Global Kids is pleased to announce the 2021 U.S. in the World Energy Policy Institute. This free, two week-long institute will be held remotely in partnership with The African American Library at the Gregory School in downtown Houston. High school students of diverse backgrounds will explore energy policy and human rights issues, and enhance their leadership, communication, and critical thinking skills through interactive workshops, virtual field trips, virtual college visits, and dialogue with guest speakers.

For more information and for the application, click here.

The Center for the Healing of Racism is hosting a one-hour presentation in celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Month. In light of the recent violence targeted against people from the AAPI community, they will provide an overview of Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders in the Greater Houston area and discuss ideas for building alliances going forward. The presentation will be in English and Spanish. This Zoom presentation is Free and open to the public. All are welcome.

When: Tuesday May 18

Time: 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Registration & information.

The American Camp Association (ACA), the CDC, and the Association of Camp Nursing (ACN) have teamed together to answer your questions and deliver updated guidance from the CDC.

This FREE 90-minutes Town Hall style webinar is open to camp directors and out-of-school time (OST) professionals.

Anyone who wants to participate is encouraged to review the CDC 2021 Guidance for Operating Youth and Summer Camps, the CDC Public Health Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated People, the ACA Field Guide for Camps. Gather your questions ahead of time and complete this short survey.

When: Thursday May 13th Time: 1:30 pm- 3:00 pm

You may register for this event here.

County Connections Youth Summer Initiative 2021, funded directly by Harris County, supports nonprofit organizations that address the need for youth

services during the summer. Initiatives funded by the CASE for Kids County Connections program can provide comprehensive summer programs, short term projects and summer camps hosted in-person or virtually from a variety of locations including schools, community centers, apartment complexes and churches.  In addition, organizations are eligible to apply for synchronous or asynchronous college and career readiness initiatives for older youth to be delivered virtually through CASE for Kids LevelUp online learning platform.

Important Information

  • Application Deadline – Monday, May 10, 2021 by 2:00 p.m.
  • Award Amount – $5,000 to $20,000 per application
  • Grant Term Period – Monday, June 14, 2021 to Sunday, August 15, 2021
  • Award Announcement – Wednesday, May 26, 2021 via the Afterschool Zone

County Connections Request for Proposal Workshop (Optional)

To register for a workshop via ZOOM, click on the preferred date

If you are a nonprofit organization interested in applying for this funding, please go to the Afterschool Zone to download the application.

Any questions regarding this proposal should be directed in writing to casesummer@hcde-texas.org.

The Institute for Urban Policy Research & Analysis (IUPRA) and the UT Opportunity Forum have collaborated to present: Policing and Schools: The Disproportionate Impact on Black Youth. Growing evidence regarding persistent disparities in school discipline poses serious implications about the impact of the educational experience for youth. Statewide, Black students in Texas are approximately two times more likely to experience in-school suspensions (I.S.S.), nearly three times more likely to experience out-of-school suspensions (O.S.S) and are admitted to either alternative or juvenile justice education programs at higher rates than white students. The Policing and Schools: The Disproportionate Impact on Black Youth will be a moderated panel discussion around this issue with a focus on equity and school-community solutions.

Date: Friday April 30th Time: 12pm- 2pm

Register

JOIN LIVE ON FACEBOOK & YOUTUBE

We will explore Felon: Poems, by Reginald Dwayne Betts, the 2020 selection for the Dean’s Summer Social Justice Reading Series. Betts, an award-winning author, poet, lawyer, and advocate for criminal justice reform will join us to present an excerpt of the solo show he is developing based on Felon. The work engages with the contemporary moment, mass incarceration, and the challenges of having a complicated conversation about crime, punishment, and sorrow in America.

Reginald Dwayne Betts is an award-winning author, poet, lawyer, and outspoken advocate for criminal justice reform. Betts transformed himself from a sixteen-year old kid sentenced to nine-years in prison to a critically acclaimed writer and graduate of the Yale Law School. His latest collection of poetry, Felon, interrogates and challenges our notions of justice. Longtime New York Times critic, Michiko Kukatani calls Betts’ work both “haunting and harrowing.

This presentation will occur LIVE on the Graduate College of Social Work’s Facebook and YouTube page

When: Tuesday, April 27, 2021 4:00 – 5:30 pm CST

Click for more information and registration.

The Soul Focused Group is excited to collaborate with the Human Solidarity Project and Tirza Motivates, LLC. to host our first Women of Color Virtual event, affectionately titled, InHER-Power: The Path to a Deeper Sense of Self. This event is for women who wish to uncover and transcend into their true selves.

Save the Date:
April 17, 2021 @1:00 P.M.- 4:00 P.M. EST

To Learn more about the Event and to Register Visit:https://soulfocusedgroup.com/InHER-Power

Did you know if you have a library card with the Houston Public Library, that you can have internet access? It’s true. Get online anywhere, anytime with HPL’s Mobile Wifi hotspot. HPL member’s can check out mobile phones, laptops, or tablets. Visit the website for more information on how you or someone you know can benefit from these great options. 

The HPL Mobile Bus will start visiting the Dixon Library and McCrane-Kashmere Gardens Neighborhood Library. The Mobile Bus will be in the parking lot.

Where: Dixon Library: 8002 Hirsch Rd. Houston, Tx 77016
Days & Times: Wednesday’s 9am- 4pm and Saturday’s 10am- 4pm

or

Where: Kashmere Multi- Service Center (Kashmere Gardens) 5411 Pardee St. Houston, Tx 77026 (temporary location)

Days & Times: Monday’s 12pm- 7pm, Tuesday’s 12pm- 4pm, Thursday’s 12pm- 4pm, and Friday’s 9am- 4pm

Visit the website for more information on checking out devices or hotspots.

The City of Houston and the Mayor’s Office of Education is collecting personal experiences and narratives on the experiences of youth in the City. We would love to know about the challenges, needs, and supports for children in COH.

The City of Houston and the Mayor’s Office of Education hope to collect experiences and narratives primarily from YOUTH but parents, family members, educators, service providers, and other professionals working for/with children can also fill out the survey.

Survey Deadline has been extended to Sunday, March 21st, 2021.

English Survey

Spanish Survey

My Brother’s Keeper, has partnered with the organization GOODR a Non-Profit Organization in Atlanta to help feed families impacted by the snow storm last week. 

The event will take place this Sunday Feb 28th from 1:00pm-5:00pm at Worthing H.S. The goal is to serve 1000+ families as they are sending two 18 wheelers of produce.

To adhere to CDC guidelines we are operating a drive-thru distribution. 

One registration is allowed per household. Families must pre-register to attend. Follow the link for more information and registration.

O2L is committed to expanding access to high quality out-of-school time services to all families in Greater Houston, and we understand that many OST providers are challenged by everyday barriers that negatively impact programming attendance and retention, or youth engagement.

What is the Barrier Buster Request for Proposal?

The Barrier Buster Request for Proposal is an opportunity for O2L to expand its’ reach and support of out-of-school-time. This funding opportunity aims to target barriers which directly impact youth attendance and retention, or youth engagement within out-of-school time programs. OST providers can request up to $10,000 for the cycle in which they apply.

Who can apply?

Any free or fee-based OST provider with a 501c3 status (minimum of 2 years) and serving youth 5-18 years-old during out-of-school time hours. Public and charter schools running an OST program on their campus are eligible to apply for this grant. Schools are encouraged to work with their OST provider (if applicable) or their district’s grant department/ foundation.

For question about the Barrier Buster process email Tiffany Echevarria at TEchevarria@unitedwayhouston.org or Krystal Perez at KPerez@unitedwayhouston.org. For questions about e-Cimpact please email eCimpact@unitedwayhouston.org.

What are qualifying Barrier Buster requests?
OST providers face all kinds of barriers that impact their ability to program daily. Barriers include but are not limited to transportation, competing priorities, parent/youth buy-in, incentivizing youth voice, or community awareness of youth programs. Barriers are unique to each community and population of students served. OST providers are the experts of their
communities and best understand their own challenging barrier(s). There are no one-size fits all, you tell us the barrier true to your program, your students, and your community! Please keep in mind, priority will be given to requests that use funds toward direct service.

Notice: COVID-19 and Barrier Buster Requests
For COVID-19 related barriers, priority will be given to projects surrounding direct, future impact on programming attendance and retention, or youth engagement for out-of-school time programs; funds cannot be used to cover previous expenditures or losses.

Qualifying requests will:
• Identify a clear barrier that is a recurring challenge for the OST provider during programming hours. (Funds should be directed to address barriers occurring prior to the end of high school graduation.)
• Provide a clear rational for how the barrier directly impacts youth attendance and retention, or youth engagement.
• Describe how this barrier is unique to the program in the proposed community.
• Provide a clear description for use of Barrier Buster funds requested to address the barrier(s) identified.
• Requests should not exceed $10,000.

What are non-qualifying Barrier Buster requests?
• Requests from for-profit OST providers.
• Requests addressing programming after high school graduation.
• Requests exceeding $10,000.

What are the Requirements?

  1. Application: Applicants must answer all application questions and submit a program
    budget. Applications must be submitted on e-Cimpact.
  2. Project Budget: Please provide a minimum of one price quote for program purchases
    over $500. Project Budget should be specific and itemized:
    a. Program Revenue (all associated donations, i.e. cash and in-kind)
    b. Program Expenses (all items with associated costs; indicate which expenses will
    be paid for with O2L Barrier Buster funds.)
  3. Supporting Documents: Applicants must also submit an IRS 501(c)(3) designation letter
    (minimum of 2-year status), the most recently completed IRS Form 990 Income Tax
    Return (filed within the last 3 years), and a signed copy of the Anti-Terrorism Patriot Act
    form (found within the resource center on e-Cimpact).

What is the Timeline?

What are next steps?

  1. Interested applicants are encouraged to watch the pre-recorded Barrier Buster Proposal
    Conference. Details pertaining to this funding process will be provided along with step by
    step instructions for how to navigate the e-Cimpact portal.
  2. To obtain a login for e-Cimpact or if you already have a login and need to obtain access
    to this application, please email e-Cimpact at e-Cimpact@unitedwayhouston.org for your
    request.
  3. Attend the upcoming Technical Assistance Call (optional).

What are the grantee requirements?
If awarded Barrier Buster funds, grantees are expected to complete the following:

  1. Agree to, sign, and return the Service Provider Agreement via email to
    TEchevarria@unitedwayhouston.org by the due date assigned.
  2. Use Barrier Buster funds in accordance with the Service Provider Agreement and set
    timeline.
  3. Submit Barrier Buster Grantee Report within 30 days of project completion, no later than
    June 15, 2020.

Questions
For question about the Barrier Buster process email Tiffany Echevarria
at TEchevarria@unitedwayhouston.org or Krystal Perez at KPerez@unitedwayhouston.org. For
questions about e-Cimpact please email e-Cimpact@unitedwayhouston.org.

February’s meeting has a new date and time. Join us on Wednesday March 3rd from 9:30 am- 11:30 am. You will hear from our special guests who will share their experience from the Fall Barrier Buster cycle. Additionally, we will thoroughly review the Spring Barrier Buster grant opportunity- please save your technical questions for that meeting.

Zoom registration is required.

Date: Wednesday March 3rd

Time: 9:30 am- 11:30 am [Do note the time listed on Zoom registration is for the guest speakers].

For questions about Quarterly meeting please contact Krystal Perez (KPerez@unitedwayhouston.org).

Follow the link for more information about this opportunity.

Winter Storm Resources-For Helping and Receiving Help

Mayor’s Office of Education

For live updates click this link


Resources for Senior Citizens

CLICK HERE for support from the American Leadership Forum to:

  1. transport vulnerable populations to a safe place  
  2. delivered food, water, and other needed supplies.

Crowd Source Rescue: Focus on warming vulnerable seniors facing  dangerous temperatures with space heaters and generators.

Resources for Differently-Abled

  • Houston’s Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities is partnering with CrowdSource Rescue to deliver bottled water to people who are differently-abled and don’t have access to reliable transportation. Apply at http://crowdsourcerescue.org/freeze

Resources for Homeless

  • Houston Area Women’s Center: Shelter and support services for victims of domestic violence. Phone: (713) 528-2121 or visit http://www.hawc.org/
  • Star of Hope: The Star of Hope homeless shelter welcomes donations of toiletries such as lotion, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste and airbrushes, plus diapers (size 0) and pull-up diapers (size 4T and 5T), underwear for men and women (all sizes), towels and washcloths, twin size sheets and blankets. Sohmission.org

Resources for Immigrants

Hotels

  • CrowdSource Rescue: Will cover hotel for any TX people needing to pay for it if a nonprofit or organization reaches out to them. The nonprofit or organization should send an email to connect@crowdsourcerescue.org with the details.
  • Harris County Sheriff’s Office If you or someone you know is without shelter and in need of transportation, call the Harris County Sheriff’s Office at 713-221-6000 and let them know you are looking for transportation with the HOT Team.

SUPPLIES-Food, water, funds

  • Mutual Aid Houston: Fill out this form if you are in need of immediate food or water due to the Houston freeze. Mutual Aid Houston will be distributing $100 via Venmo and CashApp until they hit their distribution  limits. https://forms.gle/AWoSsA8L2Y5FJXXH8
  • Free Meals for Young Children (from District H Newsletter)

Children under the age of 6 who live in 43 delivery zip codes are eligible for a Kids Meal Inc.’s free meals delivery program. Meals will also be provided for older siblings when school is out. More info on how to apply can be found here or by calling 713-695-5437 with any questions. The application is here in English or Spanish.

  • Houston Food Bank helpline: 832-369-9390
  • Water Distribution:   Click here for a list of distribution sites
  • FEMA announced federal emergency aid has been made available to individuals and business owners who sustained losses in the designated area. People can begin applying for assistance by registering online at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362 or 1-800-462-7585 TTY.
  • Memorial Assistance Ministries Financial Assistance:  Financial Assistance Apply online or by phone in English (713) 574-7533 or Spanish (713) 574-7536. Must be low income and live in MAM’s zip code service area: 77008, 77009 , 77018 , 77022 , 77024, 77037, 77039, 77040, 77041, 77043, 77055, 77076, 77079, 77080, 77088, 77091, 77092.

HOME REPAIRS

  • Crisis Cleanup: Register online at https://www.crisiscleanup.org/login?from=%2F    or call 844-965-1386 to request help with cleanup or building.  Volunteers will contact you when they have resources to help. Flier contains more information in Spanish and English.
  • Greater Houston Builders Association: List of members here (searchable by the type of professional you need): https://members.ghba.org/memberdirectory
  • Disaster resource page to help homeowners rebuild with confidence. Articles on the page cover topics from tips for avoiding scammers when contracting for repairs to documentation for insurance best practices:  https://www.ghba.org/disaster-resources/

MENTAL HEALTH

  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call (800) 273-8255 for English or (888) 628-9454 for Spanish.
  • Crisis Intervention Hotline of Houston: For 24/7 confidential crisis counseling. Call the general line at (832) 416-1177 or (832) 416-1199 for the Teen Talk Hotline. You can also visit crisishotline.org
  • Mental Health Support Line: This new service helps callers 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Call (713) 558-3777.

WARMING CENTERS

CLICK HERE for list of Warming Centers from the Coalition for the Homeless of Houston

Other Warming Centers:

  • Foster Family YMCA, 1234 W 34th St
  • YMCA, 5202 Griggs Rd
  • Gallery Furniture, 6006 North Freeway or 7227 W. Grand Parkway South
  • Lakewood Church, 3700 Southwest Freeway
  • National Association Church, 1605 Air Center Blvd, Phone: 832-626-7111
  • The warming center has a capacity to hold up to 500 people and is accepting pets.
  • Those who need help finding a warming center, are experiencing homelessness or who are medically dependent on power may call 3-1-1 for assistance. Those outside the city of Houston can call 713.837.0311.

Report Price Gouging:  To report price gouging or other disaster scams call 800-621-0508 or file a complaint online athttp://txoag.force.com/CPDOnlineForm.

Track Power Outages: You can track power outages at CenterPoint’s outage tracker: http://gis.centerpointenergy.com/outagetracker/index.htm

Advocacy: Make a public comment on power outages and response to the Texas Senate.

VOLUNTEER OR DONATE 

  • Volunteer Houston assists agencies who are looking for volunteers throughout Houston. For information, go to volunteerhou.org.
  • The Houston Food Bank needs nonperishables such as peanut butter, canned proteins, protein bars and other things that don’t require cooking. To register for volunteer work or to make a donation visit www.houstonfoodbank.org or call 713-547-8604.
  • Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston: This agency administers programs ranging from Meals on Wheels to Animals, and offers refugee services and promotes interfaith and community partnerships. The facilities are closed through the end of the week, but for future volunteer opportunities or to make a donation go to imgh.org.
  • Salvation Army: Offers a variety of services from disaster relief to homeless shelters, food pantries, job training and rehab. Salvationarmyusa.org
  • Text-to-Give Campaign Benefitting Houston Food Bank:  Text ABC13 to 41444 to make a donation of any amount
  • Donate Blood with the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center: The severe winter weather has caused planned blood drives to be cancelled. Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center Headquarters: (713) 790-1200 or 1 (888) 482-5663
  • Coalition for the Homeless:  working with governmental entities to ensure needs of people experiencing homelessness are met as cold front impacts our region
  • Lucille’s 1913 Community Kitchen: To help them with preparing and distributing hot meals for those in need, go to the website for donation and volunteer information. Venmo info@lucilles1913.org, Paypal donate@lucilles1913.org
  • Participate in a Supply Drive: Cajun Navy and Cajun Commissary have partnered with Gallery Furniture to organize a supply drive and distribution. They are asking for bottled water and non-perishable food and blankets.
  • Bread of Life Disaster Relief Assistance Fund: Beyonce and her BeyGOOD Foundation are partnering with Bread of Life and Adidas. Bread of Life Disaster Relief Assistance Fund offers “one-time financial assistance to those who’ve experienced a sudden or emergency-related financial hardship due to an unforeseen or unavoidable event.
  • Act Blue:  100% of your donation will automatically be split between these organizations on the ground providing immediate relief:Family Eldercare, Corazon Ministries, Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley, Central Texas Food Bank, Houston Food Bank, Food Bank of West Central Texas, The Bridge Homeless Recovery Center, North Texas Food Bank, Southeast Texas Food Bank, Feeding Texas, South Texas Food Bank, and ECHO (Ending Community Homelessness Coalition)

News Articles

February is Black History Month, a commemoration that began as a weeklong observance in the late 1920s but was never meant to be confined by days on a calendar, and even though it was indeed a celebration it was also always meant to highlight the kinds of critical reflection and contemplation fundamental to the recovery of Black history. In that spirit, I want to briefly relay a calendar of events related to work in African American life and history — occasions taking place virtually at Rice in the weeks ahead, and also at other virtual venues featuring members of the Rice community. I think you’ll find the events below informative and thought-provoking. This kind of work, bearing on critically important issues in Black life and history, is continuously underway at the university, and February is always a particularly good time to get to know more of it.

Below are events, you can participate in as you are looking to learn and grow.

Feb. 22
3 p.m.
“Rockwell Lecture: Alumni Panel” with Stephen Finley, associate professor at Louisiana State University; Biko Gray, assistant professor at Syracuse University; and Margarita Guillory, associate professor at Boston University.

Feb. 25
Noon
“Rockwell Lecture: Confronting Structural Racism as Human Suffering” with Rhonda V. Magee, professor at the University of San Francisco School of Law.

Feb. 25
Join Rice’s Center for African and African American Studies, the Rice Department of History and the Department of Multicultural Community Relations in Rice’s Office of Public Affairs for a virtual lecture by Ya’Ke Smith, an award-winning filmmaker who also serves as an associate professor in the Department of Radio-Television-Film at the University of Texas. For more information contact Jan West: Jan.F.West@rice.edu.

Feb. 26
1:30 p.m.
“Dangerous Creole Liaisons” with Jacqueline Couti, the Laurence H. Favrot Associate Professor of French Studies the Department of Modern and Classical Literatures and Cultures, associate director of the Center for the Study of Women, Gender and Sexuality, and affiliated faculty at the Center for African and African American Studies at Rice; Grégory Pierrot, associate professor of English at the University of Connecticut at Stamford; and Anny-Dominique Curtius, associate professor of Francophone studies at the University of Iowa.

March 4
4 p.m.
Campbell Lecture on Racial Justice: “The Stakes of Racial Justice and the Future of American Democracy” with Eddie Glaude Jr., chair of African American studies at Princeton University, eminent scholar of African American history and religion, and prominent critic and C-SPAN and MSNBC commentator on racial justice.

March 10
6 p.m.
“What if Black Women Have Always Been the Vanguard of Voting Rights?” with Martha S. Jones, Society of Black Alumni Presidential Professor and professor of history at Johns Hopkins University and its SNF Agora Institute.

March 10-April 21
7-8:30 p.m.
Facing Race: Racism, Resistance and Reckoning in the United States course from the Glasscock School of Continuing Studies.

The Warren Fellowship for Future Teachers, funded by a generous gift from the Naomi and Martin Warren Family Foundation in Houston, Texas, is developing a corps of pre-service educators who want to learn more about the Holocaust and how to effectively teach about it in their classrooms. The Fellowship was created in 2003 and has more than 400 alumni.

The Warren Fellowship’s main objective is to provide new teachers with the necessary historical and pedagogical tools for teaching about the Holocaust from the onset of their teaching careers. This program will also develop a teacher corps for Holocaust Museum Houston as the Museum continues to expand its educational outreach in Texas and the Southwestern United States.

Upon being named a Warren Fellow, up to eighteen pre-service teachers and two faculty Fellows will participate in a four-day, virtual summer institute hosted by the Holocaust Museum Houston in Houston, Texas. This institute is designed to immerse participants in historical and pedagogical issues related to the Holocaust. Holocaust scholars from across the country will provide historical content, and university faculty and museum educators will provide pedagogical context.

For more information or to apply to the 2021 Warren Fellowship for Future Teachers, please use this link: 2021 Warren Fellowship Application

If you need any additional information, please contact Heleva Bacchus at hbacchus@hmh.org or via phone at 713-527-1642.

The Harvard Graduate School of Education is highlighting the research of esteemed Black education scholars as they discuss their commitments to racial justice in education and research.

This is a community inclusive and open event, so please invite faculty, staff, students, family, friends, and community members within and outside of academia!

Please see below and the flyer attached to learn more about our panelists and their critical scholarship

If you are a high school student or the parent/guardian of a high school student, college might already be on your mind. In preparing for the future, you want to take advantage of every present opportunity.

During the Spring Semester, Education & Charities Foundation of Houston (ECFOH) will be hosting College Readiness Workshops for high school students. These workshops will cover a numbers from top industry professionals. If you are interested, please click here to register.

To learn more about Education & Charities Foundation of Houston, check out their website.

CASE for Kids is launching a Leadership course! This companion to the
Leadership Symposium is a online, self-paced learning resource for
current and aspiring OST leaders to learn more about effective
leadership in a constantly evolving world. It will also provide an
opportunity for learners to connect with other leaders and build
community. This course is meant to encourage reflection and individual
growth.

For more information contact Ashley Davis at aadavis@hcde-texas.org

Now available as part of Amaanah’s Immigrant Health Initiative (IHI) in collaboration with Schweitzer fellows from UT Health, you can now check out the series on IHI’s YouTube channel.

The videos are available in EnglishSpanish and Arabic. While the first part is dedicated to tips on how to eat healthy, the second highlights some of the available resources including government assistance programs and the work of some local non-profits.

Please feel free to share the videos and check out Amaanah’s site for more services!

Arabic
English
Spanish

Symposium Topics

The online Symposium will explore the topic of quality in OST using a Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality lens. Research is clear that out of school time programs that have quality features provide more social, emotional and academic benefits to young people. Through discussion and
activities, participants will examine how they can provide a safe space for social and emotional growth, facilitate supportive interaction with caring adults, promote student voice to encourage learning and leadership.

Symposium Logistics

Tuesday March 2, is geared for front line staff and Thursday, March 4 will be focused on the supervisory role. Both sessions will begin with a overview and include two 45 minute workshops on quality in safe/supportive environments and learning/leading. Once registered, participants will
receive a link to the overview session and to the workshops. Breaks will be provided. 2 hours of professional development credit will be provided upon completion. Computer/laptops with camera functions are recommended.

March for Our Lives Houston (MFOLH) has been doing very valuable work in the fight for children’s safety. We wanted to pass on their most recent newsletters (attached in English and Spanish). Please read and share this with youth, parents, and networks.

In addition, March for Our Lives Houston are collecting experiences of people who have been affected by gun violence. Please support their work by reading the message below from Mr. Holladay, Communications Sublead of MFOLH, and help us spread the word.

We invite you to subscribe to their bimonthly newsletter! In their newsletter, they share current projects, upcoming events, and different action items that continue in order to further their activism. We hope you will consider subscribing! You can subscribe via their website at mfolhouston.org.

Additionally, one of their goals this year is to expand community outreach by magnifying the voices of those who have had experiences with gun violence, rather than speaking over them. Their first action is to ask readers fill out the attached google form if they would be interested in sharing any experiences, they have had with gun violence for publication in our newsletter. If you have any family members, friends, or coworkers who you believe would be willing to share their story, please forward this to them!

Google Form: https://forms.gle/wEp8wKazorg13cei8

Do you work with someone who you find OUTSTANDING in the out-of-school time field? Are you part of a program that has done STUPENDOUS work during this pandemic. Are you a shining star in your work place?

If you answered yes to any one of these questions, then please nominate yourself, your program, or your colleague to be recognized for their achievements and commitment to this field.

For more information, please reach out to Kathy Evans, kevans@hcde-texas.org.

BakerRipley Neighborhood Tax Centers

Now, that the holiday season is over, we move in to that time of year again- TAX SEASON!

The Baker Ripley Neighborhood Tax Centers are now offering virtual tax preparation. They are also offering in person preparation at one of their 11 locations by appointment only. In order to keep everyone safe, social distancing and masks are required. All information on how to sign up can be found here: www.freetaxcenters.org

If you are eligible but did not receive one or either of your stimulus checks (Economic Impact Payments), you will need to file this on your tax return and may be eligible to receive a Recovery Rebate Credit. The tax centers can assist you with that. The tax centers will not have information on the status of your payment but you can utilize the “Get My Payment” tool on the IRS website to check on the status – https://www.irs.gov/coronavirus/get-my-payment

United Way SAVE

We are offering again this year United Way SAVE, which is a matched savings program. If you file your taxes through the tax centers and qualify for a refund, you are eligible to open a free savings account with Houston Metropolitan Credit Union. If you save anywhere between $100-$1,000 of your refund in that account through January 2022, you will be matched 25% of what you save (with a maximum match of $250). That’s a great way to boost your savings and reach those 2021 savings goals!

The Center of the Healing of Racism is celebrating the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr with two extraordinary women discussing how we can internalize Dr. King’s message of hope and healing. A facilitated dialogue will follow.

This is a free event but donations are welcome.

  • When is the event: Monday January 18th
  • Time of event: 6pm – 8pm
  • Register by Sunday January 17th.
  • Speakers: Dee Gardner, founder of Gardner Counseling Services, is a licensed psychotherapist, a professional speaker, educator, workshop facilitator, trauma treatment consultant and author. And Sally Bartolameolli, M.Ed., M.F.A., is a certified Shadow Work facilitator, transformational coach, author, speaker, teacher, and founder of LORA Bridges – Building Bridges for Transformation

Learn the basics of policy & advocacy during this 16-week paid part time experience

I am writing to you to share a PAID opportunity for current youth leaders to be part of an initiative to promote healthcare access and economic justice. We are seeking passionate youth leaders, ages 18-26, who are looking to become involved in youth activism to join our young advocates program.

We are especially interested in welcoming young people of color, opportunity youth, young people who are parenting, young people in apprenticeships/work based learning and first generation college students into our spring cohort. We have positions open in Austin, Houston, and East Texas. 

Young Advocates Would: 

  • Participate in weekly Friday 4-hour virtual training and design meetings throughout the Spring (February-May 2021)
  • Participate in smaller team projects for an additional 6 hours per week
  • Receive $15/hr for 10hrs per week
  • Connect, partner and network with key organizational leaders and young advocates
  • Contribute their voice to our policy work

Spring 2021 Youth Advocates Program Application

We are launching our second Coffee & Quality Learning Cohort focused on storytelling with data through data visualization.

Coffee & Quality Learning Cohort (CQLC) purpose:  The Coffee & Quality Learning Cohort (CQLC) is designed as a community of practice to improve professional competency by engaging in shared inquiry and learning around a specific topic related to data, evaluation, and CQI. The CQLC will be comprised of a small group (10-12 members) that will meet over four months. Each Learning Cohort will include an opportunity to learn and practice storytelling with data through data visualization.   

Invitation and Application:
All interested partners are invited to apply to participate in the Coffee & Quality Learning Cohort.  The attached overview and application includes more information and schedule for the Learning Cohort.  As space is limited, 10-12 individuals will be selected based on quality of application and support from agency.

  • Application Release: Thursday, January 14th  
  • Application Due Date: Friday, January 29th  at 5 pm
  • Decision Notifications: Thursday, February 4th  

Please direct all questions to Jessica Davison, jdavison@unitedwayhouston.org

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RISE! program will have an 8-week long program this spring for high school junior girls to prepare for college with a financial literacy lens.

Click the link in the document to get more information and sign up!

Click here to register.

Having financial aid can make all the difference in whether you are able to pay for college tuition, buying books and other expenses.

Learn everything about the financial aid application process and the types of programs offered to help you with paying for your college education leading to a certificate, associates or 4-year degree.

This workshop is also offered in Spanish.

  • When: Tuesday Januray 12th
  • Time: 5:30 pm

Link to register here.

Tyto Online is a STEM game that is designed around helping students build science and engineering skills while they solve authentic types of science problems. Here’s a <100 second video summary you can watch. We’ve had a foundation fund us providing a number of free licenses to school districts, and now we also want to expand to selected after/summer-school partners for Spring + Summer 2021.

The benefit for the out-of-school time (OST) partner will be a free, engaging product that can be used to deliver STEM programs during programming, which could be particularly helpful during COVID19 challenges. Our purpose of making these grants available is to learn and figure out what additional modifications or supports are needed to use Tyto Online in OST contexts. We’ll therefore be true partners in these microgrants: in addition to PD and coaching/support, we’ll help with curriculum ideas, create teacher guide modifications/suggestions, etc. based on the needs of our partner organizations. Read more here: https://www.tytoonline.com/job/oststemgaming/

Ideathon for High School Students

Promoting Education Across the Country (PEAC) has partnered with the UNICEF, the MOE and the COH Office of Sustainability. to host a city-wide High School Ideathon. The event aims to create a platform for youth to learn and engage with community challenges and propose solutions to city leaders. The Ideathon will held virtually on Saturday, January 16th from 9am – 5pm.

Students and young people are invited to:

  1. Discuss the community challenges brought upon COVID-19, Climate Change and among others, that have impacted their communities.
  2. Conduct research on the impact of these issues
  3. Work in teams to construct and present solutions to city leaders.
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Mentors from colleges and professional industries will be advising student groups. Teams will gain recognition from PEAC, UNICEF, and the City of Houston. PEAC is a Houston-based nonprofit that aims to empower youth to solve issues within their local community.

Please share this opportunity with your students and respond for more event information. The registration can be found on UNICEF’s website here.


Special Education & COVID-19 Survey

The COVID-19 pandemic has abruptly changed the way students learn, communicate, and engage with their fellow peers and teachers. Students with disabilities are experiencing additional barriers in accessing e-learning platforms, supports and services that enable them to fully participate in these virtual environments. To assist school administrators and policy makers better respond to future emergencies, we have developed the COVID-19 and Special Education Survey. By participating in this survey, your experiences will assist us to highlight the most common barriers students with disabilities are facing throughout the Houston region.

The survey results will be used to shape policy recommendations that will be shared with local, state, and federal policymakers to better serve students with disabilities during emergencies such as a pandemic. These policy recommendations will be incorporated into a white paper that will be available at www.houstontx.gov/disabilities.

Thank you for taking the time to complete this survey. Please feel free to share the survey with colleagues, family members, neighbors, advocates, and friends.

This survey is made possible with the support of our partners:

  • The ARC of Greater Houston
  • The Office of Council Member Karla Cisneros
  • The National Federation of the Blind of Texas
  • Family to Family Network
  • Houston Council on Disabilities
  • Mayor’s Office of Educations

The New York Life Foundation is seeking applications from afterschool, summer, or expanded learning programs serving underserved middle-school youth. In total, $1.35 million in grants will be awarded to programs all across the country. This is the fifth year of the Foundation’s Aim High Grant Competition, bringing the total amount awarded to $6.15 million. A total of 26 grant awards will be made nationwide—take a look to see which opportunity is a good fit for you, and apply today!

Grant Categories:

  • $100,000 Level: Eight (8) grants of $50,000 per year over the span of two years (for a total award of $100,000) will go to OST programs with annual program budgets of $250,000 or more and annual organizational budgets of $500,000 or more.
  • $50,000 Level: Eight (8) grants of $25,000 per year over the span of two years (for a total award of $50,000) will go to OST programs with annual organizational budgets of $250,000 or more.
  • $15,000 Level: Ten (10) awards of $15,000 over one year will go to OST programs with annual organizational budgets of $150,000 or more with a focus on supporting programs in their efforts around advancing racial equity and social justice.

Read the full application and eligibility requirements, and join our webinar on January 14 at 2 PM ET to learn more about this opportunity. Applications are due February 1, 2021 at 5pm E.T.

Grant funds may be used for technical assistance, enhancing direct service activities, and/or program expansion, should a program be in a position to do so. Applicants will need to describe how programs support youth in the transition to the ninth grade and how they are continuing to serve youth in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Two-year grant applicants will need to demonstrate results around indicators of success such as on-time promotion; school attendance rates; improved behavior, grades and test scores; and/or the development of social and emotional skills.
  • One-year grant applicants will need to describe how they intend to improve the supports they provide to youth related to social justice and racial equity efforts.

We look forward to receiving your application, and good luck! Please feel free to reach out to the Afterschool Alliance at aimhigh@afterschoolalliance.org.

Adolescence is a time for young people to have a healthy start in life. The number of adolescents reporting poor mental health is increasing. Building strong bonds and connecting to youth can protect their mental health. Schools and parents can create these protective relationships with students and help them grow into healthy adulthood.

What Schools Can Do to Protect Adolescent Mental Health

Schools play an important role in good adolescent mental health. Establishing safe and supportive school environments is an effective way to help youth by connecting adolescents to networks of caring peers and adults. Research shows that students with someone at school who cares about them have better academic performance, health, and behavioral outcomes.

A safe and supportive school environment should:

  • Provide ongoing development and training to teachers on how to manage classroom by reinforcing positive behaviors and establishing rules, routines and expectations.
  • Support student led-clubs, like gay-straight alliances, so students have a safe space to socialize and connect with supportive school staff.
  • Facilitate positive youth development activities, like mentoring programs, volunteer opportunities, and programs that connect them to a network of supportive adults.
  • Provide parents and families with resources that support positive parenting practices such as open, honest communication and parental supervision.

What Families and Parents Can Do to Protect Adolescent Mental Health

  • Communicate openly and honestly, including about their values.
  • Supervise their adolescent to facilitate healthy decision-making.
  • Spend time with their adolescent enjoying shared activities.
  • Become engaged in school activities and help with homework.
  • Volunteer at their adolescent’s school.
  • Communicate regularly with teachers and administrators.

For more information on adolescent and school health by the CDC, follow this link.

Have you ever wanted to ask an astronaut a question. Well, there is an AMAZING OPPOTUNITY for afterschool youth to speak with astronauts on the International Space Station. On Jan. 7, 2021 youth will have a chance to have their questions answered by astronauts Kate Rubins and Shannon Walker.

The Challenge – NASA students asking the astronauts questions about their experiences. The videos will be played during the Q&A session and answered live, from space! The video questions are due to NASA by December 28.

If you are interested, NASA has provided guidelines and a release form from each student (both are below). The question may be recorded on a phone, but must be done in landscape format or won’t be included in the Q+A.

We hope that you can record a question and send it to Chris Neitzey from the Afterschool Alliance, cneitzey@afterschoolalliance.org.

For more information and to apply, click here.

United Way of Greater Houston offers an applied Continuous Quality Improvement series called Coffee & Quality designed as a learning community for staff that are tasked with implementing and overseeing continuous quality improvement (CQI) efforts in their program and/or agency. The series is an opportunity to network, support professional development, and build knowledge centered around data, evaluation and CQI.

The series features guest and agency speakers with in-depth discussion and dialogue on best practices in data, evaluation, and CQI. Participants should be willing to actively participate in the discussion, share expertise and experience, and work collaboratively within the learning community.

All sessions held from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. via Zoom video conferencing.

RSVP for 2021 Coffee & Quality series through the zoom link for each session.

DateRSVP
Thursday, January 142021RSVP for January’s Coffee & Quality Session 
Thursday, March 4, 2021RSVP for March’s Coffee & Quality Session 
Thursday, May 6, 2021RSVP for May’s Coffee & Quality Session 
Thursday, July 15, 2021RSVP for July’s Coffee & Quality Session 
Thursday, September 2, 2021RSVP for September’s Coffee & Quality Session 
Thursday, November 4, 2021RSVP for November’s Coffee & Quality Session

Any questions, please contact: Jessica Davison, jdavison@unitedwayhouston.org

Our next Barrier Buster Grant opportunity will be available in February 2021!

What is the Barrier Buster Request for Proposal?

The Barrier Buster Request for Proposal is an opportunity for O2L to expand its’ reach and support of out-of-school-time. This funding opportunity aims to target barriers which directly impact youth attendance and retention, or youth engagement within out-of-school time programs. OST providers can request up to $10,000 for the cycle in which they apply.

Who can apply?

Any free or fee-based OST provider with a 501c3 status (minimum of 2 years) and serving youth 5-18 years-old during out-of-school time hours. 

Public and charter schools running an OST program on their campus are eligible to apply for this grant. Schools are encouraged to work with their OST provider (if applicable) or their district’s grant department/ foundation.

For question about the Barrier Buster process email Tiffany Echevarria (TEchevarria@unitedwayhouston.org) or Krystal Perez (KPerez@unitedwayhouston.org). For questions about e-Cimpact please email e-Cimpact@unitedwayhouston.org.

Intro to the Active Participatory Approach

Wednesday, December 2, 2020, 10:30-11:45 am

Youth programs can be optimized for youth needs, motivation, and engagement. The Active-Participatory Approach to youth work was designed to address these goals. This youth-centered approach is the foundation for the Youth Work Methods Series

Active Learning

Tuesday, December 8, 2020, 10:30 am-11:45 am

Do you know the difference between active learning and “hands-on” learning? Giving youth materials is just the beginning. This interactive workshop introduces strategies for incorporating active learning and helps participants create more powerful learning opportunities for youth.

Youth Voice

Thursday, December 10, 2020, 10:30 am -11:45 am

Are you providing young people with authentic, meaningful choices throughout your program? Does your program reflect the input of the youth involved? Research shows that quality programs incorporate youth input at both activity and organizational levels. This workshop will emphasize the importance of offering real choices and meaningful participation to youth, and nurturing youth leadership. This interactive workshop is focused on providing meaningful choices within activities and opportunities for youth input within the youth program itself.

Building Community

Saturday, December 12, 2020, 10:30 am-11:45 am

Do you know what it takes to build an emotionally and physically safe space for youth? Building an emotionally safe community of peers and adults is essential for youth to learn and develop as individuals. This interactive workshop will introduce participants to a variety of activities designed to support the community building process.

Ask, Listen, Encourage

Wednesday, December 16, 2020, 10:30 am- 11:45 am

Do you communicate with youth in a way that makes them feel supported and heard? This workshop introduces communication techniques that help you build more supportive, youth-centered relationships. Participants learn how to ask effective questions, listen actively to youth, and offer youth encouragement rather than praise.

Change your balance with SaverLife.
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Did you know that 39% of Houstonians are unable to cover an unexpected expense of $400 without going into debt, according to the 2020 Kinder Houston Area Survey?
United Way THRIVE, in partnership with JPMorgan Chase and SaverLife, is launching the Houston Saves campaign focused on helping small business owners and their employees build an emergency savings fund through the SaverLife platform. Every month that an individual saves $30, they are matched $20 – for up to 6 months. Participants will also receive $5 just for signing up!
Due to the impact that the pandemic has had on income and savings among small businesses and their employees, the campaign is focusing on that audience, however anyone who is interested in participating is invited to sign up.

The Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative (HILSC) released a new report today, Communities Torn Apart: The Impact of Detention and Deportation in Houston. This report addresses the manner in which the existing immigration system impacts our community, including an overview of the processes by which a staggering number of Harris County and Houston-area residents are detained and deported, often without legal representation.

The report was published in anticipation of a vote today, November 10, at the Harris County Commissioners Court, which is expected to allocate $2 million in funding for the Immigrant Legal Services Fund, as well as $500,000 for immigration legal representation for victims of crimes. This $2.5 million allocation to fund immigration legal services would be the largest in Texas and on par with funds for large cities nationally.

Houston Leads will hold a press conference later today after the vote – watch the livestream on the Houston Leads Facebook page!

Since 2018, Houston Leads has urged the Commissioners Court to allocate a sufficient amount to help meet the growing need for legal representation in deportation proceedings in Harris County, particularly among low-income residents.

The Center for Safe and Secure Schools is offering free, responsive, and timely professional development on Implicit Bias Awareness. After hearing concerns and data trends from several area school districts regarding disproportionate student discipline infractions, this implicit bias awareness training will be a critical component in establishing and maintaining restorative practices within school discipline approaches to build and enhance school climate and culture. This 8-hour Implicit Bias Awareness Series is a 4-Session Series and will convene on the following dates from 4:00-6:00 p.m.:

Mondays: November 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th (each participant must be present for each session).

Registration is required.

The Center for Safe and Secure Schools is offering this opportunity to participate in this series on a first come, first serve basis.

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo

Early childhood has been a top priority for Judge Hidalgo since she entered office. Last week, the Judge proposed and Harris County Commissioners Court approved the Early Childhood Impact Fund (ECIF), which will invest up to $10 million in programs and interventions with significant potential to dramatically improve early childhood outcomes in Harris County. 

We are now reaching out nationally seeking proposals from public, private, and nonprofit entities for both the implementation of ECIF initiatives and, separately, independent evaluation of those efforts:

· Implementation: Request for Proposals (to apply for ECIF funding to launch or expand early childhood initiatives)

· Evaluation: Request for Proposals (to apply to independently evaluate the ECIF-funded initiatives)

We will hold information sessions for each of the Requests for Proposals (RFPs). Sign up by emailing Sandra Melancon with Harris County Purchasing at Sandra.Melancon@pur.hctx.net, who will share the relevant call-in information.

·        Implementation: Tuesday, November 17th at 2pm (for those interested in applying for ECIF funding, but anyone can attend)

· Evaluation: Thursday, November 19th at 10am (for those interested in applying to serve as independent evaluator, but anyone can attend)

More information can be found here.

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1 CPE credit available for each live webinar • Level: Basic • No prerequisites • Free to attend

You and your board members are invited to join the conversation and advance your skills at Excelling Together 2020, Weaver’s Not-for-Profit CPE Series. Our half-day series features presentations and networking opportunities to keep you informed and connected.

Creative Fundraising in a Virtual World: Erica Yaeger, Chief External Affairs Officer, North Texas Food Bank

1:00 – 2:00 PM CST Register

Kicking off our series, Erica Yaeger, Chief External Affairs Officer, North Texas Food Bank, shares her firsthand experience in developing innovative fundraising opportunities that engage donors in our new virtual world.

Communicating with the Board: Rob Nowak, Partner in Tax Services, Weaver

2:30 – 3:30 PM CST Register

Sharing critical financial data can become challenging when board members have varied experience and understanding of not-for-profit accounting. This session offers insight on the financial reports your board finds most valuable and how best to present that information.

Building an Inclusive and Diverse Board
Live Panel Discussion

4:00 – 5:00 PM CST Register

Weaver brings together a panel of not-for-profit diversity experts to discuss the challenges of creating a diverse board and what not-for-profit leaders can do to encourage board participation from all backgrounds.

Dr. Froswá Booker-Drew, Vice President of Community Affairs and Strategic Alliances, State Fair of Texas

Ronnie Hagerty, Assistant Vice President of Community Relations, United Way of Greater Houston

This webinar is for all levels of accountants, finance professionals and CFOs. Please note that each person should register and attend individually in order to receive CPE credit.

Structure and Clear Limits

Thursday, November 5, 2020, 10:30-11:45 am

How do you prevent chaos in a youth environment without stifling the positive energy of youth? Youth need structure and clear limits in order to feel safe. This interactive workshop helps participants analyze the level of structure in their programs and practice identifying and maintaining clear limits.

Active Learning

Saturday, November 7, 2020, 10:30-11:45 am

Do you know the difference between active learning and “hands-on” learning? Giving youth materials is just the beginning. This interactive workshop introduces strategies for incorporating active learning and helps participants create more powerful learning opportunities for youth.

Building Community

Wednesday, November 11, 2020, 10:30-11:45 am

Do you know what it takes to build an emotionally and physically safe space for youth? Building an emotionally safe community of peers and adults is essential for youth to learn and develop as individuals. This interactive workshop will introduce participants to a variety of activities designed to support the community building process.

Ask, Listen, Encourage

Tuesday, November 17, 2020, 10:30 am- 11:45 am

Do you communicate with youth in a way that makes them feel supported and heard? This workshop introduces communication techniques that help you build more supportive, youth-centered relationships. Participants learn how to ask effective questions, listen actively to youth, and offer youth encouragement rather than praise.

Join us for the last O2L Quarterly meeting of the year! We’ll have an opportunity to hear from some surrounding school districts on how the school year has been going thus far. Additionally, we’ll hear from a licensed therapist social worker on the topic of compassion fatigue and coping techniques.

When: Tuesday November 3rd

Where: Zoom, please register
Time: 9am- 11am (NOTE: Calendar invite will say 8:00 am as a start time-that is just for presenters. Meeting agenda starts at 9:00 am.)

We are nearly a week away from celebrating the 2020 Lights On Afterschool in Houston. This year will feel very different because of COVID restrictions, but it has NOT stopped us from creating a list of Spirit Week ideas to help you celebrate both safely and socially distanced with your youth. Post your activities on social media and tag us @out2learnhou and #lightsonhou for an opportunity to win prizes.

In addition to Spirit Week, we have included some awesome downloads to get your social media and virtual meetings into the Light On Afterschool Spirit!

Finally, check out the Instagram Filters created by the Afterschool Alliance to celebrate Lights On Afterschool.

HAPPY LIGHTS ON AFTERSCHOOL!

Through funding from the Schweitzer Fellowship, UT Health students and Amaanah Services are launching the Immigrant Health Initiative (IHI) to equip immigrant women with the capacity to take ownership of their own health legacies. Every two weeks, a new short video on a new topic will be posted on social media in three different languages; English, Arabic and Spanish. Please take a few minutes to watch the intro video. Fill the short survey using the link below to help Amaanah Services cover topics that you believe are important. By filling the survey you will also enter for a chance to win a $20 gift card!

Survey Link (English): https://tinyurl.com/AmaanahIHISurveyEnglish

English Video: https://youtu.be/nq670M9mcX0

Survey Link (Arabic): https://tinyurl.com/AmaanahIHISurveyArabic

Arabic video: https://youtu.be/RRcSV2-vTbg

Survey link (Spanish): https://tinyurl.com/AmaanahIHISurveySpanish

Spanish video: https://youtu.be/DtK5rpZXKqw

Data and Dish

Although our work varies, we all have an interest in bolstering our community.  One-way United Way of Greater Houston does this is through the release of the ALICE report.  The ALICE report provides county-by-county and community-level data including analysis of how many households are struggling and the obstacles ALICE households face on the road to financial independence.   The ALICE Report provides the data we need to better understand the daily tough choices and risks those struggling to make ends meet must take in today’s economy and unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.

Join us for the Data and Dish series where we will feature the 2018 data, explore the intersection of ALICE and community issues, including discussion of how to take the data into action to remove obstacles to financial stability, identify gaps in community resources and build data-informed solutions to help ALICE families achieve economic stability. 

All sessions held from 12:00 – 1:00 pm via Zoom video conferencing. 

RSVP for each Data and Dish session.

Please direct all questions to Jessica Davison, jdavison@unitedwayhouston.org

With everything that is going on in the world around us, we all can use some positive engagement time and fun! Take some time to unwind, relax, and take a mental break and come play some virtual bingo and other virtual games with A.I.R. Project on our Game Night with AIR! Please note participants must be at least 10 years old.

Take on the challenge of learning something new-origami. Origami is known to help improve mental health & strengthen concentration ability.

Like painting and other forms of art, origami is very calming. Origami has shown to enhance the ability to be aware of what is happening in the moment and focus, it helps develop spatial and perception skills, learn mathematics, refine dexterity and hand-eye coordination.

Origami also is noted for encouraging one the ability to let go of perfectionism and self-judgement as well as proving to be a positive coping mechanism for anxiety and other mental challenges one may face. Often perceived to be very challenging, if one is willing to invest the time and effort into folding a model, they may find origami to be a very relaxing, calming, and satisfactory experience.

Ask, Listen, Encourage

Wednesday, October 7, 2020, 10:30-11:45 am

Do you communicate with youth in a way that makes them feel supported and heard? This workshop introduces communication techniques that help you build more supportive, youth-centered relationships. Participants learn how to ask effective questions, listen actively to youth, and offer youth encouragement rather than praise.

Ask, Listen, Encourage

Saturday, October 10, 2020, 10:30-11:45 am

Do you communicate with youth in a way that makes them feel supported and heard? This workshop introduces communication techniques that help you build more supportive, youth-centered relationships. Participants learn how to ask effective questions, listen actively to youth, and offer youth encouragement rather than praise.

Youth Voice

Tuesday, October 13, 2020, 10:30-11:45 am

Are you providing young people with authentic, meaningful choices throughout your program? Does your program reflect the input of the youth involved? Research shows that quality programs incorporate youth input at both activity and organizational levels. This workshop will emphasize the importance of offering real choices and meaningful participation to youth, and nurturing youth leadership. This interactive workshop is focused on providing meaningful choices within activities and opportunities for youth input within the youth program itself.

Intro to the Active Participatory Approach

Friday, October 16, 2020, 10:30-11:45 am

Youth programs can be optimized for youth needs, motivation, and engagement. The Active-Participatory Approach to youth work was designed to address these goals. This youth-centered approach is the foundation for the Youth Work Methods Series of the Youth Program Quality Intervention (YPQI).

Active Learning

Tuesday, October 27, 2020, 10:30-11:45 am

Do you know the difference between active learning and “hands-on” learning? Giving youth materials is just the beginning. This interactive workshop introduces strategies for incorporating active learning and helps participants create more powerful learning opportunities for youth.

Youth Voice

Thursday, October 29, 2020, 6:30 pm-7:45 pm

Are you providing young people with authentic, meaningful choices throughout your program? Does your program reflect the input of the youth involved? Research shows that quality programs incorporate youth input at both activity and organizational levels. This workshop will emphasize the importance of offering real choices and meaningful participation to youth, and nurturing youth leadership. This interactive workshop is focused on providing meaningful choices within activities and opportunities for youth input within the youth program itself.

The CASE for Kids Virtual Learning Bootcamp/Support Network consists of sequential, pre-recorded videos, pdf worksheets, and supplementary live (virtual) meetings to answer specific provider questions. Walk away with a clear action plan for how to best teach your program in the virtual learning space using a combination of synchronous and asynchronous teaching strategies.

Live Virtual Meetings from 10:00am to 11:00am

Previously Recorded Webinars

Questions? Email: kevans@hcde-texas.org

Tuesday, September 29, 2020 from 10:30am to 11:30am

Join your OST colleagues online to exchange information, build connections, and problem solve as we adjust to the new normal. CASE for Kids resources will be shared and small work-groups will form around your issues.

REGISTER HERE!

Building Community

Wednesday, September 23, 2020, 10:30-11:45 am

Do you know what it takes to build an emotionally and physically safe space for youth? Building an emotionally safe community of peers and adults is essential for youth to learn and develop as individuals. This interactive workshop will introduce participants to a variety of activities designed to support the community building process.

Structure and Clear Limits

Wednesday, September 30, 2020, 10:30-11:45 am

How do you prevent chaos in a youth environment without stifling the positive energy of youth? Youth need structure and clear limits in order to feel safe. This interactive workshop helps participants analyze the level of structure in their programs and practice identifying and maintaining clear limits.

Aspiring Young Adults Info FormAspiring Young Adults is a mentoring program through GRADcafé by Project GRAD that addresses the personal, educational, and social needs of young adults and adults that are disconnected from education and who are committed to joining the program and working together with their mentor to develop and achieve their specific goals.

A mentee (that is you) needs to be committed to putting in the time, energy, and work in order to reap the benefits of this program. We look forward to meeting you.

Interested? Then REGISTER here!

Petrochem Career Workshop – September 29, 2020 – 6:00 PM
This virtual Petrochemical Industry Career workshop is presented on September 29 in partnership with Shell College and Career Talent Development Program. Learn about petrochem industry careers and how to match your interest and skills with the right career path. Industry experts will be available to answer your questions. Join us to learn how to explore your interest, who is hiring, and where to get training.

REGISTER HERE!

Virtual College Campus Tours – September 17, 2020 – 5:00 PM
Join us for our 3rd virtual college tour workshop presenting UH, UHD, & UHCLC. Parents, high school students, & transfer students are all invited to join in these exciting virtual college campus tour workshops. Explore & experience college campus life virtually. College representatives will be available to answer your questions.

Register here!

Nonpartisan Advocacy in Partisan Times

September 15, 2020 10:30 AM CST 

Election years provide a great opportunity for public charities to highlight issues and interact with candidates and the voting public. However, public charities cannot support or oppose candidates, and must avoid the appearance or reality of electioneering and other partisan activity, particularly in public and social media communications. This webinar will highlight some common pitfalls and provide suggestions and tips for avoiding them.

Participants will learn:

  • How you can continue to advocate for your issues during election years;
  • How you can educate the public through candidate forums and questionnaires;
  • How you can respond to candidate statements;
  • How you can conduct nonpartisan voter registration and ensure get-out-the-vote efforts are conducted legally;
  • How you can safely support or oppose ballot measures without being partisan; and
  • How staff and volunteers’ partisan activities in their personal time can be kept separate from their activities on behalf of the organization.

REGISTER HERE

Advocacy Rules for Foundation Grantees 

September 29, 2020 10:30 AM CST 

There are many opportunities for 501(c)(3) public charities to advocate for their missions, up to and including lobbying. Knowing how to approach foundations to obtain grants that cover advocacy work can greatly improve a nonprofit’s chances to get and keep this critical funding. This workshop will help you understand the rules that foundations operate under so you can be savvier when it comes to requesting support for advocacy.

Participants will learn:

  • Why different types of foundations have to follow different rules;
  • How those foundation rules affect advocacy grantmaking; and
  • What activities foundations may legally fund.

REGISTER HERE

Assessing and Strengthening Your Advocacy Capacity

October 13, 2020 10:30 AM CST 

For nonprofits engaged in advocacy, having a keen understanding of organizational capacities is crucial to being able to act quickly when opportunities arise. Bolder Advocacy’s capacity assessment tools – ACT!, ACT!Quick, and PowerCheck – are designed to help groups become more effective by supporting their ability to carry out and sustain advocacy and community organizing efforts. These tools provide groups with a snapshot of their organizational assets, as well as help them prioritize areas for improvement. Results can help nonprofits and their funders understand where capacity needs to be strengthened to achieve social change goals, including through increased collaboration with partners to fill gaps in expertise. The tools can also be used again at regular intervals to track progress toward capacity-building goals over time.

Participants will learn:

  • Basic principles of advocacy evaluation;
  • How to measure advocacy and/or community organizing capacity using AFJ’s free online tools: ACT! or ACT!Quick for advocacy and PowerCheck for community organizing; and
  • How other organizations have used these tools to maximize their impact.

REGISTER HERE

Looking for a fun and safe way for youth to learn more about their area’s biodiversity? BioBlitz is the learning experience for you! Join National Geographic staff and educators for a series of free webinars for afterschool and summer time professionals that share resources on exploring biodiversity from home and within your local communities. The webinar series is supported by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. Learn more and register at here.

Join us on Facebook and Youtube for a three-part series of virtual events exploring abolition as a critical framework for change. Scholars, activists, and organizers will lead these community conversations about challenging systems and reimagining ways to achieve justice and liberation.
The first event of our annual Social Justice Solutions event will feature Dr. Ruth Wilson Gilmore. Professor, renowned activist, public scholar, and cofounder of many grassroots organizations including Critical Resistance, she is the author of Golden Gulag: Prisons, Surplus, Crisis, & Opposition in Globalizing.
This presentation will occur LIVE on the Graduate College of Social Work’s Facebook and YouTube page Monday, October 5th at 3:00 p.m.

EYES ON ABOLITION: Social Justice solutions with Dr. Ruth Wilson Gilmore
Date: Monday, October 5, 2020
Time: 3:00 p.m.
The event will be streamed live via Facebook and Youtube

Register here!

Takes place every Friday starting Friday, September 4th. For more information on how you can join in on the fun, email Rashayla at rashayla.johnson@ag.tamu.edu

A free event! Register here to join in.

A free event! Register to join in online.

September 1, 2020 10:30 AMRegister here!

501(c)(3)s play an important role in educating the public about policy issues and actions taken by elected officials. Elected officials vote on bills, make public statements and executive decisions, and set the course for public policy on a wide range of issues. These actions may be consistent with or conflict with a nonprofit’s mission. After this workshop you will have a clear understanding of how to maximize your advocacy, the kinds of advocacy activities 501(c)(3)s can engage in, and when a communication is considered lobbying.

Participants will learn:
– How federal tax law and Texas law permit lobbying for charities and how lobbying is defined;
– One easy step most charities can take to maximize the amount they’re allowed to spend on lobbying;
– Yearly lobbying limits for charities;
– Tips for taking advantage of the narrow definitions of lobbying – which will help charities make the most of their lobbying limit; and
– The application of these rules to ballot measure activities.

This year, we have seen the impact COVID-19 has had on afterschool and summer learning programs, and the young people and families who rely on them. In these ever-evolving circumstances, it is important for funders, policy makers, education leaders, and the overall public to understand the current situation, as well as the projections and concerns for the future.

To help make that possible, this is the second in a series of surveys the Afterschool Alliance is conducting to monitor the situation and help provide solutions. For this wave of the survey, the Afterschool Alliance is partnering with the National Summer Learning Association to learn more about how the pandemic has or has not affected your summer programming. The survey should take approximately 10 minutes of your time and your responses will be anonymous. Thank you for sharing information about your program! Please complete this survey.

September 16th 10:00 – 11:00 am

Join us in celebrating your Fall 2020 cohort as we embark on the journey to improve our program quality for Houston’s youth!

During the kickoff, we will have a brief meet & greet, and participate in quality focused activities to help new and returning sites engage with the modified process.

For more questions about the modified process or requirements to stay “Committed 2 Quality” please contact Kittra Hewitt at khewitt@hcde-texas.org or Lindsey Hill at LHill@unitewayhouston.org.

Register here!

Date​ / Training​

September 2020​ / YPQI Fall Kick off​

October 2020​ / Youth Methods Series​

November 2020​ / Youth Methods Series​ & Coaching Cohorts​

December 2020​ / Youth Methods Series​ & Coaching Cohorts​

January 2021​ / Spring Cycle YPQI Kick off​

Open Call for Houston Latinx Artists

HOLOCAUST MUSEUM HOUSTON’s Boniuk Center’s Latino Initiatives invites Latinx artists from the Houston area to participate in Withstand: Latinx Art During Times of Conflict. 

This juried exhibition investigates the idea of resistance and its multiple ramifications in the visual arts, as well as the impact of political and/or social conflict on the creative process. The exhibition also explores themes of social justice and human rights in order to inspire conversations sparked by the artwork of Houston Latinx artists. Withstand is meant to be a platform that examines issues that impact the community, fosters dialogue on difficult questions, and ultimately empowers social change through art. Artists must select works that reflect these themes literally or metaphorically.

The show will be on view in conjunction with the inaugural Silverman Latin American Institute fellowship scheduled for Summer 2021. Latinx artists are invited to join the conversation on art as a catalyst of change, and stand together with educators and those interested in advocacy to learn about social justice, human rights, and the Holocaust.

Holocaust Museum Houston builds a more humane society by promoting responsible individual behavior, cultivating civility and pursuing social justice.

More information here!

Nonprofits play a vital role in our state’s economic landscape. In partnership with United Ways of Texas and OneStar Foundation, the United Way Nonprofit Connection is hosting the Built for Texas Convening on Tuesday, August 25. The goal is to introduce leaders from nonprofit, public, and private sectors with data from the newly released report entitled BUILT FOR TEXAS: THE IMPACT AND OPPORTUNITY OF OUR NONPROFIT SECTOR.

With the 2021 legislative session looming, this is the ideal time to promote the overall impact of our sector, engage in nonprofit advocacy (speaking and standing for our missions), and determine how we can best use our collective voices for the good of our communities. Plan now to join your peers and colleagues for this important conversation. You will also receive your copy of the BUILT FOR TEXAS report, a powerful tool for reinforcing the value of your work.

Click here to register

Social and Emotional Learning Resources

Promoting social and emotional learning (SEL) has become a major focus in schools and youth-serving organizations, as research continues to document the value and importance of such training for both academic and life success. The Resource Finder provides a variety of resources to help you learn about SEL, apply teaching methodologies and assess your efforts.

Learn: Schools have primarily focused on academic learning, but over the past few decades, a growing body of research has shown how efforts to foster social and emotional learning (SEL) in children and youth can make a real difference in children’s lives, both academically and socially, and both now and in the long term. LEARN about what SEL is, why it is important, and the evidence that supports the promotion of social and emotional competence in children and youth.

Apply: How do you foster SEL in children and youth? In this section of the site, we provide links to a broad range of programs, curricula, lesson plans, activities, books, videos and other resources for promoting social and emotional competencies in children and youth.

Assess: How do you evaluate the success of your efforts to foster SEL? In this section of the site, we focus on the importance of “evidence-based practices”, which involves utilizing programs, lessons and activities that have been shown to be effective as well as evaluating the effectiveness of your own efforts.

Mental Health Resources

By learning about mental health and well-being and supporting children who experience mental health difficulties, adults will be better able to create contexts and classrooms in which children feel safe seeking help when needed and in which biases and stigmas are reduced, enhancing children’s feelings of acceptance, belonging and well-being.

Learn: Many mental health disorders first emerge in childhood and adolescence, with an estimated 15-20% of North American children and youth experiencing significant mental health problems. In order to support these students, it is important for adults to foster mental well-being and mental health literacy in their classrooms and schools. This section provides resources for promoting mental health literacy, including learning about mental well-being as well as the mental health disorders that some children and youth faced.

Support: Teachers and adults who work with children and youth play a key role in supporting students who experience mental health difficulties. In this section, find out how you can SUPPORT children and youth by promoting mental well-being in the classroom, reducing the stigma associated with mental health difficulties, increasing students’ willingness to ask for help when needed, and providing accommodations and a context in which troubled youth can achieve optimally.

What is the link between SEL and mental health?

The COVID-19 pandemic is challenging society on every front – social, political, and economic. Disadvantaged youth populations face significant challenges as their already precarious access to resources and supports dwindles and/or vanishes.

This information hub organizes COVID-19 relevant resources by youth population & supports for parents:

We recognize that many young people fall into multiple categories.

NOTE: New resources are added to this information hub on a continuing basis. To view new additions, click on headers with dates designating updated sections, and new resources will be at the top of each bulleted list.

Additionally, check out AYPF’s work on COVID-19:

The COVID-19 pandemic is taking a terrible toll on the health and well-being of youth and young adults. Already alarming rates of depression, suicide, and anxiety are exacerbated by the isolation, contact restrictions, and economic challenges brought on by the pandemic. Black, Indigenous, and other youth of color (BIYOC); youth involved in the foster care and juvenile justice systems; and other traditionally underserved youth already are impacted at levels worse than their white or non-system involved peers, further hindering their ability to survive and thrive during the pandemic. As traditionally underserved youth navigate the pandemic, all systems need to develop and implement innovative strategies to address their existing and emerging health and mental health needs.

Addressing Mental Health Disparities During the Pandemic

Source: American Youth Policy Forum

Before COVID-19, the American Psychological Association estimated that 15 million youth have a diagnosable mental health disorder. Over 80 percent of youth in need of mental health services do not receive services in their communities, with BIYOC and LGTBQ youth the most likely groups not to receive needed care. School-based health centers in urban areas were 21 times more likely to provide mental health services than community-based providers. With schools closed, youth who receive their mental health services in their schools now need to find alternatives to care.

School-based mental health providers such as school counselors, nurses, social workers, and psychologists remain the first point of contact for students who are depressed, isolated, anxious, and now those traumatized by the pandemic. The American School Counselor Association and the National Association of School Psychologists developed a school reentry guide advising their members to develop cross-system plans that engage school and community resources. A key recommendation is to map available resources and needs to address short- and long-term needs, including repositioning staff to where they are needed most. School leaders are also learning how to leverage technology to meet the social, emotional, and mental health needs of middle and high school students.

Source: American Youth Policy Forum

Establishing partnerships with community-based mental health providers is a strategy already increasingly used to meet the mental health needs of BIYOC students. In Washington, DC, the Achievement Preparatory Academy is partnering with the AprilMay Company, Inc., a local behavioral health organization, to provide social-emotional and mental health services to their students. Teachers and counselors recognized the pandemic added multiple stressors to families already struggling to meet basic needs. To help students and families cope, they expanded access to mental health services, from the individual and small group services offered prior to the crisis, to any student, teacher, or family member using telemedicine resources.

Schools are also leveraging resources from organizations like The Trevor Project to supplement the services they provide for at-risk students. In the second annual National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health 2020, The Trevor Project reports almost 70 percent of LGBTQ youth have experienced anxiety in the past two weeks, and nearly half report they wanted but were not able to access mental health services in the past year. To address these and other needs, The Trevor Project offers a wide range of services, including the TrevorLifeline for crisis counseling, TrevorChat and TrevorText which provide access to counselors, and TrevorSpace, whichis an online international peer-to-peer community for LGBTQ young people and their friends.

The Steve Fund provides support for college-age BIYOC students through its crisis text line. They, along with their partner The Jed Foundation, assist higher education institutions in developing an Equity in Mental Health Framework composed of actionable strategies they can implement to bridge mental health disparities facing students of color. The framework was developed in response to data they collected that revealed that college students of color were almost twice as likely not to seek help when they feel depressed or anxious compared to white students. They also found that only 28 percent of students of color found their campuses inclusive, compared to 45 percent of their white peers. As a result, nearly half reported feeling isolated on campus. These data reveal that attention to the mental health needs of students of color persists into the higher education learning experience.

Source: The Steve Fund

System-Involved Youth at High Risk for COVID-19

For the roughly 48,000 youth held in juvenile detention facilities across the United States, the COVID-19 pandemic is also proving especially concerning. Black and Indigenous youth are overrepresented in juvenile facilities, with Black boys and Black and Indigenous girls, extremely overrepresented relative to their share of the total youth population. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth, and youth currently or previously involved with the foster care system are also overrepresented in the juvenile justice system. Even before the pandemic, youth detention facilities failed to adequately address the health and mental health needs of BIYOC and LGBTQ youth. These uniquely vulnerable youth often come to juvenile facilities with a host of pre-existing needs such as physical or sexual abuse, accidents, serious illness, and violence. These traumatic events often lead to depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Unfortunately, most facilities are ill-equipped to address their needs with only 53 of 3,500 juvenile justice residential facilities in the United States having received accreditation for the health care they provide. Coincidentally, calls to end the Medicaid Inmate Exclusion would require standards to ensure quality health care services in juvenile and adult detention facilities.

While many youth have been released or diverted from detention as a result of the pandemic, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) joins juvenile justice reform advocates in the call for incarcerated youth to receive “…special consideration in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.” Specifically, the Academy is asking that state agencies craft pandemic plans that release youth from custody who can be safely cared for in their communities. Before they are released, a comprehensive transition plan should be developed to include screening for health and mental health needs and restoring health benefits lost during incarceration. Community-based organizations providing youth reentry services should receive additional funding to provide virtual and in-person services, with appropriate safety precautions. For the youth who remain incarcerated, every effort should be made to ensure their safety, including improved hygiene practices, social distancing that is not solitary confinement, coronavirus testing, and a continuation of any health and mental health services they were receiving before the pandemic.

Source: American Youth Policy Forum

Resources for Policymakers and Practitioners

The undeniable disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black, Indigenous, and other youth of color (BIYOC); youth involved in the foster care and juvenile justice systems; and other traditionally underserved youth requires a targeted response. Federal, state, and local governments must enact policies and implement evidence-based programs that protect and support vulnerable youth during and after the immediate pandemic crisis. AYPF has created a COVID-19 Information Hub that provides useful resources for youth most at risk. We will continue to update this information hub and invite your active participation in planned learning events as we explore strategies from the AYPF peer network.

READYNEWS: News & resources from the Forum and the field about collaborative work to get young people ready by 21.

In this Issue: 
OST Program Quality
Data
Science of Learning and Development
Program Reopening

Disruption Creates Opportunity: We Must Do Better Together
Blog by Karen Pittman and the Readiness Projects Partners

Every aspect of community life has been disrupted, from the economy to the family. Disruptions on multiple fronts have wreaked havoc with young people’s rhythms, relationships, and responsibilities. Coordinated responses are desperately needed, especially among the people, places, and spaces where young people spend their time.

Our teams have reviewed dozens of district re-opening plans and expert guidance and we see two important themes:

  • An acknowledgment that experiences and relationships drive learning. This is a basic takeaway of the science of learning and development. When learning is all or partially happening virtually, relationships are different and need to be augmented for children and youth to succeed and thrive. There’s a fundamental equity issue here: with school buildings closed, youth in low-income communities are even more disconnected from the supports and services they need. This calls for more adults from families, afterschool programs, and community partners to connect, support, and advocate for youth.
  • An expressed desire from schools and districts (and sometimes funding requirements) to “partner with families and community.” We all know, however, that eloquent language is often followed up with limited execution, sometimes for valid reasons. The missed opportunities for school/community partnership were masked when school was in full swing eight hours a day, five days a week, ten months a year. Now partnership is an imperative. Community partners have assets – buildings, staff, experience, connections – that are making a difference and can be put to better use.

Read more.

OST Program Quality:
Supporting Quality Learning Experiences in Virtual OST
Free Webinar
Thursday, August 13
1:00-2:00 PM EDT

Join a discussion about program quality in virtual summer and afterschool programs with three leading national organizations in the quality improvement, coaching, and measurement space. Questions include:

  • How does quality differ in-person and online using established dimensions?
  • Do all dimensions matter equally; are new ones needed?
  • How should we account for stress in both students and staff?
  • Can the frameworks support planning virtual environments? If so, how?

Take advantage of the collective knowledge of three organizations that are leading efforts to support high quality virtual youth programs through continuous improvement approaches.

Panelists include:

  • Gil Noam, director of The PEAR Institute
  • Georgia Hall, director of the National Institute on Out-of-School Time (NIOST)
  • Kim Robinson, managing director of the David P. Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality and executive vice president of the Forum for Youth Investment

Register now

Data:
2020 KIDS COUNT Data Book Now Available

The 31st edition of the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s KIDS COUNT® Data Book describes how children across the United States were faring before the coronavirus pandemic began.

This year’s publication continues to deliver the Foundation’s annual state rankings and the latest available data on child well-being based on the latest available data for 16 key indicators. It also identifies multi-year trends – comparing statistics from 2010 to 2018 – the latest year of data available. As always, policymakers, researchers, and advocates can continue using this information to help shape their work and build a stronger future for children, families, and communities.

Data over a recent period of eight or so years reveal encouraging trends in child well-being nationally, with improvements documented in 11 out of the 16 indicators. In 2018, more parents were economically secure and lived without a high housing cost burden. In addition, more teens graduated from high school and delayed childbearing and children’s health insurance coverage continued to be something to celebrate.

Explore the data book.

Science of Learning and Development:
Karen Pittman Explores the Science of Learning and Development in the COVID-19 Era

With so much uncertainty and so little time to reflect, young people across the country- and the adults who care for them- are asking: how can I make meaning of the COVID crisis? To help answer this question, the Science of Learning & Development Alliance has interviewed education leaders to learn how this science can be used to navigate this pandemic and its implications for young people, their communities, and the systems that surround them. 

The Forum’s president and CEO Karen Pittman was recently highlighted in a discussion on how to equip young people with the right set of skills to succeed.

An excerpt:
Q: What’s one piece of concrete advice drawing from the science of learning and development that you would elevate for every educator or other adult supporting young people?
Karen: My advice is to start with relationships, and understand that developmental relationships are more than just caring. It starts with caring, but it really moves through to make sure that young people are cared for and feel that they have a connection. It moves into making sure that young people have a sense of agency, that we’re sharing power with them, that we are really helping them think about how to be challenged and how to grow. But we still have to have the learning component. We still have to have the content. And if you are an adult who is not an official teacher, there is still content that can be delivered. It is important to support them.

Read the interview.
Visit the Making Meaning series page.

Program Reopening:
Afterschool Alliance Releases Guidance for Reopening Programs

As communities and states begin to emerge from lockdowns, afterschool and summer learning programs are developing plans to welcome youth back through their doors. There are significant considerations programs need to undertake in order to successfully and safely reopen. To help afterschool and summer learning programs through this process, the Afterschool Alliance has curated a number of resources, guides, and examples to help develop a plan to safely care for children and youth.

Explore these resources.

A key tool for reopening programs is A School Year Like No Other Demands a New Learning Day: A Blueprint for How Afterschool Programs & Community Partners Can Help. The Forum recently signed on to a statement of support for this blueprint.

Harris County Youth Collective is growing our team of Youth and Community Specialists (YCS). YCS are part-time staff with lived experience in youth serving systems. These positions work both on staff and in the community to ensure that people most affected by the systems are included in the work toward improving services and outcomes for youth who are or have been dual status, or involved in the juvenile justice and child protective systems.

Please read the full YCS description, expectations, qualifications, and benefits in the attached PDF. Please find the application here: Harris County Youth Collective – Youth and Community Specialist Application

Join ADL’s Central Division for our summer series webinar on how hate speech and hate crimes have impacted our LatinX community.

How did the El Paso shooter become radicalized and how can we keep hate speech against the LatinX community from becoming hate crimes? Join our panelists as we remember the victims of the August 3, 2019 El Paso shooting and discuss these and other relevant issues.

Participants include: Al Maldonado – District Director, LULACOren Segal – Vice President, ADL Center on ExtremismGabriel Acuna – Member of the CommunityJosh Lefebvere – Firefighter and ParamedicModerated by Dena Marks, Sr. Associate Regional Director, ADL Southwest

REGISTER TODAY!
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTING PARTNERS

If you are providing in-person or virtual programming (on-demand activities or scheduled programming) please add them to the Out 2 Learn website by visiting our List Your Program page. Resources included on the Out 2 Learn website are also used to provide referrals to individuals who call 2-1-1 Texas/ United Way HELPLINE. Let’s leverage the power of 2-1-1 to get the word out to support our community. If you have questions about how to list your program, please contact Krystal Perez or Tiffany Echevarria. See program postings here!

Fundraising is changing rapidly. If you are relying on outdated approaches to securing funds for your organization, your success will be limited. Plan now to join us for these timely webinars designed to equip you with the information you need to improve your fundraising game in these uncertain times.

SESSION I: ARE YOU READY TO WRITE A GRANT?
Wednesday, August 12, 2020 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

There are many important elements of grantwriting that should be in place before you take pen to paper or turn on your computer. This session will help you set the stage for a successful grantwriting process. You will learn how to:

  • Evaluate your readiness
  • Assess your capacity
  • Draft your case for support
  • Identify funding sources
  • Establish basic relationships with potential funders
  • Prepare your proposal outline
  • Review your plan of action

Click here to register for Session I: Are You Ready To Write a Grant?

SESSION II: GRANTWRITING BASICS
Wednesday, August 19, 2020 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Once you have done your grantwriting homework, you will be well prepared to write a strong proposal. This session will provide a detailed analysis of the parts of your grant proposal along, with some tips and tricks used by seasoned grant writers to improve the likelihood of funding. You will learn:

  • Role of philanthropy in grant funding
  • Importance of a grantwriting system
  • Detailed elements of a sound proposal
  • Components of a realistic budget
  • Role of evaluation
  • Tips and tricks
  • Next steps

Click here to register for Session II: Grantwriting Basics

RSVP for Out 2 Learn Quarterly: Tuesday, August 18, 2020 9:00 – 11:00 am

We will have presentations from out-of-school time Providers offering academic support for the start of the school year. Wesley Community Center and the YMCA will share their approach to this new support model.

We will also launch the Fall 2020 Quality Cycle, release Barrier Buster RFP and more!

Please RSVP for Quarterly. You will receive call information after you register.

Please visit Harris County Public Health for COVID-19 information and fact sheets. Documents and flyers for public health include:

  • Fact Sheet (PDF)
  • Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
  • Viruses Don’t Discriminate and Neither Should We (PDF)
  • How Long Does COVID-19 Last On Surfaces?
  • Business Guidance for Mitigating the Spread
  • Reduce the Spread – How Face Masks Work
  • NOTICE: FDA Recalls Hand Sanitizers
  • How to Wear a Face Mask Properly
  • Social Distancing Measures
  • Testing for COVID-19

Resources are available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese.

Creator: David J. Phillip | Credit: AP
Copyright: Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Autumn 2020 won’t look like any year on record, but that won’t stop us from shining a spotlight on afterschool. The 21st annual Lights On Afterschool is kicking off on October 22, 2020!

We’ll be changing things up this year by hosting a full week of virtual, in-person, and hybrid events and activities to help afterschool programs, and the children and families they serve, celebrate. From posters and giveaways to seven days of themes and lots of exciting partnerships — we’re going to make some digital space to share activities, bring in old and new OST friends, and offer strategies to have an incredible celebration of America’s afterschool programs and everything they do for our kids.

Will you join us for a Lights On Afterschool like none other?

I want to participate!

If you have any questions, please email us at loa@afterschoolalliance.org.

Youth-led Creative Expression Contest to Prevent COVID-19 across Texas! 

Request for Applications (RFA)

We are inviting young people from across Texas to submit creative materials (videos, digital art, murals) to promote behaviors that can prevent the spread of COVID-19. Materials will be used by schools, health departments, and other community groups to promote COVID-19 protective behaviors. This contest is being hosted by the COVID-19 Communications Team within the Health Promotion/Behavioral Sciences Department at UTHealth School of Public Health in partnership with community organizations across Texas.

GUIDELINES:

  • Submissions must be created by student(s) and supported by an identified parent, adult mentor, or sponsor. Parent/Guardian permission and signature are required with submission.
  • K through 12 students, student clubs, after-school programs, youth nonprofit organizations, school wellness teams, and other youth-based groups are encouraged to apply.
  • Creative expression content can be in English or Spanish and may include translation into other languages.
  • Submissions can be either as an individual or as a group of youth. If completed as a group, we need permission forms from all youth involved with the submission.
  • Creative expression content needs to be authentic and original, or it will be excluded from the competition. We will review for authentication and use of other’s materials or ideas.
  • Creative expression content should link directly to any of the four main COVID-19 prevention behaviors (mask wearing, handwashing, social distancing, not touching your face). However, simple, direct, and brief content/message (e.g., short videos) is encouraged
  • Multiple submission are allowed!

APPLICATION PROCESS & KEY DATES:

  1. Campaign Launch: Request for Applications (RFAs) will be sent on Friday, July 17th, 2020.
  2. Application Format: Applicants must submit the application from at https://sph.uth.edu/landing/covid-youth/.
  3. Due Date: Creative Expression Submissions are due Sunday, August 30, 2020.
  4. Awards: 1st – $300 Wal-mart e-gift card; 2nd – $100 Wal-Mart e-gift card; Honorable recognition – Submissions will be posted on UTSPH Facebook page.
  5. Notification of Awards: Participants will be notified of awards by September 30, 2020.
  6. If you have any questions, contact Jacob Szeszulski at Jacob.Szeszulski@uth.tmc.edu (preferred) or call 1-713-500-9679.

The Houston Area Urban League is one of many national affiliates advocating for equitable education via a National Urban League project. This year HAUL will be more intentional with efforts. You have been extended an invitation to participate in Listening Sessions to address COVID 19 educational needs because of your service to and for children/youth.  The Listening Sessions will focus on how your practice has been impacted, what you have experienced, and what must be done to address COVID-19 related education needs.

As we are gearing local efforts, you may be contacted to aid in local efforts. For now, you are welcome to participate in the listening sessions hosted by the National Urban League. When registering, please indicate “Houston Area Urban League” or “Houston” as affiliated organization. Please see registration below or attached flyer with QR code.

Please join us for one of our upcoming Listening Sessions. Registration is quick and easy, click here

COVID-19 and Domestic Violence Resource (English):

Recurso para el COVID-19 y la Violencia Doméstica (Español):

Institute of Engagement Launches Shift Press Fellowship Application

All Greater Houston area high school-aged residents are invited to apply

On Wednesday, July, 22 2020, The Institute of Engagement launched applications for the Shift Press Fellowship, an online, 10-week paid fellowship for eight Greater Houston-area youth to develop journalistic and critical thinking skills.

The organization is looking for young people who are passionate about this city and are looking to grow. In addition to attending weekly e-workshops, fellows will produce at least five written pieces. These pieces may come in the form of reporting, op-eds, and investigative journalism as well as more personal writing.

Jalesha Bass, graduate of Yates High School and a current student at the University of Texas at Austin, says “This fellowship gives young people a great opportunity to tell their stories, gain knowledge about topics of their interest, and learn how stories impact all community action.”

“This fellowship values the crucial perspectives of young people and gives them agency in defining the narratives of their generation,” says Amy Fan, graduate of Bellaire High School and Duke University.

Young people can best shape their communities when they define themselves by the stories they tell, as opposed to the ones adults force on them.

“Engaging the dreams and concerns of Houston’s young people is the key to a bright future. I’m excited to see this work expand the fellows’ collective range of imagination,” says Uyiosa Elegon, a graduate of DeBakey High School and the University of Houston.

Fellows will receive a $1000 stipend for the 10 week fellowship. The team will also equip fellows with resources, such as reliable WiFi, if needed. 

High school-aged individuals in the Greater Houston area are encouraged to apply for the 2018-19 fellowship at www.shift.press/apply by midnight on July 29, 2020.

BACKGROUND:

The Institute of Engagement is a collective that helps young people take responsible ownership of their Houston.

The team’s past work includes the year-long 2018-19 Civic Fellowship. Thirteen students from seven high schools and four different school districts in the Greater Houston area deepened their knowledge of issue areas that they each identified as important. The fellows gained different civic skills like root cause analysis, house meeting, op-ed writing. Throughout the fellowship, the fellows facilitated house meetings with community members and grew to be a strong cohort.

For more information, visit www.shift.press/fellowship.

Like them on Facebook: www.fb.me/shiftpresshtx

Follow them on Twitter and Instagram at @ShiftPress.

READYNEWS: News & resources from the Forum and the field about collaborative work to get young people ready by 21.

In this Issue:

  • Social and Emotional Learning
  • Graduation
  • Youth Voice
  • School Reopening

Thriving, Robust Equity, and Transformative Learning & Development

The potential for thriving is universal, but so too is the existence of adversity. Young people can overcome adversities, but the ease of doing so is not equally shared. Opportunity structures – in schools, communities, and society – make it easier for some youth to avoid or buffer the impacts of adversity than others.

A new paper from the Readiness Projects partners, Thriving, Robust Equity, and Transformative Learning & Development, speaks to the needs of all youth, as every youth can benefit from robust approaches to thriving, equity, and learning. The cumulative impacts of inequity and trauma, however, propel the authors to call out the need to improve opportunity structures to address and eliminate the disadvantages created by current systems and practices. The report also calls out the need to eliminate the root causes of structural inequality in opportunities for youth to thrive across all domains. Throughout the paper, the authors:

  • Introduce a formula and a rationale for addressing thriving, equity, and learning and development together that helps us better focus on actionable social factors.
  • Summarize prevailing definitions of thriving, equity, and learning and development (and related terms).
  • Take a deeper dive into the dimensions that contribute to individual and collective thriving.
  • Offer powerful and aligned conceptualizations of thriving, equity, and learning and development.
  • Describe the opportunities and conditions required to ensure that efforts to create “equitable educational outcomes” or “equitable learning and development opportunities” are as powerful and inclusive as possible.

Read the report.

Social and Emotional Learning:
Reunite, Renew, and Thrive: Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Roadmap for Reopening Schools

The return to school this fall will be unlike any other. Students, families, educators, and community partners have all been impacted by a global pandemic, economic crisis, and the ongoing mobilization against systemic racism. Social and emotional learning has a powerful role to play in helping schools reopen in the fall in the face of these challenges. The Forum for Youth Investment is a proud collaborator on Reunite, Renew, and Thrive: SEL Roadmap for Reopening School

This new guidance provides school leaders with whole-school, anti-racist SEL strategies centered on relationships and built on the existing strengths of the school community to support students and adults as they return to school this fall.

Read more.

Graduation: New Toolkits from America’s Promise Alliance to Navigate Graduation Barriers

What does it take to help more young people – particularly those navigating the greatest barriers to graduation – graduate ready and well for whatever their futures hold? Communities and states in the GradNation campaign’s Acceleration Initiative help answer this question in a new case study series

The case studies highlight key themes and tangible examples from these community and statewide efforts to improve secondary school outcomes for specific groups of young people:

  • Holistic Approaches to Helping Young People Succeed examines the complex barriers to success in school and life that many of today’s young people face and suggests strategies to support their holistic needs in an intentional, comprehensive way
  • Building Responsive Pathways to Graduation and Beyond outlines strategies to create meaningful pathways that lead young people to viable career opportunities after they complete high school.
  • Creating Effective Youth-Supporting Partnerships highlights the ways in which states and communities have leveraged strategic collaboration to align efforts to promote success for students facing the greatest obstacles to graduation

Learn more

Youth Voice: Our Thoughts, Our Words, Our Work: An Online Conversation with Young Thought Leaders and Activists in Minnesota’s Fight for Racial Equity

Every Hour Counts Online Discussion July 29, 2020 2:00-3:30 EDT

Our nation is facing two major turning points, the COVID-19 pandemic and our fight for meaningful change in racial inequities and injustice. How are youth leading during this time?

Join Youthprise, Minnesota, and Every Hour Counts for a forum on what Minnesota’s fight for racial equity looks like and how youth are leading. Youthprise’s Neese Parker, Youth Engagement Manager, and Shiranthi Goonathilaka, Board Member, will moderate a panel discussion of young activists and thought leaders making a difference in Minnesota and pushing for change in new and meaningful ways.

The conversation will focus on:

  • Movement building and Black liberation organizing.
  • School resource officer reform.
  • Amplifying the actions being called for to end racial injustice and inequality.
  • Highlighting opportunities for supporting youth leadership.
  • National updates and next steps.

Register today.

School Reopening: Council of Chief State School Officers Releases Guidance on Reopening Schools

State and local education leaders around the country are tackling the tremendous and urgent task of planning, launching, and sustaining a strong school year in the wake of COVID-19 related school closures. While school may look different this fall than what families are accustomed to, the focus remains the same: every student receives a high-quality education. This is true whether that means learning remotely, in person, or through a hybrid of the two.

To support leaders as they strive for equity, are mindful of health and safety, and focus on teaching and learning, the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) created Restart and Recovery: Considerations for Teaching and Learning. This resource builds on other critical resources aligned with CCSSO’s Restart and Recovery Framework, which is designed to assist states as they work to reopen school buildings and recover student learning loss in the 2020-21 school year.

Explore these resources.
The Forum for Youth Investment
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The Power 2020 Experience with Y Teen L.I.F.E (Leadership. Inspiration. Fellowship. Education.)

August 4 – 27
Tuesdays – Thursdays 9am to 4pm

Programming will take place at the Houston Texans YMCA, 5202 Griggs Rd.

Open to Teens 12-15 years old | Spots Limited | No cost to participants

  • Engage in Self Development and Empowerment Sessions
  • Strengthen your learning potential while connecting with Y Teen L.I.F.E
  • Participants that complete the 3-week cohort program will receive a reward to support virtual learning

Link to Register: https://bit.ly/3fTbHUZ

We are committed to keeping our participants and staff safe and healthy and the following procedures will be in place for this in-person program:

  • Restricted access to childcare/camp spaces to only staff and participants
  • Small group sizes with a 1:9 ratio with a significantly reduced capacity for the entire camp program
  • Separate rooms for each group of young people with the same staff each day
  • Multiple temperature checks and health screening each day
  • Social distancing throughout the entire program
  • Scheduled handwashing and access to hand sanitizer
  • Staff and teens will wear face masks
  • Increased cleaning and disinfecting processes throughout the day

Greetings,

Sharing an awesome opportunity for high school teens that are ready to make lasting change!

We have a great line-up of facilitators that will be engaging participants around mobilizing, organizing and enacting change. We also have governmental advocacy and local/state leaders joining us for a special conversation on civic engagement/advocacy.

At the end of the week, youth will be able to share their plans of action around social justice. Our goal is that any young person who is sitting at home right now wanting to be a part of the change, “leaves” the week knowing that their voice matters, that they have the ability to enact change and that there are organizations ready for their leadership.

Changemakers Virtual Experience: This virtual event is designed for young people to connect and collaborate around issues that matter to them. Changemakers provides a space for youth leaders to create plans and put them into action through grassroots organizing; topics of equity, social justice, advocacy, and inclusion are all included in the Changemakers experience.This is a virtual experience that can change the world!

July 28 – 31, 2-3:30pm each day

Link to register: https://ymcahouston.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIkcuCqqT0qHNC3ywmBzFuyPNgH2YNBGpPR

H-Town Fish Camp is open and free to all incoming 9th graders in the Houston area! CollegeCommunityCareer, Project Grad and the Y are teaming up for a fun virtual experience designed to support student transition into high school and learning in a virtual/autonomous environment.

Daily sessions will feature on-campus resources, mental health, time management, academic tracks and endorsements, leadership development and civic engagement. Please share with students/families in your community!  

H-Town Fish Camp

Tuesday – Friday, August 11-14
2 – 3:30pm
Registration:
https://forms.gle/jDRFDKXQFvphfrGu8

For Parents/Guardians of children Pre-K – 12th grade, get ready for: Four Dimensions College-Career Readiness

Get ready to learn the four keys of college and career readiness to prepare your child for a successful future.

Based on the work of David Conley – “Are They Ready”

Every Monday morning from 11 am to 12 pm is the Spanish webinar where Irene Greaves serves as the interpreter for John Robinson. Every Wednesday 11 am to 12 pm is the English webinar. Greaves and Robinson have been working together for several years now, and Irene Greaves is also the author of “Lovescaping” and facilitates in English and Spanish.

Register in advance for this meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMlcu6orTItHdawRnJ4FwlQoFFJD5Wi2-uY

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.  If you have any technical difficulties, please contact Amanda Hampton, ahamptom@haul.org.

If you have any questions about the program, please contact John Robinson, jrobinson@haul.org.

Greetings BGCGH Supporters: 

Summer is quickly rounding out. We have seen needs increasing in each of our communities. We look forward to your support on the referrals and volunteerism at our club, pantries, and initiatives. We appreciate your ongoing support- Stay Safe!

Family Engagement Program: Financial Resources for Families:

PROJECT GIVES– this program provides emergency food assistance through resource gift cards and direct food access through local restaurants at no charge to the family. For family/client referral please have them apply here https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/projectgives or for more information email projectgives@bgcgh.org .

Healthy Lifestyles Program: BGCGH Drive Thru Food Pantries:

We still need your assistance for our BGCGH Drive-Thru Pantries.  This week we are in need of volunteer support at 4 of our pantries. Please use this link to sign-up if you are interested https://www.signupgenius.com/go/409084AA5AF22AAF49-bgcgh20

The work will be as SAFE as possible: data recording, packing – boxes/bags, placing bags in trunks or on the sidewalk- all while social distancing, masks (feel free to bring your own face covering as well), and gloves. The respective clubs will be open for employee and volunteers to wash hands, use restroom, and take breaks.  See attached Flyer for dates and times.

Also, please check our website for up-to-date information on all of our efforts www.bgcgh.org .

If you have questions, please let us know. Thanks so much for your support- we appreciate everyone’s help small to big!

Please RSVP here. There will be Q&A at the end. Please send any questions beforehand to Raima Roy (rroy@advancingjustice-aajc.org), and we will also allow for follow-up questions at the end of the webinar.

Hi Census Partners, Please join us for our Webinar on Census & Redistricting on Thursday, July 30 at 2pm ET / 1pm CT/ 12pm MT / 11am PT / 8am HT. This webinar will focus on how on 2020 Census will impact redistricting. We will highlight the importance of redistricting to Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities and how they can engage on redistricting at the local level. This webinar will also cover the legal considerations for redistricting, how it has been used to create political clout in the Latino community, and how different communities of color are working together on redistricting efforts. Lastly, the webinar will discuss how the potential delay of census statutory deadlines will impact redistricting in the states and federal legislative efforts to address these issues. 
Speakers

Terry Ao Minnis is the senior director of the census and voting programs for Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC. Terry co-chairs the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights’ Census Task Force and sat on the U.S. Department of Commerce’s 2010 Census Advisory Committee from 2002 through 2011, when the committee’s charter ran out. Terry has been counsel on numerous amicus briefs filed before the Supreme Court, including Shelby County, Alabama v. Holder, Arizona v. The InterTribal Council of Arizona, Northwest Austin Municipal Utility District Number One v. Holder, and Crawford v. Marion County Election Board. She was also counsel on a joint amicus brief with MALDEF in Bartlett vs. Strickland. She was one of the key leaders in campaigns on reauthorizing the Voting Rights Act in 2006 and Census 2010 and is actively engaged in addressing the Supreme Court’s decision in Shelby County v. Holder. Terry holds a law degree, cum laude, from American University’s Washington College of Law and a bachelor’s degree in economics at The University of Chicago.

Steven Ochoa 
is Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund’s National Redistricting Coordinator and serves all of MALDEF’s redistricting needs, be it direct GIS mapping, community education, gathering and constructing relevant datasets, and racially polarized voting analysis. Having served MALDEF since 2011, Steven oversaw MALDEF’s 12 state redistricting program from 2011-2012, and personally conducted its western program in California, Arizona, and Nevada. This included crafting redistricting proposals for California State Legislature, California Congress, Arizona State Legislature, Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Los Angeles, City, and LAUSD, among many other plans. He also participated in MALDEF’s 2001-2002 redistricting efforts. A Los Angeles native, Steven was trained at the UC Berkeley Statewide Database in the use of Census and election data and GIS mapping. He earned a Bachelors in Political Science from UC Berkeley in 2000 and a Master’s in Public Policy from the University of Michigan in 2006.

Julia Marks is a staff attorney with the Voting Rights and Census program at Asian Americans Advancing Justice – ALC. Before joining Advancing Justice – ALC, she clerked for the Hon. Keith P. Ellison of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Julia previously litigated civil rights class actions and other high-impact cases at Disability Rights Advocates to expand access to public- and private-sector services. She received her J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, where she participated in the California Asylum Representation Clinic, the East Bay Community Law Center’s Neighborhood Justice Clinic, and the Berkeley Journal of International Law.

Karuna Ramachandran is the Director of Statewide Partnerships at Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta. Karuna brings over ten years of experience in nonprofit work to her position. She has developed programs spanning youth development, public health and health advocacy, environmental justice and organizational development. Prior to joining Advancing Justice-Atlanta, Karuna directed community-based public health programs aimed to reduce health disparities of Georgia’s rapidly growing AANHPI and refugee communities. She worked to create lines of service that improve access to healthcare while pushing alongside partner advocates to defend the Affordable Care Act and improve understanding and implementation of provisions designed to improve health equity. Karuna’s extensive experience integrating programs to organizational practice add value to Advancing Justice-Atlanta as we grow the justice movement in Georgia and the greater Southeast.

Justin Valas is the Policy Director at Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago. He brings a decade of experience in community building, grassroots organizing, and leading legislative policy change around issues of economic justice, health equity, and immigrant rights. Most recently, Justin served as the Director of Health Equity at the Asian Pacific Development Center in Aurora, Colorado. Additionally, he was a founding member of Asian Communities Together, organizing Asian Americans in Colorado around issues of racial justice. Previously, while with the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, he led the legislative efforts to repeal the state’s “Show Me Your Papers” law. He was also founding member of the NC DREAM Team, which protected undocumented community members from deportation in North Carolina. Justin earned his BA from Knox College.

Please RSVP here. There will be Q&A at the end. Please send any questions beforehand to Raima Roy (rroy@advancingjustice-aajc.org), and we will also allow for follow-up questions at the end of the webinar.

If you missed our previous Webinar on Junkipedia Disinformation Tool & Updated Census Bureau Communication Plan please check out the recording here. Hope you can join us!
Register today
Wednesday, July 29
2:00 – 3:30 PM ET / 1:00 – 2:30 PM CT/ 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM PT

Join Youthprise, Minnesota, and Every Hour Counts for Our Thoughts, Our Words, Our Work, an online conversation with young thought leaders and activists in Minnesota’s fight for racial equity on Wednesday, July 29.

About this Event: Our nation is facing two major turning points, the COVID-19 pandemic and our fight for meaningful change in racial inequities and injustice. How are youth leading during this time?

Join us for a forum on what Minnesota’s fight for racial equity looks like and how youth are leading.

Youthprise’s Neese Parker, Youth Engagement Manager, and Shiranthi Goonathilaka, Board Member, Youthprise, will moderate a rousing panel discussion of young activists and thought leaders making a difference in Minnesota and pushing for change in new and meaningful ways.

The Conversation will include:
– Inspiring spoken word performance

Panel focused on:
– Movement building and Black liberation organizing
– School resource officer reform
– Amplifying the actions being called for to end racial injustice and inequality
– Highlighting opportunities for supporting youth leadership
– National updates and next steps

Donations received online will support the panelists’ work in Minnesota and can be made at https://youthprise.org/donate/.

This event is brought to you by Youthprise, an organization working to increase equity with and for Minnesota’s Indigenous, Low-Income, and Racially Diverse Youth, and Every Hour Counts, a national coalition working to expand learning opportunities so every young person can thrive.
Register today
 Every Hour Counts is a coalition of citywide organizations that increases access to quality learning opportunities, particularly for underserved students. The organization is a leading voice promoting expanded-learning systems, which provide learning and enrichment through after-school, summer, and other initiatives. Expanded-learning systems help students be more connected to school, build self-confidence, and connect with caring adults, so every student can thrive.
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CLIMATE CHANGE EMERGENCYCLASS SERIES: SAT. 8/1 AND 8/15 10:00AM – 11:30AM  **ZOOM LIVE CLASSES – Complimentary- Reserve your ticket here.

** Plan to attend both classes to get the most out of the presentations.

CLASS 1: Sat. 8/1: Introduction to Climate Change: The Problems and the Solutions.  Jim Blackburn will present an overview of the problem of climate change that will be the KEY issue facing the world in the 21st Century.  Blackburn will summarize the changes in our Texas and global climate that have been forecast, and he will present a range of solutions that will redefine our current economic, agricultural and industrial models.

Presenter: Jim Blackburn is a Professor in the Practice in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at Rice University, co-director of Rice University’s Severe Storm (SSPEED) Center and a Faculty Scholar at Rice’s Baker Institute where he is leading a project to development of a United States standard for storing carbon in the soil of prairies and grasslands. He is both an environmental lawyer and planner and has written two books about the Texas coast with the most recent – A Texan Plan for the Texas Coast –released in October 2017 by Texas A&M Press.  Jim was selected a Rice University Alumni Laureate in 2018.

CLASS 2: Sat. 8/15: Plants and Food in a Changing Climate. This second part of the series focuses on the looming threats to the food supply and reasonable avenues for changing the trajectory explained in Class 1. Reforestation has high potential not only because forests sequester carbon in many ways, but also because they use water to cool the planet and produce more plants. Various efforts to diversify, improve, and localize our food supply are surveyed together with opportunities to support them.

Presenter: Bob Randall, PhD. Dr. Randall is a food systems anthropologist and permaculture designer with a five-decade involvement in food systems both as a researcher, educator, and activist. He helped found and direct Urban Harvest for 14 years and is a board officer of both OHBA-Organic Educators and the Permaculture Institute of North America.  His best-selling 2019 book Year-Round Food Gardening for Houston and Southeast Texas explains how to adjust food plant lists and planting schedules to the ever-warming climate. Dr. Randall has been teaching about ways to reverse climate change since 1999

Recycled Container Garden

Students will learn how to recycle milk/water/juice cartons for gardening. Students will create a garden in their front and/or back yard. Click here for lesson plan.


Financial Literacy: What is Money

This lesson plan provides an understanding and awareness of the value of coins and paper currency. This lesson is targeted to youth K- 2nd.


Outdoor and survival skills lessons

Students will become familiar with 10 essential items for surviving a back country wilderness experience. Students will understand the importance of pre-trip planning and preparation. And students will think critically to identify their 10 COVID-19 personal essentials. Access the full lesson plan here.


STEM lessons and activities

A variety of lesson plans can be found here.


Literacy Through Photography Lesson

Students will create a reflection journal using simple materials and practice brain activity. This activity is for grade levels 2nd- 8th. Click here for the full lesson plan.


STEM and Agriculture activities

A variety of free lesson plans can be found here.


Vocabulary activities for English second-language students

Provides English language learners with the opportunity to practice, improve, and learn new vocabulary. To provide refugee students a safe space to assume normalcy and continue English enrichment during uncertain times. Facilitators lead a game-show style live-stream featuring a variety of English language word games. Follow the link for more information.


STEM

Various STEM activities can be accessed here for grades K-5.


Basketball Enrichment

Intramural Sports programming for youth students (K – 5th) that teaches teamwork, healthy living, physical activity proper hydration and nutrition for students and surround youth with positive role models and opportunities to celebrate the diversity of the community we support. For details on this lesson plan, click here.


Virtual Homework assistance

Providing tutorials and solutions to students’ homework and future aspirations. Focus is on Math, Science and Language Arts.

Communications sent directly to parents for students within the program and is posted online for easy access to engage existing and new students for homework assistance. Learning Specialist are available virtually during normal program hours of 3-5pm on Tuesday-Thursday or as needed by appointment. For registered program students, online credentials would be provided for online enrichment. Follow the link for more details.


Social-Emotional Learning activities

An opportunity to build on prior knowledge, ask about family reunions, traditions and holidays. Making connections to family health, mental, and physical. To complete this project, follow the lesson plan for the full description.


SUMMER LEARNING SERIES MENU

For more details, visit: https://ppgulfcoast.org/summerlearning

SESSIONS FOR ADULTS/GUARDIANS/EDUCATORS (25+)

Surviving Quarantine with Your Partner for adults

Skill-building activities are utilized to teach the participant how to establish healthy boundaries and maintain mutually beneficial connections. 

Protection Methods

Safer sex is better sex. Our expert sexual health educators are here to provide tips for protecting yourself from pregnancy and STIs.

Los Métodos Anticonceptivos para adultos  (Español)

Esta presentación cubre los métodos de protección más utilizados y cómo funcionan para reducir el embarazo no deseado y las infecciones de transmisión sexual.

Sexually Transmitted Infections 201 for adults

The program helps us identify the most common STIs, including HIV. Review modes of transmission, symptoms, treatments and prevention..

Infecciones de Transmisión Sexual 201 para adultos (Español)

El programa nos ayuda a identificar las ITS más comunes, incluido el VIH. Revisar los modos de transmisión, síntomas, tratamientos y prevención.

Real Life. Real Talk para padres/cuidadores (Español)

Real Life. Real Talk.® (RLRT) está diseñado para fomentar un diálogo saludable sobre sexualidad y salud entre padres, adolescentes, familias y comunidades. Este programa aumenta la conciencia, cambia las actitudes, aumenta las conversaciones positivas y significativas de la comunidad y la familia, y fortalece el conocimiento

Cómo Hablar con su hijo sobre Sexualidad para padres/cuidadores (Español)

Esta presentación proporciona a los padres / cuidadores habilidades para comenzar discusiones familiares sobre la salud sexual y la pubertad. Los participantes aprenderán el tiempo recomendado para comenzar a hablar con sus hijos, así como las respuestas a las preguntas más frecuentes formuladas por los jóvenes sobre este tema.

How to Talk to Your Child About Sexuality for parents/caregivers

This presentation provides parents/caregivers with skills to begin family discussions about sexual health and puberty. Participants will learn the recommended time to start talking with their child as well as responses for the most commonly asked questions posed by youth on this topic.

Real Life. Real Talk for parents/caregivers

Real Life. Real Talk.® (RLRT) is designed to encourage a healthy dialogue about sexuality and health among parents, teens, families, and communities. This program heightens awareness, shifts attitudes, increases positive, meaningful community and family conversations, and strengthens knowledge.

Supporting Students & Answering Tough Questions for Teachers/Educators

Are you an educator? A counselor? A parent? A mentor? This week we’re thrilled to provide resources for parents and educators to help support students and answer tough questions.


SESSIONS FOR YOUNG ADULTS (18-25)

Courts Matter for young adults

Federal courts play a crucial role in deciding on basic legal protections and civil rights of our communities. Join us for a special discussion about where the U.S. Federal court system stands and how you can help protect our reproductive freedoms.

How to Use Your Voice & What You Can Do for young adults

Never be afraid to raise your voice for justice. Join us and learn how to advocate for reproductive freedom. 

SESSIONS FOR HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH (14-18)

Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relationships for high school

What do healthy relationships look like and what are the red flags? What are the signs of an abusive relationship? Do you have to have sex to have a healthy relationship? We’re here to answer those questions and give you the tools to recognize healthy behaviors and relationships. 

Sexually Transmitted Infections 101 for high school 

Have you thought about how to protect yourself from sexually transmitted infections? Our sex ed experts are providing a medically-accurate, judgement-free session on the facts about STIs.

Protecting Myself- The Basics on Birth Control for high school

Have you sought enthusiastic consent from your partner? Have you talked about birth control & condoms? Our expert sexual health educators are available to answer all your birth control questions.

Stand up Gulf Coast: How to be an Ally for ages 14-18

The power is in YOU to make sure your peers and community are safe. Our expert sexual health educators are empowering teens to be allies where they work, live, and play.

Know Your Facts- Trivia for high school youth

Bring your favorite snack, play games, and test your knowledge of sexual health and other hot topics.

SESSION FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH (12-14)

My Future, My Way: Goal Setting for youth 12-14

What’s your future plan? Thinking about what you want in the future makes it easier to make smart decisions today. Teens identify their long-term goals and what impact pregnancy and STIs have on those goals.

Hello Nonprofit Partners, 

Please share the following Microsoft and City of Houston opportunity with your sites, student body, and other community partners.

Participants between the ages of 18 – 26 with an interest in digital technology careers can join the Virtual Symposium on Digital Technology Careers on Monday, June 22nd and Tuesday, June 23rd. Each day will be filled with workshops focused on: online learning and virtual collaboration; Post-COVID career opportunities in digital technology; emerging technologies in industry and society; and pathways to industry and higher education.

The City of Houston is partnering with Houston Community College for the 2020 COVID-19 Community Health Education Fellowship (CHEF) program.

Participation in this program will provide young adults with the opportunity to explore public health education while learning about the work of community health workers and interacting with professionals of the field and leaders in the industry. 

The Community Health Education Fellow (CHEF) will be responsible for conducting outreach, advocacy, counseling, and education to the 22 Super Neighborhoods and neighborhoods of Mayor’s Complete Communities Initiative. These communities have been greatly affected by COVID-19.

The certification program will begin on June 29th and end on July 17, 2020. The paid experience ends September 2020. This is a 10-week paid opportunity. The application will close on Wednesday, June 17, 2020. You must be between the ages of 18 to 24, not currently enrolled in post-secondary institution, or working in order to participate in this program. 

HCDE CASE for Kids is researching a more comprehensive picture of how the Out-of-School Time (OST) community is being impacted by COVID-19. Information collected through this survey will be used to inform community decision-makers of the damage to the OST community and to record needed resources to support the re-opening and recovery of our field. Please help us achieve a full picture of what is happening in OST, complete the survey here.

This is a repost from the We Stories’ Blog!

We’re all adjusting to life being lived exclusively from our homes, and more times than not, that can have one grasping for something new to do. With help from the local library, we’ve got you covered! Hoopla and Libby/Overdrive have been lifesaver apps in the age of self-quarantining, and we want to share some of the gems we found while sifting through both platforms. Below you’ll find lists for the whole family, no matter their age!

In case you don’t have a library card yet, you can head here to register for one from the St. Louis County Library system, or visit your local library’s website to find out how you can get a card online. Happy Reading!

Picture Book Recs:                                   

  • Alma and How She Got Her Name
  • Fry Bread
  • Big Mooncake for Little Star (Also a video short on Hoopla!)
  • Birdsong
  • Someone New
  • The Undefeated
  • The Day You Begin
  • Carmela Full of Wishes
  • Sulwe
  • Last Stop on Market Street
  • King of Kindergarten
  • Trombone Shorty                                       

Young Adult Book Recs:                                   

  • Dragon Pearl
  • Children of Virtue and Vengeance
  • Sal & Gabi Break the Universe
  • A Good Kind of Trouble
  • Pet
  • Look Both Ways
  • Black Enough: Stories of Being Young & Black in America
  • Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky                       

Adult Book Recs:                                           

  • The Water Dancer
  • Southern History Across the Poverty Line
  • White Fragility
  • The New Jim Crow
  • They Were Her Property
  • The Color of Law
  • An Indigenous People’s History of the US
  • Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?

Please visit the We Stories blog for more information.

Houston Coalition Against Hate

Houston Coalition Against Hate (HCAH) is a network of community-based
organizations, institutions and leaders in Houston that have come together to collectively address and prevent incidents of hate, bias, discrimination and violence against Houstonians on the basis of their religion, race/ethnicity, gender, gender identity/expression, disability, age, sexual orientation, and immigration status.

The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond (PISAB)

The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond (PISAB), is a national and international collective of anti-racist, multicultural community organizers and educators dedicated to building an effective movement for social transformation.

Courageous Conversations

Founded by Glenn E. Singleton in 1992, Pacific Educational Group is committed to achieving racial equity in the U.S. and beyond. We engage in sustained partnerships featuring training, coaching and consulting with organizations to transform beliefs, behaviors, and results so people of all races can achieve at their highest levels and live their most empowered and powerful lives.

Multicultural Alliance

Based in Fort Worth, Texas, the Multicultural Alliance® promotes inclusive communities, working toward the elimination of bias, bigotry, and oppression and encouraging understanding and equity through shared experiences and educational programming.

The Summit

Girls Empowerment Network’s Pathfinder Leadership Summit is a personal and professional development program aimed at giving rising 9th-12th grade girls a head start on their road to independence, college and career. This years Pathfinder Leadership Summit will be virtual to ensure the safety of all participants.

The Workshops

In addition to the yearly summit, Girls Empowerment Network also hosts Pathfinder Workshops throughout the year.

Access the application here!

Available on iTunes, Podbean, our ever you listen to your favorite podcast.

Click here to listen

This episode of the Making Afterschool Cool Podcast features the Out 2 Learn resource network. Initiated in 2017, Out 2 Learn is a collaborative initiative dedicated to increasing access to and improving the quality of out-of-school time (OST) opportunities in Greater Houston. This is a collaborative effort led by Houston Endowment, the City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Education, Harris County Department of Education’s CASE for Kids, and United Way of Greater Houston. Out 2 Learn is a valuable resource for parents in Houston to find out-of-school and afterschool programs that will benefit and engage their children.

During this this podcast you will learn about:

· The purpose of Out 2 Learn

· Other similar quality initiatives in Texas and United States

· Out 2 Learn as a resource for youth service providers

· Out 2 Learn as a resource for parents

· Future funding opportunities related to COVID-19

Guest

Tiffany Echevarria has served the community for over seven years through various capacities. She is tremendously grateful for the opportunity to have served as an AmeriCorps member implementing an afterschool program. She credits that experience for inspiring her dedication to the OST field. Tiffany currently manages grant processes aimed at strengthening programs that support youth ages five to early adulthood. She also supports several projects that convene partners to work collaboratively, including Out 2 Learn.

Resources

Greater Houston COVID-19 Recovery Fund

Greater Houston COVID-19 Recovery Fund — Inquiry Fund

Out 2 Learn’s Website

Harris County Department of Education

CASE for Kids

Supporting the Whole Child During Restart & Recovery-COVID-19 Response: Webinar Hosted by the Council of Chief State School Officers and the Learning Policy Institute
Tuesday, May 19, 20204:00 – 5:00 PM EST
As the 2019-20 school year winds down virtually, state, district, and school leaders are turning their attention to how school buildings can safely reopen. They are exploring how to evaluate and address learning loss, ensure the physical safety and well-being of everyone in the school building, and support the social, emotional, and mental health of students and teachers. They are also considering the best ways to address trauma their students may have experienced because of the COVID-19 pandemic-especially for traditionally underserved students, including students of color and those from low-income families.
Next week, the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and Learning Policy Institute (LPI) are hosting a webinar to discuss both how lessons from the science of learning and development can inform restart and recovery plans to support student well-being and learning, as well as how state chiefs are already taking a whole child approach to pandemic response.
CCSSO Executive Director Carissa Moffat Miller will facilitate a conversation with Linda Darling-Hammond, President and CEO, LPI and President of the California State Board of Education, as well as state education leaders on the importance of policies and practices that support students’ social, emotional, mental and physical health, and well-being during restart and recovery. The panel will also discuss actions state leaders can pursue in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to support the whole child.
Register now.
At Our Best: Building Youth-Adult Partnerships in Out-of-School Time Settings
The book series Current Issues in Out-of-School Time, by Information Age Publishing, has spread research, promising practices, and policy perspectives from practitioners to further grow the out-of-school time (OST) field. Karen Pittman and other Forum staff have been featured in the series. The fourth book, At Our Best: Building Youth-Adult Partnerships in Out-of-School Time Settings, brings together the voices of over 50 adults and youth to explore both the promises and challenges of intergenerational work in OST programs.
This new volume features empirical research, conceptual essays, poetry, artwork, and engaged dialogue about the complexities of youth-adult partnerships in practice. At Our Best responds to key questions that practitioners, scholars, policymakers, and youth navigate in this work, such as:What role can (or should) adults play in supporting youth voice, learning, and activism?What approaches and strategies in youth-adult partnerships are effective in promoting positive youth development, individual and collective well-being, and setting-level change?What are the tensions and dilemmas that arise in the process of doing this work?And, how do we navigate youth-adult partnerships in the face of societal oppressions such as adultism, racism, and misogyny?Learn more.
CASEL CARES: SEL Resources During COVID-19
As the country and the world absorb the impact of COVID-19, our interconnectedness has never been more clearly on display. Social and emotional learning (SEL) offers a powerful means to support one another – children and adults – during this challenging time. Now, more than ever, we understand how important it is to demonstrate empathy and resilience, build relationships across distance, and call upon our collective resolve to strengthen our schools and our communities.
CASEL CARES is a new initiative that connects youth-serving leaders with experts to address how SEL can be most helpful in response to today’s circumstances.Resources and guidance are available, and there is a free, weekly webinar series every Friday on a variety of topics.
Learn more.
COVID-19 Resource Sheet for Opportunity Youth United
Opportunity Youth United and the Forum’s SparkAction built a dynamic, collaborative sheet to share resources among the Opportunity Youth and youth-organizing community. It includes events and opportunities, funding opportunities, general resources and supports, and a space for community asks.
Check it out here.

Lashon Amado, Project Director with Opportunity Youth United, and many other leading voices will be speaking on a Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) webinar next Tuesday, 5/19 on the topic of youth, young adults, and allies community response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Learn more and register.
Recovery and Renewal: Principles for Advancing Public Education Post-Crisis
The coronavirus pandemic has upended the school year for 50 million American students and revealed the best and worst of public education: the best in terms of the response by so many educators, support staff, students, and parents; the worst in terms of the intense light shone upon inequities that plague our system.
As policymakers and education leaders plan to re-open buildings for the 2020-21 school year, they face important questions about how to capitalize on strengths and finally deal with weaknesses. There must be an open discussion of the inequities outside of school – like food insecurity, the digital divide, and the uneven experience of stress and trauma – that is replicated and exacerbated by pervasive inequity inside of school.
In a new paper, the Aspen Institute’s Education & Society Program proposes five principles to guide recovery and renewal:
1. Ensuring equity and engagement
2. Using a holistic view to set a coherent strategy
3. Being guided by the science of learning
4. Taking a long-term view of student success
5. Setting an agenda for innovation
Read more.
Framing Adolescent Development During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Even during these uncertain times, it’s a sure thing that adolescents-young people between childhood and adulthood-are still developing biologically, socially, and emotionally. It’s also a sure thing that some of the necessary conditions for healthy adolescent development have been disrupted by COVID-19.
Adolescence is a time when youth need safe and satisfying ways to go to new places, form new relationships, and test out new ideas and experiences-but exploration and stay-at-home measures don’t mix well. It’s a stage when it’s important to maintain academic trajectories- but unequal access to critical resources like computers and the internet means some young people will get off track. It’s a time when skills to manage strong emotions and setbacks are developing-but with so many worries about family health and finances, and so many new responsibilities for sibling care, the situation could outpace young people’s ability to cope in healthy ways.
Frameworks Institute just released a brief guide, suggesting five ways we can help to reframe the conversation about adolescent development in this challenging time.
Learn more.

Good for Tech Fest 2020 is an upcoming conference focused on social change using technology to achieve it. Brighthive is one of the featured sponsors with a spot in the keynote and 2 sessions.  The event is free and the agenda is jam packed with relevant sessions to support our current work (e.g. CQI, data management, grant reporting, etc.) as well as forward-thinking within Second Century Vision. Session topics include:

  • Designing Technology for End Users
  • Getting More Out of Story and Grantee Report Data When Tracking Social Change
  • Data Mindset: Building an engaged culture of learning within your organization
  • Moving from Data Sharing to Data Collaboration
  • Nonprofit Data Sharing: How the Chicago Benchmarking Collaborative Improves Pre-K Literacy and Math Skills for Low-Income Children

But this really only scratches the surface of the session offerings.  The agenda and speaker information can be found here. 

Here is the link to register for online access to Methods Training. About half of the sessions are available now; and free access is until the end of June.
Register here!

Register HERE to attend. Access information will be sent the morning before the call. This COVID-19 briefing for nonprofits will provide a medical update, guidelines on opening safely, and ideas on how to engage volunteers. You will also have an opportunity to ask questions.


The Greater Houston Partnership, Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston and Volunteer Houston invite you to a COVID-19 briefing tailored to nonprofit professionals. 

Thursday, May 21, 2020 @ 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
RSVP HERE

 We will discuss:

  • Fighting COVID-19 | Where we stand, the stats and what the next few months will look like
  • Opening Up | Steps nonprofits can take to reopen
  • Re-engaging Volunteers | Special considerations in COVID-19 times

Featuring:

  • Dr. Marc Boom, CEO, Houston Methodist
  • Martin B. Cominsky, President & CEO, Interfaith Ministries
  • Rev. Greg Han, Director, Interfaith Relations and Education, Interfaith Ministries
  • Bob Harvey, President & CEO, Greater Houston Partnership
  • Dr. James T. McDeavitt, Sr. Vice President and Dean of Clinical Affairs, Baylor College of Medicine
  • Brooke Parkinson, CNP, Director of Volunteer Houston
The world has dramatically changed with COVID-19.  Now, we all have to redefine our outcomes, business model, engagement with volunteers, donors and clients, our community engagement and leadership, and the very reasons we do what we do. Is our theory of change still relevant and are there revenue streams to support it? Leadership in the new world means more than the ability to raise awareness of problems and money, now we’ll have to create measurable positive social change to be a viable social enterprise in the future. Our organizational leaders will have to define a clear direction toward making impact on complex social problems. We must engage all three sectors in the work necessary to achieve outcomes that everybody, including those we’re serving, agree on. This is what a “reboot” of an independent sector business looks like. 
 
Key themes explored will include: Is our theory of change relevant post COVID-19? How leaders engage other leaders in a longer-term focus? Understanding the new charitable marketplace Building a board and governance structure for the new marketplace From mission-based leaders to community leaders, the evolving role of board members and executives
 
Register

Event Details: Thursday, May 21, 2020
2 p.m. – 3 p.m. EST Location: Webinar
Speakers: Mark Brewer, President & CEO, Central Florida Foundation
Our webinar series gives nonprofit leaders like you the power to drive impact in the community by connecting you to tools, resources and expertise. This thought leadership opportunity focuses on topics such as leadership development, nonprofit sustainability, industry trends and innovative approaches to economic mobility. By sharing expertise more broadly with partners, we hope to be part of the solution, advancing more inclusive communities that offer economic opportunity for all.

How to Register: All participants are required to register. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email including the link to the webinar and the bridgeline. If you have previously registered for our webinar series, you can click on the link, login, go to the bottom and click register for the webinar. Registration will be accepted up until May 20.

Thank you to everyone who joined us yesterday! We will continue to hold a standing call for the OST community on Tuesdays at 10:30 am. Please register for future calls. We kindly ask that you register so that we can continue to keep the call secure.

Please note: The meeting starts at 9:00 on Tuesday, May 19th as we will host Out 2 Learn Quarterly on that day.

Resources:

As always, reach out with questions or ideas. We are looking for resources on COPPA laws to share with group.

Thank you all so much for your commitment to youth!

Please follow this link to retrieve valuable information from the City of Houston on how to prevent COVID-19 and practices to implement to protect high-risk individuals!

Since 2015, Out 2 Learn has partnered with the David P. Weikart Center to provide training, technical assistance, and coaching to implement a continuous quality improvement cycle in out of school time sites. Each year the Weikart Center has collected survey feedback from participating sites to understand the experience and impact of past year’s efforts and to inform decision-making for the next year.

In response to the current pandemic and necessary programming adjustments, the Weikart Center will be hosting multiple one-hour online focus groups on May 7th at 10:00 am and 2:00 pm to learn more about program quality efforts during the 2019-2020 program year, current challenges and opportunities, and suggested priorities for the upcoming 2020-2021 program year.

To participate and share your feedback, please register by Monday, May 4th 2020.

OST Providers and Friends,

We miss seeing you IRL, but we have two virtual opportunities to engage with you coming up in May. Please RSVP here.

  • Out-of-School Time – Planning for Summer: Tuesday, May 5th from 10:30 – 11:30 am
    • Join us for a dialogue around summer. This will include breakout session so we can “share the air.” We are asking for Providers to be ready to share their plans for summer (recruitment, capacity, virtual and in-person programming, needs, etc.). We know things are changing daily but we want to provide space for colleagues to hear from each other about emerging plans. HISD will have a presence on this call and will share their initial insights as well.
  • Out 2 Learn Quarterly Meeting: Tuesday, May 19th from 9:00 – 11:00 am
    • We will hear from content experts to add tools to our toolbox when working with youth (mental health resources, keeping quality at the forefront and mindfulness). We will also reserve time to talk again about summer plans in small groups. We will have a little something for everyone: listening, talking and take-aways.

Please RSVP here. Double check your e-mail address for accuracy before submitting.

Dear Agency Partner,

I wanted you to be one of the first to know that Amanda McMillian has been appointed the next President and CEO of United Way of Greater Houston effective May 1. She is a collaborative, caring, and forward-thinking leader who is passionate about our Second Century Vision. Please read the news release that gives you more details. You may also click here to hear from Amanda.

She is looking forward to connecting with you as soon as she can.

Thank you for all you are doing every day to make this community a better place, especially during these difficult times.

Armando Perez
Chair of the Board of Trustees, United Way of Greater Houston
Executive Vice President, H-E-B Houston

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Have a girl in grades 3rd – 12th? Both of you can experience Girls Empowerment Network’s live programs and resources from the comfort of your own home. Do a quick tutorial, download an activity, or connect with others in our network through a live workshop to combat stress, anxiety or anything that may be on your mind.

Writers in the Schools offers free, public programs to help students continue their learning and engage with poetry while at home, and we are working to build out more options. The landing page link is here: Virtual Learning with WITS. A brief description of each current program is below.

  • QuickWITS is a free 15-minute online writing experience for K-5 students
  • WITS U is a series of interactive poetry writing workshops for youth in grades 6-12
  • Free Verse is a monthly open mic series for youth ages 13-19.
  • WITS + Discovery Green is a virtual version of our monthly Youth Poetry Session (usually held at Discovery Green Park). The next session is May 1.

Y Teen L.I.F.E. Power Hour: Mental Health Break –Thursday (4/14/20) @ 4pm
Register Now


Y Teen L.I.F.E. – Let’s Talk Mental Health with Loizza Aquino – Thursday (4/16/20) @ 4pm
Now is the time, more than ever, to show support and love for one another. Join us in talking about ways and strategies to help you through this time. We CAN and WILL get through this together! Learn more about Loizza, follow her on Instagram @loizzaaquino!
Register Now


Y Teen L.I.F.E. – Friday Night Live: Karaoke – Friday (4/17/20) @ 6:30pm
Bruno Mars has entered the chat. Start your vocal warm-ups now because things are about to go down! Join us for Friday Night LIVE KARAOKE!! DM us on Instagram @yteenlife for song requests, and while you are there, give us a follow!
Register Now
UPCOMING WEBINARS
APRIL 10 Building Resilience to Support Ourselves, Others, + Our Students   During this time of crisis, educators face not only the stress of changes in their own lives and in their families, but also their deep concerns about the well-being of their students and families. What can we do to support ourselves, our colleagues and students? This practice-based webinar will provide helpful tools and experiences educators can use to build their resilience and support their well-being. Participate in these practices to enhance your emotional awareness and compassion for both your own self-care and the care and nurturing of others. 

Mark Greenberg, Ph.D. Co-Founder, CASEL and Bennett Chair of Prevention Research, Penn State University

Christa Turksma, Co-developer, Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education (CARE) program
Velma Cobb Ed.D. Director, Lander Center for Educational Research
Register today
APRIL 17
Let’s Listen to Our Young People: What Support Do They Need?
Are adults providing students with what they need during this crisis? Join CASEL for a discussion with Joshua P. Starr Ed.D. (CEO, PDK International) and Educators Rising high school students. PDK’s recent survey shares more from high school students on what kind of social and emotional supports they need, and from educators on what they’re providing. During this webinar, we’ll look at the student voice data together and invite high school students to discuss strategies for bridging that gap.
Register today

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, CSBH will be hosting a Virtual Art Showcase in place of the in-person showcase. The Virtual Art Showcase will still allow the community to celebrate youth and their expression of emotions using art. The art will be featured in an on-line gallery on Mental Health America of Greater Houston’s Facebook Page.

The theme: Art in the Face of COVID-19

Rules:

  • Participants must be 5 to 20 years old
  • Each piece must be original
  • Only one submission per youth
  • Although the theme has shifted CSBH realizes some have created pieces related to the original theme ‘What My Feelings Look Like’ and CSBH will still accept these pieces as well.
  • Pieces can be collage, mixed media, drawings, mosaics, needlework, paint, photography, or sculpture

How to Enter:

  • Email a scanned or photographed copy of the art piece and a completed consent form to csbhinfo@mhahouston.org
  • The consent form can be printed, completed, then scanned, or it can be completed in Word and sent
  • Pieces can be scanned or photographed (please send high resolution photos so people can see the work as clearly as possible; please do not send the actual art as CSBH, like many other businesses, are working remotely)
  • CSBH will accept pieces through Friday, May 8th at 5 PM CST
  • Winners of the following categories will each receive via mail a $50 Texas Art Supply Gift Card!
  • Most Likes (piece which receives the most likes in the CSBH virtual gallery; winner selected on Friday, May 15th)
  • Thinking Outside the Box
  • Moved Beyond Words
  • Most Innovative Approach
  • Parents may submit art on behalf of their children
  • Pieces may not contain vulgar language, nudity, or lewd/suggestive images or phrases

Click here for the application!

Just Add Beats now has a Level 1 audio production online course available for free this month teaching kids how to create audio works with their phones.  Please pass this along to anyone who might be interested:  

How to get it:

Visit Just Add Beat’s website and use promo code OUT2LEARN at checkout for a 100% discount during the month of April.


Collaborative for Children and Workforce Solutions, in partnership with the City of Houston, Harris County and other community partners, will match you with high-quality child care that best suits your family’s needs. And, you can apply for financial assistance to offset child care expenses from Workforce Solutions.

Register in English

Register in Spanish


IMPORTANT INFORMATION: 

PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION BELOW BEFORE COMPLETING THE REGISTRATION FORM.

If you, or anyone in your household, have tested positive for COVID-19, have a case “under investigation,” or have been determined presumptively positive and asked to quarantine, DO NOT APPLY for child care services and follow the advice of health care professionals.


If you only need financial assistance and do not wish to complete the above online registration form, you may download a pdf file attached.

The American Youth Policy Forum (AYPF) was founded 27 years ago to improve the lives and outcomes of traditionally underserved youth. AYPF founder, Sam Halperin, wrote in the seminal report, The Forgotten Half: Pathways to Success for America’s Youth and Young Families, that underserved youth face multiple obstacles that hinder their life prospects. The COVID-19 pandemic has laid bare the harsh reality that not enough has changed to effectively address their needs, that are exacerbated by the crisis.  

AYPF applauds efforts to collect and catalog resources for parents and practitioners scrambling to rise to the challenges of the pandemic. Education leaders are providing meals and educational resources for parents attempting to create a home-based learning environment for their children. Health care leaders are offering support to help children and youth manage their stress. And efforts are underway in multiple sectors to ensure that families can provide safe and secure housing for children and youth.  

AYPF offers additional tools and resources designed for traditionally underserved youth, who are struggling to meet current needs while managing the emerging needs during the pandemic. Please add to the list and email additional resources to ensure this list, to the extent possible, is helpful and relevant.  

Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council is providing virtual programming to members and non-members to keep our girls learning during this challenging time!

Girl Scouting from Home resources can be accessed by visiting here.

Also, explore their resources on how to talk to kids about COVID19.

LOCAL SUPPORT AND RESOURCES

Anyone currently experiencing COVID-19 symptoms should contact their healthcare provider. Harris County residents without access to healthcare can call the triage line for COVID-19-related questions at 713.634.1110 from 9am-7pm, 7 days a week. For more information on COVID-19, please go to www.ReadyHarris.org or www.hcphtx.org.

Harris County/Houston Self-Assessment Tool: Determine whether you may need further assessment or need to be tested for COVID-19.

Coronavirus: Houston Health Updates

Houston Food Bank: Find a partner near you, apply for SNAP, call their helpline at 832.369.9390 or text FOOD to 855.308.2282 to find your nearest food pantry.

Houstonians with disabilities can still contact MOPD staff for referrals and constituent services by calling 832.394.0814 or by emailing mopdmail@houstontx.gov during normal business hours.

LOCAL CORONAVIRUS HOTLINES

For Harris County Residents:

The Harris Center’s Harris County COVID-19 Mental Health Support Line: 833-251-7544  (Available 24/7)

Harris County Public Health832-927-7575(*This number is staffed 9 a.m. to 7p.m. everyday)

Harris Health System713-634-1110(*This number is 9am-7pm, everyday clinical-related questions only)

For City of Houston Residents:
Houston Health Department832-393-4220(*This number is staffed 9 a.m. to 7p.m. M-F, 9am-3pm on Sat.) 

For Fort Bend County Residents:
Fort Bend County Health & Human Services: 281-633-7795(*This number is Monday-Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm)

For questions about COVID‑19, including finding a doctor or accessing medical care, dial 2‑1‑1, then choose Option 6.
(Hours: 7:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., 7 days per week)

During this time of social distancing, you can continue to advance your skills with various styles of professional development. There are options such as taking a course through Cypherworx (free through HCDE’s CASE for Kids), viewing webinars from NAA, Afterschool Alliance, CASEL and Share My Lesson or just watching OST and SEL best practice videos and reflecting on ways to improve your interactions with youth. Many of these organizations are offering access to their materials free to ensure that OST professionals continue to learn and grow professionally during social distancing. Please consider joining one of the membership organizations in the future to express your appreciation.

Cypherworx is an online professional development platform where you can access a variety of courses, 24/7.  CASE for Kids offers you the opportunity to access this resource for free!  All courses have been approved for clock hours by the Texas Early Childhood Professional Development System.  Take a 36-hour school age certificate series, access early childhood courses, and explore workshops on non-profit operations or health and safety matters.   Enroll here and get learning!  Contact Kathy Evans at kevans@hcde-texas.org with questions.

Webinars on demand or scheduled:
CASE for Kids offers a webinar series to offer different teaching strategies to implement in afterschool and summer programs. Webinar topics include literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional learning (SEL) integration. Each webinar is 15-25 minutes in length and can be viewed at any time. Our presenter is Dr. Cedric B. Stewart is an educational practitioner and consultant. He has over 22 years of experience working in public urban education settings. He specializes in behavioral interventions and special educational instructional methodologies designed to impact students ‘ academic and behavioral progress. Topics range from behavior management and SEL concepts o reading and numeracy strategies in OST. These webinars help to meet the training requirement for Select Service providers. Click here to access the list of available webinars on page 14 of the 2020 Spring Training calendar.

Afterschool Alliance offers a searchable database of webinars. Topics range from summer learning to youth voice, bullying, programming ideas and resources for OST field leaders. Access their webinars, to enhance your work in the field.

CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning) has launched CASEL Cares, an initiative that connects SEL community with experts to discuss how SEL can be helpful in the current situation and in the future. Topics are developing and a recorded version of “Strategies for being your Best SELf” is available. Click here to access recorded webinars and see schedule for live webinars in April.

NAA (National Afterschool Association) understands that it is essential that OST leaders understand and develop their own social and emotional competencies. This webinar series offers tips on developing SEL curriculum and guides leaders on how to assess their own EQ.

Sandford Harmony offers webinars focused on relevant topics in education. These engaging webinars help inform educators about social emotional learning and provide practical SEL strategies that can be used in schools and organizations across the world. Click here for recorded webinars and to see upcoming scheduled webinars in April.

Share My Lesson is pleased to offer educators free access to the 42 webinars that were just presented at their virtual conference. Explore topics such as trauma informed practices, STEM, equity in education and SEL. Register here to access these informative webinars focused on relevant topics in PK-12 education.

Videos to watch and reflect:

Nation at Hope shares videos that they produced in collaboration with Edutopia to show how schools and classrooms across the country are supporting their students’ social, emotional, and academic growth. Watch these videos to explore what we know from research about how learning happens and how that knowledge can be translated into practices and strategies for students at all ages and stages.

Smithsonian Institute, Good Thinking offers short videos that include ideas on teaching science through brain research driven instruction. Click here to watch these fun and informative videos on best practices for teaching science.

Temescal Associates is dedicated to building the capacity of leaders and organizations in education and youth development who are serious about improving the lives of young people. Click here to see the 1-hour documentary on the history of afterschool and to see video presentations from past How Kids Learn Conferences.

Please share with you families, clients, networks, schools, and friends.

Next Friday – 7-8 grades Parent/Caregiver Session 20 minutes.

Following Friday’s – and 9-12 grades Parent/Caregiver Session 20 minutes.

Mayor’s Office of Education has compiled a list of resources for the community. Please visit the website here. Check back often as it is a living document that changes daily.

Due to the COVID-19 crisis, afterschool and youth programs are having to quickly adjust. This survey was developed to gather information and share the results back with providers, afterschool leaders, advocates and funders. We estimate that this survey will take about 8 minutes to complete. We greatly appreciate you taking the time to complete this survey. Please complete before April 9, 2020.

Visit the Learning in Afterschool Blog’s website.

March 27th 11:00-12:00 pm

The Alliance is bringing together education stakeholders across our network to connect with one another regarding the implications of the COVID-19 pandemic. This conversation is for organizations that partner with schools to provide mental health services. Broadly, we will focus our conversation on two main areas: 

  • Funding, policy, and advocacy  
  • Supporting students, families, and practitioners  

This session will discuss the specific challenges and barriers that you’re facing right now so that we can crowdsource emerging solutions, and so the Alliance can lift up your voices in our advocacy efforts. Participants will be invited to share key updates, helpful resources, and stories of resilience and innovation during this time. Information

Select your state and/or provide your address below to find meal sites while schools are closed. This site currently has data for Louisiana, Tennessee, Virginia, and Texas, provided by state education agencies, plus some data from California and Alabama provided by local districts  https://schoolmealfinder.hoonuit.com/

Community Design Resource Center has compiled a list of resources for individuals to navigate available resources. Please share with your networks. CDRC plans to continually update the Resource Pack with any additional information and you can always find the most recently updated version at their website.

The Council for a Strong America – Police Training Institute (PTI), is working with the Houston Police Department and area community groups & young people in Houston to help “bridge the gap” between youth, community members and law enforcement. PTI is excited to be partnering with Teen and Police Services (TAPS) and Houston Health Foundation – Youth Violence Prevention Coalition in hosting this Community Town Hall. One of the goals of the town hall is to provide a safe environment to openly communicate with all people on current issues and how to make the community a better place. Information from this Town Hall meeting will be used to assist the PTI team in preparing program materials for area police officers and youth community members.
More details about event.

Learn how student outcomes can be impacted with your support through a free 5 hour Lonestar Governance Training. This leadership training will help you set expectations and learn the roles and responsibilities of a school board. An English and a Spanish training will be held at 2 different locations on Saturday, March 7, 2020 from 9am-2pm. 
 
Everyone is welcome and lunch will be provided. Registration is required.
 
Register online
bit.ly/march7-training
Regístrese en la página
bit.ly/7demarzo-sesion

HISD Wraparound Services invites you to participate in training session tailored to all partners and providers who service HISD students. In addition, a Provider Fair will follow the presentation to allow you to showcase your services to Wraparound Specialists.

Register here!

Please share with girls ages 12-18, no charge!

Girls Inc. of Greater Houston is hosting our Inaugural 2020 Be Bold LeadHERS Summit!  We will be joined by Former Miss 2014 Houston, Isis Smalls as our lunch keynote speaker.  On March 14th at 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. we will be inspiring teens to own their beauty and BE Bold LeadHERS!
Registration is open.  

NGCP National Webinar: Connecting Out-of-School-Time (OST) Activities and Student Interest in STEM on February 26, 2020; 11:00 AM Pacific (2:00 PM Eastern)
Which specific types and characteristics of OST activities increase student interest in STEM? What are the barriers that prevent students from participating in these programs? The Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian (CfA) surveyed over 15,000 college students nationally to identify factors that strengthened their interest in STEM. Students were asked about their experiences in a variety of precollege STEM activities including afterschool clubs, summer camps, and competitions as well as interacting with mentors, participating in hands-on activities, and designing and carrying out their own STEM projects. Presenters, Susan Sunbury, Ed.D. and Jacqueline Doyle, Ph.D., will share those programs and attributes most successful in increasing STEM interest. Register here.
WHERE IS THE MONEY?
Before you hit “submit” on your next grant application, you may want to be sure that you have done everything possible to increase your chances of success. Preparation is every bit as important as the written application. Join your Out 2 Learn colleagues for this important three-part series that will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to persuade funders that you are a worthwhile investment.

SESSION 1: WHAT’S YOUR PLAN?
Thursday, March 12, 2020
9:00 a.m. – noon
Grantwriting should be just one part of your fundraising strategy. This session will help you create a basic fundraising plan that will prepare you to diversify your sources of funds and equip you with the tools you need to write successful grants, secure new donors, and identify the tactics that are best suited to you organization.

SESSION II: ARE YOU READY TO WRITE THAT GRANT?
Thursday, April 2, 2020
9:00 – noon
There are many important elements of grantwriting that should be in place before you take pen to paper or turn on your computer. This session will help you set the stage for a successful grantwriting process.

SESSION III: TOOLS, TIPS AND TRICKS FOR EXPERT GRANTWRITING
Thursday, April 23, 2020, 10:00 – 11:30 a.m.
In this session, we will provide some very practical resources that will broaden your grantwriting expertise significantly. Limited seating. Registration is required, register here.

A big thank you goes out to our youth and staffers who made this year an eventful Lights On Afterschool.