Meet the 2026 OST Award Nominees
Below, learn more about the nominees for ACT Now’s Out-of-School Time (OST) Advocate Award, which recognizes individuals who go above and beyond to champion the importance and impact of out-of-school time programs. Whether through leadership, innovation, or unwavering support, these advocates play a vital role in advocating for OST programs, which enrich the lives of children and youth beyond the traditional classroom.
Vote for the Out-of-School Time Advocate by 9:00 a.m., October 6th, 2026.
Syerra Meadows-Haynes
Director of Community Collaboration, East Side Aligned
Why Syerra was nominated: “I am nominating my wife, Syerra Meadows-Haynes, for the OST Advocate Award because I have had the privilege of seeing firsthand how deeply committed she is to ensuring young people in East St. Louis have access to the opportunities, relationships, and support they deserve beyond the school day.
Through her leadership with East Side Aligned and the East St. Louis Youth Development Alliance, Syerra brings youth-serving organizations together around a shared goal: building a stronger, more connected out-of-school time system. She advocates not only for young people, but also for the organizations and professionals serving them—helping partners access resources, strengthen programming, build relationships, and work collectively rather than in isolation.
Her impact can be seen through her leadership of the 2026 Youth Development Alliance Summit, which brought together nearly 200 youth development professionals and community partners for learning, connection, and capacity building. She has also helped advance collaborative efforts around youth mental health and wellness, youth voice and leadership, professional development, and resources that strengthen OST programming throughout East St. Louis.
What inspires me most is knowing that this work is more than a job to Syerra. She genuinely believes in the potential of young people and the importance of investing in the people and organizations that surround them. She consistently uses her leadership, relationships, and voice to ensure young people are seen, heard, supported, and given opportunities to thrive.”
Key Mitchell
Cook, Beyond the Bell
Why Key was nominated: “Key spends so much time thinking about how to better not only the food, but the lives of the kids at Beyond The Bell. They work so hard to advocate for those kids, and to provide a safe space that the staff and kids can go to talk or just freely be themselves. And they try to make sure all the kids get food that they want to see at dinnertime. Key always tells me how fulfilled they feel doing this job, and I think that’s just so wonderful.”
Mayumi Suzue-Pan
Founder, SKATE for Girls
Why Mayumi was nominated: “I have had the opportunity to work closely with Mayumi in developing and implementing SKATE for Girls, and I have seen firsthand the thought, effort, and care she brings to creating meaningful out-of-school opportunities for students. Together, we have grown SKATE for Girls from an idea into a structured nonprofit program combining mathematics education, mentorship, and figure skating.
Mayumi is involved in nearly every aspect of the program, including curriculum development, volunteer coordination, logistics, partnerships, and adapting activities based on student needs. What stands out most is her commitment to continuous improvement. After sessions, we regularly discuss what worked, where students struggled, and how we can make the next lesson stronger. She pays close attention not only to academic progress, but also to whether students feel confident, supported, and excited to participate.
That approach has produced measurable results. Participants have shown an average 58% improvement in math assessment scores, and programs have received an average participant rating of 9.9 out of 10. Beyond these outcomes, Mayumi works constantly to remove barriers to participation by coordinating with schools and families, addressing transportation and scheduling challenges, and recruiting and training university volunteers.
Mayumi is also a collaborative and thoughtful leader. She actively seeks feedback, adjusts her ideas when needed, and takes responsibility for turning a clear vision into action. Her leadership has created a program where students can grow academically, try a new sport, build relationships with mentors, and gain confidence as both learners and athletes in meaningful, lasting, personal ways.”
Mayra Tellez
Resource Coordinator, Brighton Park Neighborhood Council
Why Mayra was nominated: “Ms. Mayra is one of the most kind, creative, and the definition of a team player. During the School Day and well into After School Time she is all hands-on deck helping and providing support. She contributes a lot of her time to plan and execute fun and successful school events for the students, staff, and families during after school hours. Additionally, she coordinates after school programs for the students and classes for parents, field trips, and so much more. Ms. Mayra has a safe space for her students and actively listens to their needs and supports them the best she can. With the most recent ICE Raids Ms. Mayra makes sure to make sure all students are with their guardian and if walking home going the extra mile to make sure the students are safe and get to their parents. She also helped with providing extra resources for those families that needed it and to feel safe and seen during these hard times. Ms. Mayra is a great example of a OST Champ and very deserving of the OST Advocate Award.”
Descriptions of each nominee were provided by the person who nominated them. Descriptions may have been edited for clarity or length.
