The first benefit of after-school programs
should be obvious.
They give kids a place to go after school.
It's right there in the name.
Come on.
Keep up, stupid.
It's true.
Kids need to stay busy, especially teens.
If they don't have something to do,
they're going to find something to do.
That's why juvenile crime peaks between 2:00 and 6:00
every day.
But kids in school programs are less likely to drink,
do drugs, or join a gang.
Because kids get tired pretty quickly.
They only got enough energy for either a carjacking
or a dance recital.
[laughter]
They can't do both.
[applause]
Kids aren't the only one who benefit.
Because for every dollar spent on an after-school program,
the state gets nearly $7 back in potential benefits
thanks to lower teenage pregnancy,
substance abuse, and crime.
Now, that doesn't mean that every kid
in an after-school program is never going to commit a crime.
But if a kid stays off the streets
and makes it to college, then some day he can
commit a white-collar crime.
[cheering]
That's the dream!
But the impact goes far beyond keeping kids busy.
They also help kids succeed in school.
After-school programs are linked
to higher grades, attendance, and graduation rates.
The only thing better than that is bribing your kid's teacher.
Take it from me.
That shit can get expensive.
Shawn.
[laughter]
[cheering]
They also expose kids to new interests--
music, art, language.
There's no limit to the ways after-school programs
can broaden your horizons.
And I mean no limit.
REPORTER: Parents in Southeast Virginia voicing outrage
over a proposal to add an after-school Satan
Club to a local public elementary school that teaches
pre-K through second grade.
The national director for the Satan Club defended the idea.
We don't try to indoctrinate them into Satanism.
We just want to offer a place that's
fun, exciting, free from any sort of threats
of eternal damnation.
[laughter]
How come that bitch didn't blink?
[laughter]
Yes, they even have a Satanism Club.
You know there's some parents who are like,
oh, my god, that's horrible.
But is it free though?
[laughter]
So it's clear that after-school programs
are hugely beneficial.
The problem is they just don't get a lot of money.
The federal government is barely funding these programs.
And state governments aren't doing much better.
But it is possible because California did it.
In fact, for the past 20 years, California
has outspent all the other 49 states
combined on after-school programs, which is messed up.
Because California actually has shit to do after school.
[laughter]
I mean, seriously, compare that to South Dakota.
There ain't shit to do in South Dakota.
Kids can only look at Mount Rushmore
for so long before they're like, all right,
it's time to do some meth.
[laughter]
[cheering]
But the reason California spends so much
on after-school programs is thanks to the work of one
very kind, dedicated kindergarten teacher.
REPORTER: In 2002, Arnold Schwarzenegger
was almost single-handedly responsible for California's
passage of Prop 49, which made after-school
funding mandatory.
Even today, the former governor raises
money for after-school programs with fun charity events like
crushing things with his tank.
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER: I'm inviting you
personally to Los Angeles to crush things in my tank
with me.
Let's crush a taxicab.
Let's crush a piano.
This will benefit the After-School All-Stars.
So what are you waiting for?
Let's go around and crush things with that tank.
[cheering]
Who knew that big, buff mother-mother-[bleep] loved kids
(IMITATING ARNOLD) Ah, save the children.
[laughter]
We got to get more celebrities to turn
their obsessions into charity.
Tom Cruise, start jumping out of airplanes
to save baby seals.
Snoop Dogg, smoke weed for global warming, baby.
[cheering]
Leonardo DiCaprio, well, if you've seen his girlfriends,
he's already running an after-school program.
[laughter]
[cheering]
I'm sorry, Leo.
They made me say it.
Please, let me in your parties.
[laughter]
Now, as awesome as this is, our after-school programs
shouldn't depend on whether anyone wants to hang out
with Arnold Schwarzenegger.
We need to find a more reliable way
to fund these programs because they're
important to underprivileged kids.
And I know what I'm talking about
because after-school programs was important to me.
That's why I'm talking about this shit.
I grew up in the projects in New York City.
And there was 10 of us in our household, 10 Wayans kids.
And thanks god we had after-school programs.
It exposed us to the arts.
Imagine if all that energy and work ethic
was directed towards slinging drugs.
I'm not saying we'd be the Wayans cartel.
But we would have got a lot of mother-mother-[bleep] hig
[cheering]
Now, listen, it changed our life and not just
for our family.
But for a lot of kids in the after-school programs,
it did well.
But for those who stays on the streets, mm, not so much.
See, it makes all the difference
to be in a place that keeps you busy,
keeps you fed, keeps you protected,
even from the bullies.
All the bullies who say, 3 o'clock, I'mma kick your ass,
you're like, oh, so what, nigga?
I'm here till 6:00.
So--
[laughter]
[applause]
The bully has to join the drama program just to find you.
I'mma kick your ass after rehearsal, Marlon.
But, first, let's read this sonnet from Hamlet.
So long story short, we need to make
funding after-school programs a national priority.
It literally benefits everyone-- the kids, the
community, and especially you.
Because if I didn't have after-school programs,
you could have been robbed by Wayans.
[laughter]
And there's a lot of us.