LOS ANGELES — Afterschool programs keep kids safe, further learning and give working parents peace of mind, yet less than 1/3 of LA kids have access to these programs. 

A new alliance called ExpandLA is working to change that.

She was once a student here at Legacy LA, but at just 23 years old, Cassandra Castillo Tapia is already paying it forward as a program coordinator overseeing their tech center for teens. 

“I am currently helping my students edit,” she said. “They are working on a film regarding the gentrification in Los Angeles.”

With many programs like this, Legacy LA is an organization that helps youth living in east LA by offering them alternatives to gangs and violence. 

For Tapia’s mom, Maria, this also became a safe space.

Through workshops and trainings, she found community and resources that made her feel equipped and empowered to take on her role as a single mother of three. 

She says the people helped her raise her children, and even offered Tapia therapy when she was struggling with her mental health. 

Legacy LA founder Lou Calanche says seeing a lack of these types of services available in the community she was born and raised in is what motivated her to fill this gap. 

Now she’s moving on to do it again on a much larger scale, leading a new initiative called ExpandLA.

It’s a first of its kind learning alliance made up of over 200 after school providers across LA County, joining forces to garner additional support and funding for the programs that help keep children and young adults on the path to success. 

“Only 33% of low income kids have access to out-of-school time programs, high-quality programs,” Calanche explained. “One of the goals of ExpandLA is to ensure that policies focus on increasing access to these programs.”

Two of the presenters at the launch of the alliance were students who said after school programming changed their young lives. 

Ayleen Gaytan, 18, says she’s suffered severely with anxiety and depression and at some points didn’t think she’d be alive to tell her story today. Now, she’s finally looking forward to her future. 

“I’m trying my best to let people know around my age, if you feel sad, just feel sad, if you feel like crying, it’s okay to cry,” Gaytan explained.

And if they need a healthy outlet for those emotions, after school leaders like Cassandra are ready to help them tap into their creative side. 

“I get to teach our students how to film, how to create art, how to make something with a purpose and share their stories,” she said.

Giving them a voice to transform their lives and community. 

For more information about ExpandLA, click here.