Taken together, these examples point to a consistent conclusion: swing space is not simply a facilities issue, it is an educational equity issue. Increased travel time, unfamiliar routes, and reduced proximity to school communities can contribute to chronic absenteeism, decreased family engagement, and enrollment instability. Additionally, disruptions to aftercare programs, staffing consistency, and daily routines can alter the overall culture of a school during the modernization period (51st News, 2024; DCPS, 2025).

BY Funding is proud to welcome Shanchara Marius and Tamara Bell as our 2026 LEE Policy Advisor Fellows.

At B.Y. Funding, we fund food because it removes barriers to participation, strengthens school communities, and creates the conditions for meaningful connection. Food is not an extra. It is an essential support that helps families show up, students stay engaged, and schools build the relationships that make learning possible.

School programming often happens outside the traditional school day, during evenings, weekends, or extended hours, when families are balancing work, transportation, and caregiving responsibilities. When food is missing from these spaces, access becomes unequal. When food is present, participation becomes possible.

That is why B.Y. Funding invests in food as a core part of school-based programming.

B.Y. Funding is awarded the Community Assistance Award by Alpha Kappa Alpha Educational Advancement Foundation Inc.