Today, Micah Raskin is involved in several impactful community-building programs and outreaches targeting individuals in the neighborhoods of Queens, NY who need support the most. Below, he provides three distinct ways the afterschool program he’s helped to create has a tremendous impact in the students in his community.
Professional poker player Micah Raskin regularly volunteers at many community-building programs in Queens, NY where much help is needed. He frequently assists prepare food for local soup kitchens, rallies food donations, and maintains the property. In addition, he was instrumental in the creation of an after-school program at a nearby public school that has proven to have a lot of promise for at-risk students.
Believing these programs to be crucial to many kids’ development, Micah Raskin shares three ways after-school programs benefit his own community and the positive impact they can have on students anywhere.
Boosting Academic Performance
“The students in after-school programs may not perform the best in class because of a number of factors in their life in and outside of school,” says Micah Raskin. “These programs encourage diligent work and allow more one-on-one time between instructors and educators than in traditional public schoolroom settings.”
Studies have shown that students in after-school programs, who receive more time to accomplish work and to learn from adults, can greatly improve in areas like mathematics and reading. Consistent homework support in these programs is considered one of the key factors for increased academic performance.
Improving Classroom Behavior
Students in after-school programs often increase their sense of success as adults reinforce positive behavior and reward for their efforts at schoolwork. By attending conducive programs when school lets out, students are also alleviated of typical outside pressures such as poverty and living in overcrowded environments.
Because of this, students can find more peace and receive more appreciation from adults, which can improve behavior both in the classroom and outside of it. This leads to far less bullies and fewer opportunities for the cycle of abuse to continue.
Encouraging Better Health and Nutrition
It’s been shown that children in after-school programs learn healthier habits such as increased physical activity and improved nutrition, which can have positive outcomes like reduced obesity. Certain after-school programs participate in additional programs like CACFP that directly provide food, drinks, and snacks to students who may not have access to them at home.
After-school programs during the summers have an especially strong impact on health and nutrition because they offer more opportunities to share food and snacks that meet dietary needs. By providing a source of healthy food consistently, these programs instill lasting habits.
“After-school programs provide academic support and positive youth development that translates into healthier, happier, and better performing students of all levels,” says Micah Raskin. “We’re in dire need of more of these programs in public school throughout the country, but especially in those neighborhoods with high numbers of at-risk students.”
