The DAA Collective newsletter keeps Denver's afterschool community connected to resources,
professional learning and networking opportunities. Learn more about us.
**Please note that the slate is subject to change and be updated. While the majority of the professional learning sessions are being offered in-person in the Spring, circumstances (weather, illness, etc.) may cause for sessions to be moved to a virtual platform. For the most accurate and up-to-date offerings, please check the bi-weekly DAA Collective newsletter and DAAlearn.org.
Apply Now: Healthy Food for Denver's Kids Grant Opportunity
The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE) is pleased to announce the fourth round of funding of the Healthy Food for Denver’s Kids (HFDK) program to support healthy food and food-based education in Denver:
HFDK's fourth funding round is now open. We are currently accepting applications from nonprofit organizations, individual public schools (including the Denver Public Schools district), and City and County of Denver departments and agencies that support Denver youth in the following program priority areas:
Nutritious Food Access & Security: Improving healthy food access and nutrition quality for youth and their families
Increasing Participation in Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs: Increasing access to and participation in federal nutrition assistance programs (e.g., Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), Summer Meal Service Program (SFSP), school meals, etc.) for youth ages 18 and under and their families
Food Education: Improving nutrition knowledge, food skills, and healthy eating environments for youth and their families
The Request for Proposal (RFP) will be available in Spanish upon request. La Solicitud de Propuesta (RFP, por sus siglas en inglés) estará disponible en español si se solicita.
HFDK anticipates collecting $16 million dollars in 2023. In 2022, we funded approximately 50% of eligible applicants, with an average grant size of approximately $550,000 over a two-year contract. We anticipate funding up to 15 proposals this round and expect to award up to $12 million as part of this funding opportunity. To date, we have awarded nearly $38 million to over 90 organizations providing healthy food access to youth and their families in Denver.
An initial Letter of Interest (LOI) is due February 6, 2023 by 11:59 p.m. Selected applicants will then be invited to submit a full application in March. *You must complete this eligibility form before submitting your LOI
Youth Voice Needed!
Do you work with middle and/or high school youth? Their voice is CRITICAL and we need to hear from them! Vaping use has skyrocketed and the opioid epidemic is a national crisis rapidly impacting our youth. The Denver Afterschool Alliance, housed within the Office of Children’s Affairs, is working with the YESS Institute to expand the Healthy Lifestyles Marijuana education and awareness curricula to include a section on Vaping for middle school youth and a section on Opioids for high-schoolers. The curriculum is designed to provide young people with accurate information and create an open and interactive space where youth can learn, ask questions and make informed, healthy decisions. Afterschool and summer programs are the ideal space for young people to test the new curriculum and provide input and feedback to ensure it is engaging, inclusive and accessible for all. For more information, check out the flyer HERE.
Perks include, but are not limited to:
Opportunity for youth to help shape the content and delivery of the curriculum
Financial incentives for programs and youth
Free lifetime access to the curriculum, including updates
Elevating the importance of OST programs in addressing critical issues facing young people and families
Pilot groups for each curriculum are between 8-10 hours facilitated by a YESS Institute instructor. Implementation is flexible based on your program structure and availability! Pilot groups are being scheduled after spring break through the summer- schedule yours today!
The DAA’s Youth Program Locator had more than 2600 visits last month by Denver families searching for quality programs and services! If you haven’t recently added or updated your program schedule to be listed on the Youth Program Locator, please login to DAAconnecttoday and update your profile and schedule. You don’t want to miss out on the opportunity to be seen by thousands of Denver families!
Attention DAAconnect users! We need your feedback about the DAAconnect system. Please take a moment to complete our survey to help us continue to improve features, workflows, and training to bring you the best DAAconnect experience possible. Click here to take our survey:https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/6PQXPVZ
Job Opportunities
Denver Kids has a Full Time Educational SEL Counselor position available! Check out the job posting HERE.
To apply, send a cover letter expressing interest in Denver Kids and this role, as well as a resume showing experience relevant to the position to apply@denverkidsinc.org.
The Office of Children's Affairs is seeking an Administrative Assistant (ASA III).
Check out the job posting HERE.
This position closes on January 22nd!
Community Opportunities
The National Geographic Society is challenging 13-18 year olds to create a one-minute video with their solution to our current environmental problems. Students who sign up for this "Slingshot Challenge" will receive information and materials to help them complete a one minute video. The winning video will be awarded $10,000! Deadline for submissions is February 24, 2023.
For more information, and to sign up, please visit the National Geographic website HERE.
AT&T, in partnership with the National Afterschool Association, is looking for a diverse group of OST professionals to create a learning cohort that would lead the way in vetting online resources, like The Achievery. This learning opportunity is designed for people in youth-serving organizations who select and develop curriculum for out-of-school time programming.
Gary Community Ventures is helping Colorado’s next generation of changemakers ascend in leadership and make a positive impact on their communities through the Piton Fellowship. They are currently accepting applications for the Mid-Career Cohort, a half year fellowship that helps predominantly leaders of color (who are at least 10 years into their careers) lean into their leadership journeys. Applications are open through Friday, January 20, 2023!
For more information and to apply for the Piton Fellowship, click HERE.
Upcoming Professional Learning Sessions
We are so excited to see all of you at the upcoming professional learning sessions this spring!
Space may be limited to some of the sessions. If you are unable to attend after having signed up, please cancel your registration in Eventbrite or email Erma Cerda so that we can open seats up to other interested parties!
Emotional Intelligence Corner Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.:
A Day of Remembrance and Reflection
"Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?' "
More than 50 years have passed since Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, but his words are just as meaningful today as they were during the peak of the Civil Rights Movement. The Civil Rights leader died at age 39, but his impact continues to this day. From his most famous "I Have a Dream" speech to his letter from a Birmingham jail, his message is truly timeless (read full article here). We invite you to take a moment to reflect on the impact Dr. King’s legacy has had on you and your family, and how you as an individual and within your afterschool programs move the work of Dr. King forward. Here is a brief GMA clip of 4th and 5th graders in Texas reflecting on Dr. King and his work.
Consider the urgent question from Dr. King, “What are you doing for others?”
