Several mass communication students are teaming up with the Louisiana Center for Afterschool Learning and Rotolo’s to create mini-grants for after-school programs.

Mass communication senior Meg Then headed a group in a public relations capstone class that chose LACAL as its nonprofit to assist.

Rotolo’s agreed to donate 10 percent of its profits to LACAL, “without hesitation,” Then said.

“We chose LACAL because we wanted to help break the image of after-school programs as a baby-sitting service and rebrand them as an enriching learning time,” Then said.

Dara Shackelford, policy director at the partnership for youth development, said this is the goal of LACAL, as well.

Shackelford said the partnership with a University class made sense because LACAL promotes enrichment and real-life application of learning on all levels.

She said the partnership will hopefully raise enough money to fund a few $500 to $1,000 grants for youth-led after-school programs that try to further the learning of school-aged children.

“We’re crossing our fingers. We’ve been trying to get the word out,” Shackelford said.

Shackelford said she has been pleased with the outcome and thinks the partnership has been mutually beneficial.

“This is very different from reading in books about the skills you should have. It’s applied to a real-life situation,” Then said.

She said her class started from scratch and created all of the visual and social media the program used.

Then said it is an experience everyone should have because it is fulfilling to help a community.

Other classes in the Manship School of Mass Communication are working to raise money with the LSU Museum of Art and the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency.