Nearly 500 students, parents and nonprofit group advocates showed up at California’s state Capitol on Tuesday to urge lawmakers to invest in after-school programming. The teenagers are sending a message: Kids need human connection, not AI chatbots.“I hope to show lawmakers and legislators the power that these afterschool programs have,” said Justine Chueh-Griffith, a student at Sacramento’s West Campus High School. “It helped me connect with students outside of my high school. And then also interact with students in a more social environment after school rather than just going home and rotting away on my phone or laptop.”Students and advocates asked lawmakers to support Assembly Bill 2430, also known as the Bridge & Boost Act, authored by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, D-Torrance.It’s legislation supporters say would expand access to afterschool activities and learning programs, specifically for teens – providing them with trusted adult mentors, mental health support, and career opportunities during critical hours after school when youth typically dig into device time for emotional support.“We know that though a third of the students in California are high school students only 2% of all of our funding goes to those students,” explained Jessica Gunderson, co-CEO of the California Afterschool Advocacy Alliance.The students hope their presence sends a message about the importance of programs that keep them engaged with kids their age instead of having them turn to tech for connections that can’t be found on a screen.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

Nearly 500 students, parents and nonprofit group advocates showed up at California’s state Capitol on Tuesday to urge lawmakers to invest in after-school programming.

The teenagers are sending a message: Kids need human connection, not AI chatbots.

“I hope to show lawmakers and legislators the power that these afterschool programs have,” said Justine Chueh-Griffith, a student at Sacramento’s West Campus High School. “It helped me connect with students outside of my high school. And then also interact with students in a more social environment after school rather than just going home and rotting away on my phone or laptop.”

Students and advocates asked lawmakers to support Assembly Bill 2430, also known as the Bridge & Boost Act, authored by Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, D-Torrance.

It’s legislation supporters say would expand access to afterschool activities and learning programs, specifically for teens – providing them with trusted adult mentors, mental health support, and career opportunities during critical hours after school when youth typically dig into device time for emotional support.

“We know that though a third of the students in California are high school students only 2% of all of our funding goes to those students,” explained Jessica Gunderson, co-CEO of the California Afterschool Advocacy Alliance.

The students hope their presence sends a message about the importance of programs that keep them engaged with kids their age instead of having them turn to tech for connections that can’t be found on a screen.

See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel