flint Center began offering them. Independent research shows that students who attend are more likely to come to school and perform better academically than peers who don’t participate. For every two weeks spent in Thrive Afterschool programs, student school attendance increased by 1.3%, according to Flint Center officials. Students in Flint’s Thrive On (elementary) and Thrive Up (secondary) programs also performed better on district assessments, including the NWEA tests. By midyear, students who started slightly behind were outperforming their non-participating peers, according to the Thrive Afterschool Summary of the First Year (2023-2024) report by Harmony Research LLC. To celebrate those gains, the Flint Center is hosting Lights On Afterschool events at multiple schools through Oct. 23. Each event features family-friendly activities, from paint-your-own-masterpiece nights to glow parties and two-generation games. “They do this out of a labor of love,” said Dawn Hibbard, director of communications for the Flint Center. At Freeman Elementary, that love is clear in every classroom — in the laughter during art time, the focus during homework hour, and the way staff talk about their students as if they were family. For kids like Hopkins-Smith, the program isn’t just a place to pass the time; it’s a place to dream. He says he wants to be an NBA player one day. But for now, he’s just happy to have somewhere to play, learn and feel seen. “I have an amazing time here,” he said.
