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
Supporting Youth Success (SYS) Initiative Advisory Committee Assembled
Lights on Afterschool! is October 22, 2009
KIDS PLUS Youth Leadership Unveils Combined Twin Ports Program
2009 Children’s Issues Briefing, October 28
Youth Community Connections takes part in Mall of America’s Underwater Adventures Aquarium On-line Consignment Program

ADVOCATING FOR AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER LEARNING
Youth Community Connections Policy and Advocacy Committee Meeting

NEW RESEARCH AND RESOURCES
August Publication from The Forum for Youth Investment, Addressing Out-of-School Time

FUTURE EVENTS
University of Minnesota’s 25th Annual Policy Analysis Conference
Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota hosts the 10th Annual Minnesota Mentoring Conference
Minnesota Youth Intervention Programs Association (MnYIPA) Conference
Minnesota Community Education Association (MCEA) Fall Conference
Strategic Planning Day for the Center for Inclusive Child Care


EMPLOYMENT IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
Community and Marketing Staff for Camp Fire USA Minnesota Council Application Info

RECENT NEWS AND EVENTS

Supporting Youth Success (SYS): The Promise of Expanded Learning Opportunities Initiative’s Advisory Committee Assembled
Minnesota is one of five states selected to receive a grant titled “Supporting Youth Success: The Promise of Expanded Learning Opportunities." Youth Community Connections (YCC) has agreed to provide the oversight and project management for this initiative on behalf of the State of Minnesota.

The primary focus of this initiative is to develop a framework that outlines strategies and identifies action steps to broaden the definition of learning and success to ensure children and youth in Minnesota are better prepared for life, work and college. The framework will broaden the definition of learning and success by focusing on both formal and non-formal learning opportunities that happen during the school day and in the community through youth programming. The strategies and action steps will address policy and resource needs and identify best practices. In addition, the framework will address three goals of the initiative;

1. Build awareness about the contributions formal and non-formal lerning opportunities make to youth success. Support intentional connections in practice an policy to best prepare children and youth for post-secondary education, work and life..
2. Improve coordination and use of resources between formal and non-formal learning opportunities to ensure high quality learning can occur anywhere, at any time, all year round.
3. Continue to build a statewide system of quality and accountabilty that recognizes learning in the classroom and in the community are essential to ensuring succss for young people.

A leadership team and advisory committee will advise the work of this initiative. For more information click HERE.

Lights On Afterschool! - October 22, 2009
YCC is working to promote Lights On Afterschool! which will take place October 22, 2009.  Lights On Afterschool!, the nation’s celebration of afterschool and summer programs, attracts 1 million Americans to 7,500 events at afterschool programs across the country.  YCC is encouraging afterschool and youth serving organizations in Minnesota to take part in Lights On Afterschool!and help call attention to the need for afterschool and summer learning opportunities!

Click to here sign up today.  You will start receiving Event Planner Email Alerts and free Lights On Afterschool! posters to promote your event. Easy to use planning tools are available online.

Or you can visit www.afterschoolalliance.org.

KIDS PLUS Youth Leadership Academy Unveils Combined Twin Ports Program
Since 1998, nearly 900 young people from around the region have participated in the KIDS PLUS Youth Leadership Academy and discovered they can make a difference in their communities. This year, the Northland Foundation is revitalizing this successful program by bringing together Duluth, Minnesota and Superior, Wisconsin youth and mentors for a joint 9-month learning experience.

The Twin Ports Youth Leadership Academy will introduce new program elements designed to not only develop the 9th graders’ leadership, communication, and teamwork skills but also to break down barriers and strengthen the relationships between these two neighboring, closely interconnected cities.

“Young people often have the impression that people from other communities are different than they are,” said Lynn Haglin, Northland Foundation’s Vice President/KIDS PLUS Director. “But, given a chance to know one another, they discover something valuable: we are more alike than not.”

As part of the Northland Foundation’s KIDS PLUS family of programs, the Youth Leadership Academy’s goal has been, since its inception, to help develop young leaders who will serve their communities now and in the future. The program features several unique aspects, including the fact that the young people selected to participate often have not experienced many other opportunities to develop their leadership potential.

The 2009-2010 Twin Ports Youth Leadership program will kick off in September with a leadership retreat followed by community exploration and leadership development sessions. Northland Foundation program staff as well as guest speakers such as nationally known expert Craig Hillier lead monthly trainings that incorporate skill-building on the individual, group, and community levels.

The Academy wraps up in May with a community service project that is conceived and carried out by the young people themselves, with guidance from their adult mentors. Past service projects have included constructing a trail at the Lake Superior Zoo, painting and cleaning at an animal shelter, and a day of special activities with area nursing home residents.

The program is supported by the Northland Foundation with additional sponsorships from area businesses, individuals, and service organizations, and is offered at no charge to students.

“We’re excited about creating a single Twin Ports group. The two cities are so closely linked yet can seem worlds apart to young people who don't have relationships ‘across the bridge’. Our goal is to build a figurative bridge between Duluth and Superior that will benefit both communities for years to come,” said Haglin.

This article has been reprinted with permission from The Northland Foundation.

2009 Children’s Issues Briefing, October 28
Preparing for next year's legislative session will require careful preparations given the unprecedented context of unallotment, large budget deficits, and an important fall election. That's why Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and the Sheltering Arms Foundation have moved up their annual children's issues briefing to late fall, giving advocates a chance to get ahead on their plans for the 2010 legislative session.

New additions to this year's program include:

• State agencies budget update
• Local government updates on county and local government aid cuts
• Introduction of newly formed legislative Children and Youth Caucus 

Don't miss this opportunity to hear updates and advice from advocates, funders and government representatives as we explore the state of Minnesota kids in 2009 and for the future. 

Wednesday, October 28; 8:30 to 9:00 AM coffee and networking; program 9:00 to 12:00 PM; Neighborhood House at Wellstone Center, 179 Robie Street East, Saint Paul, MN 55107
View event speakers and RSVP details on the MCN website.

Mall of America’s Underwater Adventures Aquarium Discounted Tickets!
Youth Community Connections is partnering with Underwater Adventures Aquarium in the Mall of America to offer tickets at a discounted rate. For the discounted rate you will need the company code, which is Yout-09.
Directions:

1. Go to www.sharky.tv
2. Click on the top right-hand corner where is says “Save Big”
3. Click on the yellow, click and print moving logo.
4. Click on “Sign in” where is says corporate sign in.
5. Type in your company code (Yout-09) in the box provided, click submit
6. Click on the purchase tickets option.
7. Your consignment discount will be reflected at this point. Follow prompts to continue your purchase.

Questions and/or concerns can be emailed to – consignment@minnesotaaquarium.com

ADVOCATING FOR AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER LEARNING

Policy and Advocacy Committee meeting - September 11, 2009
Youth Community Connections’ Policy and Advisory Committee met on September 11th at the Oxford Community Center in Saint Paul.

Christina Wessel, Minnesota Budget Project’s Deputy Director, spoke about the current economic and budgetary situation in Minnesota, and how non-profit organizations are impacted.  Participants had a chance to discuss the impact of the current financial climate on their programming, participant involvement and funding.  More information about the State of the State’s Economic situation can be found on the Minnesota Council of Non-profit’s Budget Project web site.

The next meeting of the Policy and Advocacy Committee will take place on October 9th at the Oxford Community Center, located on the corners of Lexington Ave and Marshall Ave in St. Paul.

For more information or to participate in future meetings, please contact Abou Amara Jr. at 612-627-0157 or at abou@youthcommunityconnections.org

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

Raising the Bar: Quality Improvement Systems for Youth Programs - August 2009
The Forum for Youth Development released their August 2009 publication on the topic of Out-of-School Time (OST) titled Raising the Bar: Quality Improvement Systems for Youth Programs. This publication reviews the latest research and national movement on improving the quality of youth programming.

FUTURE EVENTS

University of Minnesota’s 25th Annual Policy Analysis Conference
On October 14, 2009, the University of Minnesota College Of Continuing Education will host a conference on policy analysis titled “Never Let a Serious Crisis Go to Waste”. The conference will provide an opportunity for analysts and policymakers to explore timely topics that reflect the importance of analysis in formulating policy decisions in government. Conference sessions provide an opportunity to:

• Gain insight into current trends and changes in the policy-making environment
• Explore current policy issues and processes in concurrent sessions
• Share ideas with others from around Minnesota.

 For more information on the conference, visit www.cce.umn.edu/policyanalysis or click here for a brochure.

Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota will host the 10th Annual Minnesota Mentoring Conference - October 19, 2009
Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota invites you to join in for this great professional development opportunity focused exclusively on supporting quality and excellence in your youth mentoring program.  Conference features include:

• Workshops presented by local and national practitioners
• Two workshops hosted by Keynote Speaker Dr. Michael Karcher
• Great ideas exchange supporting quality mentoring
• Networking

There is an offer of a Student/AmeriCorps rate of $60. For more information, please visit the Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota website.

Minnesota Youth Intervention Programs Association (YIPA) will host a conference
October 27 and 28, 2009
Minnesota YIPA will host a conference on October 27 and 28, 2009 at the University of Minnesota Continuing Education and Conference Center in Saint Paul, MN. The conference will bring together youth service professionals for over 40 breakout sessions, and keynote addresses from nationally known experts in various youth intervention fields. The conference will provide take home resources to help all youth “thrive in changing times”, and is especially applicable to the work of social workers, educators and administrators, youth programs professionals, law enforcement, mental health professionals, and all who work with youth.

Please click here for a brochure to register for the conference, or go to www.mnyipa.org.
Registration deadline is October 20, 2009.

Minnesota Community Education Association (MCEA) will host a Fall Conference
October 28-30, 2009
The Minnesota Community Education Association will host a Fall Conference at the RiverCentre in Saint Paul, MN. The conference is titled “Navigating Currents of Change”.

For a brochure please click here or go to www.mn-mcea.org

Strategic Planning Day for the Center for Inclusive Child Care (CICC)
November 10, 2009
Susan Rohrbough from the National Child Care Information & Technical Assistance Center will lead the Stragetic Planning Day at the Minnesota Department of Education.

During this day-long meeting, work will be conducted to plan and develop a strategic framework and operational plan for the CICC. Lunch will be provided.

For more information about the CICC, please visit  www.inclusivechildcare.org

EMPLOYMENT IN YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Camp Fire USA Minnesota Council is currently looking for Community and Marketing Staff. Click here for the job description and an application.

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