Who is GRASA?

The Greater Rochester Afterschool & Summer Alliance (GRASA), an initiative of Rochester Area Community Foundation, supports and advocates for expanding the quality and quantity of, and access to, out-of-school time opportunities for children ages 5 to 18 throughout the Greater Rochester area.

Out-of-school time (OST) consists of programs that happen outside of the classroom, before and after school, on weekends and during the summer; located in school buildings or community settings; managed or operated by schools, community organizations (faith-based and sports), parks, camps, and municipalities; and serving children and youth in grades K-12.

As the OST intermediary within Monroe County, NY, GRASA fosters collaboration and coordination within and across programs, maximizing resources and outcomes, to increase children's successes socially, emotionally, physically and academically. Through GRASA, the OST landscape in our community strives for continuous quality improvement. Network members have access to tailored professional development opportunities, resources to drive the success of their programs, collaboration to leverage learning, and an advocacy voice to move OST forward for Greater Rochester youth and families.

Locally, GRASA also convenes policymakers and funders to address systemic issues and advocacy needs in the OST field. On the broader stage, GRASA is a member of  Every Hour Counts, the national OST intermediary, and regularly shares information and best practices with agencies and programs across the country. These connected conversations impact outcomes, as well.