The South Dakota Afterschool Network works to better our state and its communities by connecting providers, parents and policymakers with proven tools and resources to increase the quality of and access to out-of-school time programming for K-12 children and youth.

Afterschool is a lifeline that keeps youth safe, helps kids learn and grow, and provides parents the ability to work without worry. While South Dakota is home to more than 300 afterschool programs, the demand for programs exceeds available spaces. In fact, 1 in 3 South Dakota children (34 percent) who are not in an afterschool program would be enrolled if it were available. That’s more than 42,000 children who are missing out on opportunities to participate in programming that supports their development academically, socially and economically.

Afterschool can provide valuable opportunities for students to explore STEM, and we are here to help your program succeed in STEM Learning! From webinars and trainings to our signature TMC Trailers that bring turnkey STEM activities to your doorstep, our diverse collection of resources meets you and your students where you are and provides the support you need to deliver quality programming to your students at any age. 

The South Dakota Afterschool Network wanted to create a mapping tool to better understand the landscape of afterschool and summer programs available for children and families. From the initial launch of the new mapping tool, we have identified some startling findings.

Welcome Our New Director of Marketing and Engagement!

Our team is growing again! We are so excited to introduce Lisa Verdin as our new Director of Marketing and Engagement!

“Lisa is a gifted storyteller and strategic communicator with deep knowledge in the field of afterschool,” SDAN Executive Director Billy Mawhiney said. “Her role on our team will accelerate growth of resources and communications, amplifying our mission and allowing us to do so much more as we serve afterschool programs and communities in South Dakota.”

Meet Lisa Verdin
Director of Marketing and Engagement

Fifteen years ago, after working post-college in for-profit marketing roles, I landed in the nonprofit world by chance and have spent every moment since falling in love with the missions I have been able to serve. I have always felt fortunate to hold what I see as the best job in an organization, the storyteller. After spending the past eight years telling the story of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sioux Empire, my passion for the mission of supporting youth has become synonymous with my personal mission to spend my life doing what I can to create a better tomorrow for others. I’m excited join SDAN to continue telling the story of the importance access to quality afterschool programming plays in creating a better tomorrow.

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