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When Christi Giles-Reed thinks about what makes a great afterschool program, it’s not just the activities or the schedule — it’s the feeling of belonging. As Service Area Manager for the Dallas Park and Recreation Department’s Out-of-School Time Division, she sees firsthand the difference it makes when kids feel safe, supported, and truly seen.
“At the core of our mission is a desire to create spaces where children not only feel safe, but seen,” Giles-Reed shares. “That kind of environment doesn’t just happen, it’s built. And our partnership with Dallas Afterschool has helped us build something truly special.”
With the help of Dallas Afterschool’s rigorous Afterschool Quality Advancement tool, the Park and Recreation team has embraced higher standards of quality, not as a burden, but as a tool for growth. “It’s not just a checklist,” says Giles-Reed. “It’s a guide, a mirror, and a motivator. It helps us reflect, improve, and celebrate how far we’ve come.”
Their commitment to that process has paid off. Today, Dallas Park & Recreation operates more afterschool sites certified as high quality than any other partner agency in our network. But the partnership goes beyond assessments. “Dallas Afterschool pours into our staff with ongoing training and support. They’ve helped turn our passion into practice and our intention into impact.”
The results speak for themselves: staff feel more confident and kids are flourishing. “We’ve seen shy students step into leadership roles, and part-time staff transform into powerful mentors,” says Giles-Reed. “When our staff thrive, our kids thrive.”
Her message to Dallas Afterschool? “Thank you for being part of our journey, for lifting us higher, and for making our work not only possible but powerful. We are better because of you. And that means Dallas is better, too.”
As we close out our fiscal year on June 30, we are sharing stories like these to demonstrate the impact of your support. When you give to a systems-building organization like Dallas Afterschool, your donation has an amplifying effect across our community. Help us continue this impact by making a gift today.
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