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 (ARA) - Not every former orchestra member remembers how to play their favorite song and not every science club participant can still identify insects. However, school programs featuring these skills and others likely had a lasting impact on everybody who took part in them.
Quality after-school programs lead to improved test scores, lower drop-out rates, decreased disciplinary action and improved work habits, according to a 2008 study conducted by researchers at the Harvard Family Research Project. These researchers attributed these improvements to the fact that after-school programs "provide young people with appropriate supervision and structure, well-prepared staff, (and) intentional programming with opportunities for autonomy and choice."
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Keeping kids safe never really leaves a parent's mind, but the topic takes center stage for many parents when children return to school.
Whether you're watching your teenager motor away to her first day of school as a licensed driver, or your middle schooler sets off to walk to school by himself for the first time, knowing kids are versed in road safety rules can provide some peace of mind.
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 (ARA) - When most people think of disaster striking their homes, they think of the things they would lose.
"The most important question is: 'What should we save,'" says Lyman Munson, head of risk services at Fireman's Fund Insurance. "There's an easy answer to that query: When disaster strikes, family comes first."
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 (ARA) - We respect and admire volunteers for their devotion to a cause and their willingness to sacrifice their own needs for the needs of others. These selfless acts can often be life-changing for the person on the receiving end, but what about the person volunteering?
The health benefits of volunteering are well documented and include reduced stress and an increased feeling of self worth. It is no wonder that for many people with chronic conditions, volunteering can even help maintain or improve one's physical health.
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 Almost every single list of America's most depressed cities features Detroit at or near the top. Cities like Detroit that were built on industry have suffered in recent decades as manufacturers have taken their business to developing companies with lower production and employment costs.
While some would like to paint a bleak picture of Detroit's future, it is important to remember that the city is no worse off than European cities like Belfast or Turin that have managed to rebuild themselves in recent years. Indeed, Detroit has already begun the process of rebuilding itself from the ground up, not necessarily through economy or industry, but through construction.
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 (ARA) - There is new promise for the nation's malls. A fixture throughout America's cities and towns for decades, the conventional mall is in a state of decline. It is possible to rethink yesterday's malls with a creative vision that will return them to their prominent place in communities and realize lasting social, cultural and economic value. For example, just this summer, the former Santa Monica Place in Santa Monica, Calif., was transformed into a new center that, while operated like a mall, feels and functions like a part of the city.
Many of the nation's estimated 1,500 large malls are hurting financially, and hundreds are on the verge of collapse. Low sales, high vacancies and decreased patronage are some of the collective problems of the nation's malls often referred to as the "dead mall" phenomenon.
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Anyone who rides a motorcycle knows it comes with risks. The Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) estimates that 4,762 motorcyclists died in accidents in 2009. Now for the good news: It was the first time in 12 years that motorcycle fatalities decreased.
While motorcyclists are doing their part to keep themselves safe by wearing helmets and taking other safety measures, it's important that motorists increase their awareness of motorcycles.
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Now that summer is here, avid runners and bicyclists are out in droves, taking advantage of every opportunity to enjoy the activities they love. While it can sometimes be challenging to share the road with them, it's important to keep driving safely top of mind, especially at this time of year.
You never know when someone on foot, or on a bike, is going to run out or pull out in front of you. Here are three tips for making sure you don't end up crossing paths with a pedestrian.
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 (ARA) - A new study released by the Corporation for National and Community Services reported that the number of volunteers in America rose 1.6 million in the past year. The dramatic increase ultimately demonstrates that people are contributing to their communities at an increasing rate, even during financially challenging times.
Nonprofit organizations of all scales - small or large, local or international - rely on the generosity of others to support research and programming, increase awareness and ultimately help those in need. While individuals often lend a hand through social or religious groups, corporations are also playing a large role in giving back to an array of causes.
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