September/October 2025

SHINE THE LIGHTS ON AFTERSCHOOL!

Lights On Afterschool is October 23, 2025!

Lights On Afterschool is back for its 26th year, celebrating afterschool programs, students, and staff!

Taking place this year on October 23, 2025, this nationwide event brings together more than 8,000 programs, calling attention to the importance of afterschool programs and the resources required to keep the lights on and the doors open. Iowa Afterschool Alliance is proud to be a Lights On Afterschool Partner.

There’s still time to plan a fun and effective celebration! Visit the searchable events database for more examples on how to uplift youth voice sorted by theme, planning time, difficulty, and more. Want to incorporate literacy into your event, too? Check out this blog from WRiTE BRAiN founder Meredith Scott Lynn for creative ideas on bringing literacy and storytelling to your Lights On Afterschool celebration.

With only three weeks left until Lights On Afterschool, now is the time to register and get your ten free posters before the October 9 deadline. Once you sign up, we’ll be in your inbox each week with top planning tips to help you make the most of the time between now and Lights On Afterschool Day.

Lights On Afterschool Toolkit

Thank you to all of our 2025 Impact Afterschool Conference Attendees!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2025 Impact Afterschool Conference! Your energy and commitment made this year’s event a success. More photos are posted on IAA's Facebook page —be sure to check them out and tag your program. And don’t forget to complete the conference surveys so we can keep improving and make next year even better!

Survey links can be found here.

Thank you to our 2025 Impact Afterschool Conference Sponsors!

Professional Development Opportunities

IAA is seeking afterschool sites interested in

STEM Career-Connected Learning!

We are seeking afterschool program providers who are interested in joining Working Together for Tomorrow Community of Practice. This community of practice is an initiative of STEM Next in partnership with Iowa Afterschool Alliance designed to build the capacity of program providers and their staff to integrate career-connected learning strategies in afterschool and summer STEM. You can find more information about what is required here.

Questions? Reach out to Adriana Slaughter at aslaughter@iowaafterschoolalliance.org.

Afterschool Assets

Iowa STEM Summit

Mark your calendar for Friday, October 17, 2025! The Iowa STEM Summit will be held at the Community Choice Credit Union Convention Center in Des Moines. This full-day event brings together educators, business leaders, policymakers, and STEM advocates to explore innovative strategies, share best practices, and hear from leaders shaping the future of STEM and artificial intelligence.

Contact summit@IowaSTEM.org with questions.

Des Moines University High School Pre-Health Summit

Des Moines University's High School Pre-Health Summit is designed to help students explore the opportunities DMU has to offer in the health sciences. This event will be virtual and run by current DMU students! Through this virtual event, students will have the chance to interact with DMU students while also learning more about the path to a career in health science.

More information can be found via DMU.

Join Future City Iowa for an authentic project that transforms middle school students’ understanding of engineering and strengthens their teamwork, problem-solving, and project management skills. FAQs and further contact information can be found on the Future City Iowa webpage.

Join Iowa Cyber Hub for their family friendly Youth Cyber Summit where members of our communities will be showcasing their cybersecurity knowledge. Connect with presenters and enjoy various activities at our booths and sessions. The Youth Cyber Summit is held at various college campuses around Iowa on October 29th, 10am to 2pm. To find your summit location, visit The Iowa Cyber Hub webpage.

Need technical assistance? Access to materials? Professional development or trainings for your team? Visit our Linktree or website for guidance to IAA resources!

Iowa Afterschool Alliance | www.iowaafterschoolalliance.org