The DAA Collective newsletter keeps Denver's afterschool community connected to resources, professional learning and networking opportunities. Learn more about us.
April Coffee and Conversation: Summertime at the Museum Experience
OST Summer is right around the corner: what are your programs offering to youth in Denver? Join the DAA Collective at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science on Wednesday, April 10th for a Summertime at the Museum Experience! Attendees will participate in an interactive exploration of the field trip opportunities that are being offered over the summer at the museum, as well as programs that the museum can bring to YOU! We will also take some time to dialogue and exchange summer programming ideas, including favorite field trip locations, activities, and more! After the event you will be able to explore the museum independently, for FREE!
Future Fest is an inclusive, free, citywide event that is all about youth! At Future Fest, young people of all ages are invited to dive into fun activities with local professional sports teams, discover cool youth services, get inspired, learn about exciting dream jobs and more.
Come down to Civic Center Park in Downtown Denver on Saturday, April 13, 2024 from 10:00 am - 6:00 pm to join in the fun! Admission is FREE!
Denver Public Safety Youth Mentor Program registration is open for the 2024-25 cohort! The Mentor Program is designed to support the growth and development of students between 6th and 8th grade, through a group and individual mentoring approach.
Participating youth will have the opportunity to engage in monthly meetings & activities one Saturday each month and have access to a variety of supports such as tutoring, mental health supports, pro-social supports and community connections throughout the 2024-2025 school year. The deadline to register is May 24, 2024 or until capacity is reached!
Submit a registration form HERE
Check out the flyers below for more information: English Spanish
Safe City Youth Summit
The Denver Safe City Youth Summit is an annual all-day summit designed to give youth an opportunity to discuss issues they face, support programs and policies that better the lives of youth within the Denver-metro area, and develop an ongoing partnership within the community. This years event will take place on Friday, April 26, 2024 at the Denver Convention Center!
Designed by youth, for youth, this free fun-filled event will feature a keynote speaker, roundtable discussion, interactive workshops on the latest hot topics as identified by the Public Safety Youth Leadership Team (PSYLT), youth entertainment, DJ, breakfast/lunch and giveaways! The Summit is open to all youth between the ages of 13 to 18 years. Register at DPSYLT.com or contact Theresa Kimmet-Riley (Summit Coordinator) at 720-913-4622.
The Wallace Foundation endeavors to to foster equity and improvements in learning and enrichment for young people, and in the arts for everyone. As a result, they rely on the input of the out-of-school time community to help improve how they think and talk about their work! A short survey has been created to hear from YOU to help inform their communications. All input is confidential. At the end of the survey, you will be prompted to cast a vote for one of three amazing nonprofit organizations to help out with funds set aside by the Foundation. Let's get Colorado voices heard via this survey! Please take a moment (it only takes about ten minutes) to complete their short survey HERE.
Summer Employment Opportunities for Teens
Is your organization looking to hire teens for the summer? Does your organization serve teens that will be looking for summer employment/internship opportunities? Let's bridge the divide in our DAA Collective newsletter! If you would like to spread the word about employment opportunities to youth serving organizations in Denver, please send a flyer or posting to Erma Cerda. We will post it in the newsletter for programs to share with youth!
Moving AHEAD is a collaborative initiative to bring the arts and artists together with community leaders from other sectors to positively influence health and equity. The summer round of their "Mental Health is Wealth" Summer Internship Program will take place from Monday, June 10th to Saturday, August 3rd.
The application portal is now OPEN! The deadline to submit your application for the summer round is Friday, April 19th at 11:59PM MST. For more information and to apply to the program, click HERE.
DPS Seeks Partner Orgs for Summer Internships
Denver Public Schools is looking for organizations in Metro Denver to host high school students this summer through the district'sLaunch Internship Program! The session runs June 10 - July 19, with students working 110 hours over the six weeks. DPS Launch interns can support your team with business operations, digital marketing, IT/Tech support and more. DPS staff will assist intern supervisors with program planning and intern selection, as well as continue to support the student/organization matches during the term. For more information, or to inquire into hosting a student intern, please contact careerandcollegesuccess@dpsk12.org.
2024 Tasty Food Serving Schedule!
The Office of Children’s Affairs (OCA) is thrilled to partner with youth-serving organizations to provide cost-free meals and snacks to Denver’s youth! Our aim is to increase access to healthy food and reduce any persistence to hunger among Denver’s youth population. This summer, we are seeking to support sites that provide programming for ages 3-5 years old and would be interested in serving meals and snacks to this specific age group. If your site is interested in providing this service, please fill out this short interest form by Monday, April 15. We will reach out to you with more details.
Summer meals and snacks can be served from Monday, June 10th – Friday, August 16th.
DAAconnect Updates
Looking to connect with approved DPS Community Partners? The Youth Program Locator can help! Start your search on the Locator with a location, then check the ‘DPS Community Partner’ box. Happy connecting and exploring partnerships! If you are a provider and are interested in becoming a DPS Community Partner, please contact Robin Kiggins with DPS at: robin_kiggins@dpsk12.net to learn more or get started!
Summer is fast approaching and parents are searching NOW to find programs. Please make sure to update your Summer program schedules in DAAconnect so that parents can find your programs on the Youth Program Locator. Please contact our team if you need assistance with adding your summer programs: DAAconnect@denvergov.org.
Funding Opportunities
Colorado organizations serving newcomers from the Southern U.S. border are encouraged to apply for the Rose Community Foundation's Newcomers Fund. At this time, the Newcomers Fund steering committee is prioritizing grants to organizations that are helping migrants find temporary shelter and permanent housing or addressing other basic needs like food and health/mental health care, as well as those assisting with applications for temporary protected status and work permits. They are interested in supporting nonprofits working at a larger scale – those serving 20 or more people.
Interested nonprofits, please login or create an account to access the brief eligibility quiz.
For all open funding opportunities with Rose Community Foundation, click HERE.
Job Opportunities
Groundwork Denver's Green Infrastructure Training program, or "GRIT," is a paid opportunity for young adults to develop professional skills related to green jobs. Program Details:
Must be 18-29 years old to participate
Earn $20/hour
Runs April 22–June 14, 2024
For a full job description, click HERE
Apply HERE.
CSU Spur is seeking a motivated and enthusiastic individual to join the Education Team as the School Programs Coordinator! For more information and to apply, click HERE
Craftsman & Apprentice is hiring camp instructors for the summer! If you love kids & crafts, this is the job for you!
Road to Reading Denver, a collaborative cross-Denver initiative to support children from birth to age eight to be reading on grade level by the third grade, is hosting a Road to Reading Event: Mindfulness for Educators! Learn about the effects of mindfulness on brain function and development while also enjoying the practice. Throughout the workshop, they will demonstrate different breathing, song, and movement activities that are appropriate for children 1-8 years old to help us implement mindfulness into our daily lives with children.
When: Friday April 5, 2024 from 9:30am – 11am (Mountain Time - Denver) Where: Skyline North Gallery, Children's Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus (2121 Children's Museum Dr., Denver, CO 80211)
Coffee and snacks will be provided!
Spanish language interpretation will be available. Please respond to smcneil@denverlibrary.org if you would like to attend.
One of Goodwill’s most impactful programs, BankWork$ will be kicking off its next cohorts on Monday, April 1st! BankWork$ is a free eight-week job training program that prepares students for entry level bank roles including Tellers, Customer Service Associates, Personal Bankers and more. Upon graduation BankWork$ students receive a Colorado Banker Associate certification and attend a hiring event with local banking partners.
Classes take place Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday from 9:00 am- 2:00pm at the Goodwill Headquarter Office located on 6850 Federal Blvd, Denver CO 80221. Those interested in applying should contact BankWork$@goodwillcolorado.org or (303) 386-2936. See flyer for more details HERE.
“Black Girl Magic" is more than a buzz-word or trend. It's the essence of Black women. The Museum For Black Girls is an immersive pop-up sensory museum featuring over 15+ art installations where guests not only see the art but feel and interact with it. Being a black girl is an experience!
PARTICIPATE in educational sessions and activities that highlight the benefits and practical applications of pop culture in the classroom.
LEARN how they can improve their craft using pop culture media and other tools
CONNECT with other educators from across Colorado.
New this year, you can choose from multiple specialized Educators’ Days and receive professional development geared specifically for your role in elementary education, secondary education, or libraries across three days (July 5 - July 7). And as always, your ticket into FAN EXPO Denver is complimentary! Educators’ Days applications close April 30, 2024. Apply HERE Today!
Secondary Trauma Module: Learn how to nurture your emotional health as you try to support others. This module will help you recognize and manage the emotions that come with your role, ensuring you can continue to make a positive impact.
Work/Life Balance Module: Discover ways to find harmony between your professional and personal life. We're here to support you in reducing stress, improving focus, and ensuring your overall well-being.
The Collaborative Youth Summit will bring together young people from across Colorado to gather for a one-day virtual conference. The goal is to connect and inspire ALL youth to embrace their unique leadership by providing an open and inclusive space to further expand their knowledge and skills, and to create and lead the changes they want to see in their community.
The Collaborative Youth Summit will be held virtually on Saturday, April 6th, 2024. Registration for young people (ages 13- 24) is free! Register here
Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities
Check out the full DAA Collective Spring Slate HERE!
Some details are still being finalized on the Spring Slate, so make sure you refer to the DAA Collective newsletter and/or daalearn.org for up-to-date information regarding the Professional Learning opportunities.
Emotional Intelligence Corner:
It's Spring Break! Are You Resting?
It’s spring break for many of the youth we serve, and whether this means you have a break from programming—or not—it is an opportunity to reflect on how we take breaks and importantly how are we intentionally resting. The importance of rest cannot be overstated! WellNest co-founder and psychotherapist, Zainib Abdullah guides readers through why unplugging and resting are so important in the article: Why You Need to Give Yourself Permission to Rest. The article talks about the many benefits of intentionally allowing yourself to rest and breaks down the different types which replenish different parts of us.. The different types include: Physical, Emotional, Mental, Sensory, Social, and Spiritual.
