TheConnector

TheCONNECTOR is Youth Community Connections’ (YCC) communication tool for sharing updates and for seeking action from its partners. TheCONNECTOR contains the following highlights:

RECENT NEWS AND EVENTS
Lights On Afterschool - October 16, 2008
21st Century Community Learning Centers - Cohort 4 Grant Competition
Reviewers Needed by MDE
Partner Invovlement in Advocating for Afterschool Opportunities
Coalition for Science After School
Educational Scholarships for School Age & Youth Program Workers
Cable's Leaders in Learning Awards

NEW RESEARCH
U.S. Education Department Study Calls Attention to Benefits of Afterschool
New College Guidebook Uniquely Targeted to First-Generation, Low-Income and Minority College-Bound Students

FUTURE EVENTS
Youth Community Connections' Bi-Annual Partner Meeting, November 13, 2008
Policy and Advocacy Committee Meeting - November 14, 2008
A Time for Transformation: From the Polictics of Race to the Politics of Solidarity - November 13, 2008
Healing the Heart of Justice: The Spirit of Diversity Leadership - Novemer 14 - 15, 2008
Youth Engagement Symposium Services - November 18, 2008
Youth Building Cultural Competency with African-Born Youth, Young Adults, and Families - November 3 - 5, 2008
Dads Make A Difference Teen Peer Education Training - November 16-17, 2008
Shutting Off the Tap to Teens - December 4, 2008


RECENT NEWS AND EVENTS

Lights On Afterschool - October 16, 2008

Governor Tim Pawlenty declared October 16, 2008 Lights On Afterschool Day in Minnesota.  As schools closed for teacher professional development and training this month - afterschool and community-based programs opened their doors all day long to assure the children and youth of their communities were in safe places with caring adults.  Many after school programs invited community members and leaders into their programs to see how they work with young people to support their learning, growth and development.   

Lights On Afterschool is the nation’s celebration of afterschool programs and attracts 1 million Americans to 7,500 events at afterschool programs across the country. Lights On Afterschool is support by the Afterschool Alliance.

Youth Community Connections wishes to express its gratitude to all of you who work so hard to make a difference for young people in Minnesota.  Not only do you provide invaluable opportunities to young people but you provide critical resources to our families, businesses and communities.  Thank you.  We are honored to work in partnership with you!

21st Century Community Learning Centers – Cohort 4 Grant Competition
The Minnesota Department of Education is pleased to announce the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) –Cohort 4 grant competition. Approximately $3 million is available to establish or expand high-quality afterschool programs that offer a broad array of services and activities designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program of participating students before and after school, on school release days, weekends and school vacation periods.  Examples of agencies and organizations eligible to apply for a 21st CCLC grant include, but are not limited to: schools, school districts, non-profit agencies, city or county government agencies, faith-based organizations, institutions of higher education and for-profit corporations.

Eligible applications must include a collaborative between a school or school district, and one or more community-based organizations, faith based organizations or other public or private entities. Applicants must primarily serve youth who attend high poverty schools or schools eligible for Title I school wide programs.
The application packet and a link to a WebEx recorded presentation of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Cohort 4 Grant Application Workshop is available here:
http://education.state.mn.us/PAIEGMS/searchGrants.do?command=allactive

The direct link to the WebEx presentation is:
https://mde.webex.com/tc0409l/trainingcenter/record/navRecordAction.do?siteurl=mde&firstEnter=1

Applications must be postmarked by a U.S. Post Office, personally delivered to the Minnesota Department of Education, or submitted to a delivery agent for delivery on or before December 23, 2008.
Submit all questions and requests for additional information via email only to the following email address: MDE.Prev-Interv@state.mn.us

Reviewers Needed by MDE
21st CCLC Cohort 4 grant applications will be reviewed and scored by peer reviewers that reflect the diversity of Minnesota’s communities and will include youth. Individuals interested in reviewing grants can sign-up at the following web address:
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB228E9XEFG2Z.

Partner Involvement in Advocating for Afterschool Opportunities
Public and private organizations across the State of Minnesota come together through Youth Community Connections’ to advocate for afterschool, summer and year-round learning opportunities for children and youth. 

Together we are working to strategically leverage resources for afterschool and summer learning programs. The state-funded Afterschool Community Learning Opportunities Grant program is administered by the Minnesota Department of Education and is scheduled to end June 2009 without further action by the State Legislature. 

Youth Community Connections will advocate in support for the continuation of public investments in afterschool and summer learning opportunities and is seeking partners to assist in lobbying on these efforts.  You can find out more about the Afterschool Community Learning Opportunities Act by visiting our website.

As we continue our advocacy efforts, it is important for Youth Community Connections’ staff to understand how you or your organization can contribute to this shared effort.  We ask that you complete a short survey identifying specific ways in which you or your organization can assist in securing resources for afterschool and summer learning opportunities.  The following survey should take approximately 10 minutes to complete.  Click here to take the survey.

Coalition for Science After School
Youth Community Connections is working with the Coalition for Science After School to help improve the quality of science learning resources available to after-school programs.  In order to better understand your interests and needs, we are collecting information about your existing science programming.  This information will be collected specifically for Minnesota to use in securing better resources and opportunities for you. 

The survey should take less than 15 minutes to complete.  One response per site is appropriate.  To complete the survey, please follow this link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=_2fTFVevLKdEO28riNedrDEQ_3d_3d

DUE DATE: All responses should be received by November 15, 2008. 

PRIZES: Everyone who completes this survey will be entered into a drawing for ten $75 amazon.com gift certificates! If you win one of the raffle prizes, you will be notified after November 15, 2008.

In addition to the prizes, you will have the option to subscribe to the Coalition for Science After School listserv which will provide regular updates about curriculum, funding and field test opportunities. 

Questions should be directed to Jason Freeman, Director of CSAS, by phone (510-642-8106) or by email (scienceafterschool@gmail.com).

Educational Scholarships for School Age & Youth Program Workers
The University of Minnesota Youth Work Institute, the Minnesota School Age Care Alliance, and the Minnesota Child Care Resource & Referral Network are partners in a national pilot project to expand the successful T.E.A.C.H. Early Childhood® scholarship program to school age/youth workers.

Scholarships will be provided for up to 25 eligible SAC/youth program staff to complete 3 select courses (9 credits) between January, 2009 and December, 2009 that are part of a degree program at the Minneapolis Community and Technical College.

The goal of this pilot program is to create a workforce that is stable, prepared, supported and committed to the well‐being and empowerment of youth by increasing education, compensation and retention.

To find out more contact Christina Schwarz, T.E.A.C.H. Program Coordinator, at 651‐290‐9704, ext. 109 or christinas@mnchildcare.org. Christina can answer your questions and discuss how this opportunity can work for your program and your staff!

Don’t delay – the deadline for staff to apply for scholarships is November 10!!



Cable’s Leaders in Learning Awards
If you know of an education leader who is doing extraordinary things to help kids learn, complete the recommendation form to encourage them to apply for a Cable's Leaders in Learning Award. Applications for awards are open and will run thru December 17, 2008.  Winners will be recognized in Washington, DC (June 2009) and receive a $3,000 stipend. 

NEW RESEARCH

Check out some of the latest research on after school, youth engagement and quality improvement on YCC’s website under latest research.

U.S. Education Department Study Calls Attention to Benefits of Afterschool
This story originally appeared in the Afterschool Advocate (Vol. 9, Issue 10).
Two new broad-based research reports affirming the positive academic impact of afterschool programs were the focus of a recent forum in Washington, D.C. The Scientific Evidence in Education Forum, sponsored by the nonprofit American Institutes for Research, drew afterschool policy experts to hear from a panel of researchers and a U.S. Department of Education official.

The September event included presentations on a new federally funded study of afterschool conducted by MDRC, a nonprofit research organization, as well as a new synthesis of afterschool research covering more than 90 separate studies of afterschool programs conducted by Robert Granger, president of the William T. Grant Foundation.

MDRC conducted the research for its "Evaluation of Enhanced Academic Instruction in After-School Programs" report with a grant from the federal Institute for Education Science's National Center for Education Evaluation and Regional Assistance. Researchers tested the effectiveness of 45 minutes of focused academic instruction during afterschool, using specially created materials. The result was a statistically significant increase in students' mathematics scores.

The study is the first federally funded research to focus principally on what works in afterschool, rather than on whether afterschool works at all. "The evolution of the Department's funding of afterschool research is significant," Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant said. "Even the decision to fund the study is important. This research was aimed at identifying the circumstances under which afterschool is most effective, with an eye toward improving afterschool. That's a far cry from the way the Department framed the findings from the Mathematica study several years ago, which they cast as testing whether afterschool worked at all. It seems the Department of Education may be accepting what parents, students and providers know so well: that afterschool programs inspire students to learn."

A Department of Education official said the research demonstrates that 21st Century Community Learning Centers grantees could play a key role in improving the effectiveness of the Supplemental Education Services program. "We are reinforced in the notion that there are pockets of success out there in SES and 21st Century," Doug Mesecar, Assistant Deputy Education Secretary for Innovation and Improvement told the media. "If anything, [the MDRC study] made us more certain that if we can solve some of these implementation problems in SES, we will start to see some very positive results. We know enough that this is effective in certain cases... and we want to do more of it. We certainly want to see SES be successful, and we want to better leverage the investment that goes into 21st Century every year."

Granger discussed his recent synthesis of afterschool research published by the Society for Research in Child Development. "After-School Programs and Academics: Implications for Policy, Practice, and Research" reviews three recent meta-analyses covering more than 90 afterschool evaluations. "It is clear that to be effective, programs should actively involve participants, be intentional about their goals, and focus on the interactions between youth and staff," Granger writes. "If positive academic outcomes are one of those goals, programs may need to include specific activities that are focused on academic achievement, but the approach should build on the opportunities presented by the out-of-school setting."

Granger called for putting top research priority not on whether afterschool works, but rather on identifying the best ways to improve program effectiveness.

For Granger's synthesis of recent afterschool research click here. The MDRC study is available here.  

New College Guidebook Uniquely Targeted to First-Generation, Low-Income and Minority College-Bound Students
Center for Student Opportunity (CSO), a national nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting higher education opportunities for historically underserved college-bound students, has released its inaugural College Access & Opportunity Guide.

The Guide is the first of its kind and highlights more than 225 colleges and universities that offer college access and retention programs for first-generation, low-income and minority college-bound students. The Guide also includes information, articles and stories to help underserved college-bound students plan and take the necessary steps to go to college.

In addition to creating the College Access & Opportunity Guide, CSO implements programs that serve colleges and universities, counselors and community-based organizations in support of their college access goals. CSO also maintains the CSO College Center, a free online clearinghouse of college programs and admissions information for first-generation, low-income and minority college-bound students.

FUTURE EVENTS


Youth Community Connections’ Bi-Annual Meeting

The Afterschool Formula - Bringing It All Together
November 13, 2008 - 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Ramada Inn Northwest
6900 Lakeland Avenue
I-94/694 Exit 31
Brooklyn Park, MN 55428

Space is limited so register online today! Registration closes November 6th.  More Information is available on our Website.

Policy and Advocacy Committee Meeting - November 14, 2008
Youth Community Connections invites you to join our Policy and Advocacy Committee on Friday, November 14th from 9:00-11:00 am at the Wilder Foundation in St. Paul.  Wilder Foundation is located near the southwest corner of University Avenue and Lexington Parkway. 

As we advocate for afterschool learning opportunities for children and youth across the State of Minnesota it is important to understand what other budget priorities exist with Senate and House Members. Join us as we hear from the Senate Finance Committee Chair, Sen. Richard Cohen, and House Early Learning Finance Division Chair, Rep. Nora Slawik.

Please RSVP by Wednesday, November 12th by contacting Michael Messinger at michael@youthcommunityconnections.org or 612.627.0157.

A Time for Transformation: From the Politics of Race to the Politics of Solidarity - Thursday November 13, 2008 at 7:00 PM
Victor Lee Lewis is an internationally recognized leader in the field of anti-oppression diversity work and alliance building. Lewis will address the underpinnings of the negative “racial paradigm” and also share a vision of a world of interracial, intercultural solidarity that is worth living and fighting for.

Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church
401 Concord Street
St. Paul, MN 55107
No registration necessary
Parking on site.  Questions? 651-227-4275

Healing the Heart of Justice: The Spirit of Diversity Leadership - November 14-15, 2008
Victor Lee Lewis is an internationally recognized leader in the field of anti-oppression diversity work and alliance building.  Lewis introduces a unique model for diversity leadership. He will model and present an approach that integrates personal growth and development (inner leadership) with organizational development and transformational skills (outer leadership).

Participants will leave with the elements to create their own diversity leadership “workout plan.”

Friday November 14
5:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Saturday November 15
9:00 am - 3:00 pm

Cherokee Park United Church
371 Baker Street West
St. Paul, MN 55107
www.cherokeeparkunited.org

Refreshments served on Friday & Saturday; lunch included on Saturday. Space is limited. Registration deadline is November 10, 2008.

Pre-registration required for November 14 & 15
Call 651-224-2728 or email register@asdic-alliance.org by November 10, 2008. The Friday-Saturday Leadership Training is intended for educators (teachers, staff, board members, administrators), nonprofit personnel, AND anyone engaged in diversity and antiracism training. $40 fee, scholarships are available.

Youth Engagement Symposium Services - November 18, 2008
The Youth Work Institute presents the Youth Engagement Symposium Series.  The series of symposia on youth engagement will give a public face to momentum we’ve been feeling and nurturing in the state of Minnesota for quite some time. It’s all this talk, conferences and projects about youth engagement.

Constance Flanagan is a leading expert in the area of adolescent civic and political development. She earned her PhD in developmental psychology at the University of Michigan and is currently a professor of youth and civic development in the Department of Agricultural and Extension at Penn State University.

Her program of work, “Adolescents and the social contract” focuses on the ways that young people interpret the rights and obligations individuals and societies owe one another. Her presentation will focus on research about the developmental correlates of social trust.
Register online today!

Youth Building Cultural Competency with African-Born Youth, Young Adults, and Families - November 3 - 5, 2008
Most of us recognize the benefits of a diverse and equitable society. We also have a growing desire to be more culturally competent in dealing with the conflicts and challenges we face in achieving that goal. Situations where professionals need information, conflict strategies, and multicultural communication include juvenile justice, schools, workplaces, community disputes, boards and commissions, and health care services. This 24-hour training will integrate the skills of mediators, educators, and direct service providers with the context of youth, young adults, and families with African heritage living in Minnesota.
Time: 8:30 - 9:00 a.m., Social/Registration; 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Training
Location: Federal Hi-way Credit Union, 840 Westminster St., St. Paul, MN 55101
Fee: $300.00 (includes materials)
Trainers: Abdi Ali and Barbara Raye

For scholarship or program information, Contact Abdi Ali at 612-722-2739

Dads Make a Difference Teen Peer Educator Training: A service-learning, youth development, leadership opportunity for teens - November 16-17, 2008
Dads Make a Difference (DMAD) helps youth understand the positive impact involved fathers have on their families and the significance of being financially and emotionally prepared for children as an important component in raising children in a safe, stable, and healthy family environment.  DMAD builds the capacity of trained teen peer educators to focus the attention of younger youth on the personal, economic, and social impact of the decisions they make before becoming a parent.  DMAD helps youth develop attitudes, behaviors, and skills vital to their social and emotional well-being and provides youth with knowledge and resources necessary for them to thrive and make successful transitions to adulthood and future parenthood.

Where: Radisson Hotel and Conference Center, Plymouth
Cost: $55 per participant – teen or adult bringing teens for 2-day training

For more information contact Jan Hayne at Dads Make a Difference, 651-222-1622 or jan@dadsmakeadifference.org.

 

Save the Date: Shutting off the Tap to Teens – December 4, 2008
A skill-building workshop to reduce underage alcohol use.
Keynote speaker: Pete Schuermann, Director of HAZE
Mr. Schuermann will discuss the observations and experiences of the filmmakers of HAZE, a documentary depicting the high-risk drinking behaviors of youth and young adults today. Clips from the documentary will also be shown.

Workshop: Two panels of experts will discuss policy approaches and provide practical advice for preventing underage alcohol use.

For more information contact: Katie Zientara, Minnesota Prevention Resource Center,
763-427-5310.

Youth Community Connections
1313 - 5th Street SE, Suite 321 ~ Minneapolis, MN 55414
PH: 612.627.0160
WEB: www.youthcommunityconnections.org