The national nonprofit organization Afterschool Alliance has selected Peter Tedtaotao, director of the Ft. Shafter Youth Center, to serve as a 2009-2010 Afterschool Ambassador. Tedtaotao is one of 19 local leaders from 15 states selected as an ambassador this year and the first Afterschool Ambassador ever from Hawai'i, according to a press release.

The Afterschool Alliance is a nonprofit public awareness and advocacy organization working to ensure that all children and youth have access to quality afterschool programs.
Ambassadors selected will continue directing or supporting their local afterschool programs while also serving a one-year Afterschool Ambassador term organizing public events, communicating with policy makers, and building support for afterschool programs.
“Quality afterschool programs keep kids safe, inspire them to learn, and help working families,” Afterschool Alliance executive director Jodi Grant said in a release. “Americans strongly support afterschool programs but across the nation, we’re seeing programs cut back or closed in the face of recession-driven budget cuts.
“Peter brings energy and talent to the role of Afterschool Ambassador and will spread the word about the urgent need to make afterschool programs available to all children and families that need them,” Grant said. “I look forward to working with him to build even stronger support for afterschool among parents, business and community leaders, lawmakers, and the media. We are proud to have Peter on our team.”
As director at Ft. Shafter Youth Center, Tedtaotao works to provide quality care for children ages 5 through 12. The Center serves 72 children before school and 76 after school. Tedtaotao is in his fourth year working with Child & Youth School Services for the Department of the Army, which has four Youth Centers serving some 350 children for soldiers stationed in the state.
“I’m delighted to have this wonderful opportunity to help secure the future of afterschool programs for kids and families in our community, and across the state and nation,” Tedtaotao said in a press release. “I’m proud of the contribution afterschool programs make to the community, and look forward to helping expand support for them.”
To learn more, visit www.afterschoolalliance.org