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On the Record

What people have said publicly.

Sourced, attributable quotes from parents, PTA leaders, providers, workers, elected officials, and DYCD itself. Family stories submitted to the campaign appear separately, only with documented consent.

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  • ProviderMay 21, 2026
    “The Computer School had identified Manhattan Youth as the best fit — another provider was selected.”
    Jessica Shalom
    Principal, The Computer School (M.S. 245)

    On-record statement to Chalkbeat that the school identified Manhattan Youth as best fit, but a different provider was awarded under the 2026 rebid.

    Source: Chalkbeat, May 21, 2026 ↗

  • ParentJune 2026
    “It's heartbreaking.”
    Gilberte Lal
    P.S. 115, Canarsie

    On the loss of an 18-year afterschool program her family relied on.

    Source: Public statement at P.S. 115 rally · June 2026

  • ParentJune 2026
    “This has been really devastating.”
    Manuela Garcia
    District 2

    On the abrupt provider change at her child's middle school.

    Source: Public rally testimony · June 2026

  • ParentJune 2026
    “Help it make sense.”
    Bervin Harris
    Brooklyn

    On the lack of a written transition plan from DYCD.

    Source: Public rally testimony · June 2026

  • Elected OfficialJune 2026
    “These programs save lives.”
    Council Member Althea Stevens
    Chair, Committee on Children & Youth

    On the broader value of afterschool programming during the FY27 budget process.

    Source: City Council statement · June 2026

  • DYCDMay 28, 2026
    “Young people are resilient and adaptable to change.”
    Sandra Escamilla-Davies, DYCD Commissioner
    NYC Department of Youth & Community Development

    Testimony in response to questions about transition planning for displaced students and staff. The campaign's response is that resilience is not a written transition plan — see /responses.

    Source: City Council Committee on Immigration · Executive Budget Hearing, May 28, 2026 ↗

  • Student2025–2026
    “This program is the only reason I come to school.”
    Anonymous student
    Reposted from DYCD's public social channels

    Composite of student messages publicly posted on DYCD's own Instagram account. Names and signatures removed; original posts remain public on DYCD's feed.

    Source: DYCD Instagram · 2025–2026

  • StudentJune 2026
    “Afterschool is where I see my friends from other classes — it's the only time we're all together.”
    Baruch student (name withheld)
    J.H.S. 104 Simon Baruch · paraphrase pending consent

    Paraphrase drawn from the ~400 student letters PTA leadership referenced at public hearings. Verbatim letters are being archived; names are withheld pending student/guardian consent.

    Source: Baruch PTA student letter drive · June 2026

  • StudentMay–June 2026
    “If sports get cut, I don't know what I'm doing after 3.”
    Lab Middle student (name withheld)
    NYC Lab Middle School · paraphrase pending consent

    Paraphrase from family submissions following the May 20 Lab Middle school-news post that the incoming YMCA provider will not fund MSAL sports next year. Direct quotes will be added with consent.

    Source: Family submissions · Lab Middle, May–June 2026

Submit your own — consent required.

The quotes above are drawn from public hearings, public petitions, public rallies, and DYCD's own public communications. We don't publish anonymous parent quotes or unverified social-media posts here. Stories submitted directly to the campaign are only published after we confirm wording, school, and how your name should appear — or not appear.

If you are a parent, student, or afterschool staff member willing to go on the record about the COMPASS / SONYC rebid, share your story and we will follow up to confirm before anything is posted.

Share your story →Afterschool staff: submit →
Looking for what officials, awardees, and displaced providers have already said on the record? Read the responses page →
On the ground · May–June 2026
Student Letters — consent-based archive

Five prompts. Real student writing. Only with consent.

The campaign has collected hundreds of student letters (Baruch PTA delivered ~400 alone). They are being archived under five prompts below. We publish only with explicit student and guardian consent, and we use initials unless a family asks otherwise.

  • Verification in progress — pending consent

    What afterschool means to me

    Letters and signs about what the program is, in the student's own words. Verification: pending consent.

  • Verification in progress — pending consent

    The adult I trust

    Coaches, club leaders, and staff students name as the person they go to. Verification: pending consent.

  • Verification in progress — pending consent

    The team or club where I found my people

    MSAL teams, theater, debate, robotics, fencing — the rooms where students say they belong. Verification: pending consent.

  • Verification in progress — pending consent

    What I am afraid of losing

    Specific programs, relationships, and routines the student names. Verification: pending consent.

  • Verification in progress — pending consent

    What I want DYCD to know

    Direct messages from students to the agency. Verification: pending consent.

What the rebid is disrupting.

Photos from the Wagner rally and District 2 afterschool sites — the rooms, classrooms, and stages that the contract turnover puts in question.

Families gathered outside J.H.S. 167 Robert F. Wagner for the Save Afterschool rally
Wagner rally · East Side, Manhattan
Parents and students with handmade signs at the J.H.S. 167 Wagner rally
Wagner rally · parent + student signs
Middle-school students in a theater circle during afterschool programming
Theater circle · the program kids show up for
Students working on a laptop together in an afterschool setting
Homework + clubs · 3:00–6:00 PM

Photos: Save Afterschool NYC, May–June 2026. Used with consent.