Practical Strategies for Strengthening OST Systems

Lessons from four cities

View this email in your browser Ideas and information to help you make a difference February 2026 Dear colleagues and friends, Picture this: you walk into a juice bar in South Baltimore, run by young people who are learning workforce skills and building financial confidence. What looks like a small business is also an afterschool program, a place where young people build confidence and leadership, and a source of connection, thanks to assistance from the city's intermediary. This is one example of how out-of-school-time intermediaries (OSTIs) are building sustainable, community-wide support for youth programming at a time when funding is uncertain and political divides run deep. As the connective tissue of local afterschool and summer learning systems, OSTIs have long brought together providers, schools, and funders. During the pandemic, many moved beyond just coordination to deeper partnerships with their communities and are now carrying that experience forward as they work to sustain and strengthen out-of-school-time systems amid new challenges. A three-part article series explores how OSTIs across the country are putting those lessons into practice. Making the case for out-of-school-time: In Cleveland and Tulsa, intermediaries have built a strong foundation for making the value of out-of-school-time visible and understood. Their work continues to evolve by focusing on shared priorities for children's healthy development, equipping community members with tools to contribute to public conversations, engaging directly with elected officials, and partnering with state-level organizations to extend their reach. Turning crisis response into lasting partnership: In Chattanooga, pandemic-era collaboration between schools and community organizations evolved into a durable partnership—co-developing tools to address chronic absenteeism, strengthen literacy, and strengthen connections between families and educators. Centering community voice: In Baltimore, investments in grassroots organizations, community input, and youth voice–paired with the intentional use of data–are helping build a more equitable and responsive OST system grounded in community leadership. Across all of these communities, a common theme emerges: OSTIs are moving beyond coordination to help communities align around shared goals and shape systems designed to last. These examples offer practical insights other intermediaries can adapt as they navigate change and uncertainty and work to expand opportunities for young people. Thank you, as always, for your interest. The Wallace Team FOLLOW THE WALLACE FOUNDATION Copyright © 2026 The Wallace Foundation, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: The Wallace Foundation 140 Broadway, 49th Floor New York, NY 10005 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.