After School Matters Teen Programs
After School Matters at Gately Park, 1065 N. Orleans St, Chicago, IL 60610
About
After School Matters Teen Programs offers hands-on activities in performing arts, visual arts, culinary arts, business, journalism, marketing, media, sports instruction, stadium management, health and wellness, applied and natural science, audio/visual work, industrial and information technology, welding, vocal rehearsal, dance, art, 3D printing, and skilled trades. Teens can take part in both culinary-focused programs and other creative and technical options such as screen-based media, design-related work, and technology projects.
• Ages: 14–18 years old
• Schedule: Spring programs run February 23–May 9, Summer programs run June 22–August 9, and Spring Break programs run March 23–27 as a one-week session.
• Price: Teens ages 14–15 in Apprenticeship programs earn a stipend, teens ages 16+ in Internship programs earn $16.60/hour, and Spring Break programs offer a $150 stipend; teens who participate and meet program requirements earn a financial stipend.
After School Matters began in 1991 as a summer arts program and has expanded to include arts, communications and leadership, sports, and STEM over 35 years. Its mission is to provide out-of-school opportunities for teens across Chicago to connect, create, and thrive, and it has become a national model for out-of-school time programming. Programs are open to Chicago teens in high school, with hundreds of paid options citywide, and teens can apply to up to six programs at once per session and manage applications and pay status through a Teen Dashboard.
Programs are supported by the City of Chicago, the Illinois State Board of Education, Chicago Public Schools, and other public and private donors, and are offered across almost every Chicago neighborhood in schools, parks, community centers, libraries, and community organizations. After School Matters supports nearly 20,000 teens each year, partners with community sites across the city, and ASM teens have met with state representatives and senators in Springfield, Illinois, for a day of advocacy. A Disabilities Program Spotlight Report highlights support for teens with disabilities, and Shop ASM features items made by Chicago teens.
Programs include Apprenticeships for ages 14–15 and Internships for ages 16+, and interviews are required. Teens must attend an interview to be considered and should come prepared for auditions or with art materials if the program requires it, and teens in Internships must complete employment verification, I-9, and W-4 forms after being placed. Teens can also complete the One Summer Chicago application and select “After School Matters” to complete the ASM application, and ASM has four teen-centric buildings designed specifically for Chicago teens.
One teen shared, “Having a place like this makes you feel like you’re part of a community. My program is so fun and informative.” An alum, Janessa Tyler, said, “After School Matters gives teens a reason to be excited and want to learn more. I love ASM and all the programs I have been in, they have truly changed me as a person and have helped open up so many doors for me to continue in my career and my college studies.”
Last updated April 18, 2026.
• Ages: 14–18 years old
• Schedule: Spring programs run February 23–May 9, Summer programs run June 22–August 9, and Spring Break programs run March 23–27 as a one-week session.
• Price: Teens ages 14–15 in Apprenticeship programs earn a stipend, teens ages 16+ in Internship programs earn $16.60/hour, and Spring Break programs offer a $150 stipend; teens who participate and meet program requirements earn a financial stipend.
After School Matters began in 1991 as a summer arts program and has expanded to include arts, communications and leadership, sports, and STEM over 35 years. Its mission is to provide out-of-school opportunities for teens across Chicago to connect, create, and thrive, and it has become a national model for out-of-school time programming. Programs are open to Chicago teens in high school, with hundreds of paid options citywide, and teens can apply to up to six programs at once per session and manage applications and pay status through a Teen Dashboard.
Programs are supported by the City of Chicago, the Illinois State Board of Education, Chicago Public Schools, and other public and private donors, and are offered across almost every Chicago neighborhood in schools, parks, community centers, libraries, and community organizations. After School Matters supports nearly 20,000 teens each year, partners with community sites across the city, and ASM teens have met with state representatives and senators in Springfield, Illinois, for a day of advocacy. A Disabilities Program Spotlight Report highlights support for teens with disabilities, and Shop ASM features items made by Chicago teens.
Programs include Apprenticeships for ages 14–15 and Internships for ages 16+, and interviews are required. Teens must attend an interview to be considered and should come prepared for auditions or with art materials if the program requires it, and teens in Internships must complete employment verification, I-9, and W-4 forms after being placed. Teens can also complete the One Summer Chicago application and select “After School Matters” to complete the ASM application, and ASM has four teen-centric buildings designed specifically for Chicago teens.
One teen shared, “Having a place like this makes you feel like you’re part of a community. My program is so fun and informative.” An alum, Janessa Tyler, said, “After School Matters gives teens a reason to be excited and want to learn more. I love ASM and all the programs I have been in, they have truly changed me as a person and have helped open up so many doors for me to continue in my career and my college studies.”
Last updated April 18, 2026.
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