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Origami with Alex

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.

OCTOBER WORKSHOPS

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.

CASE for Kids: Virtual Learning Support

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

CASE for Kids: Virtual Learning Community

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!

SEPTEMBER WORKSHOPS

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.

ProjectGRAD: Aspiring Young Adults Mentoring Program

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!

ProjectGRAD: Petrochem Career Workshop

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!

ProjectGRAD: Virtual College Tours

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!

Multiple Webinars from TXPOST

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

Fall 2020 BioBlitz Webinars

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.