The DAA Collective newsletter keeps Denver's afterschool community connected to resources,
professional learning and networking opportunities. Learn more about us.
We Need To Hear From YOU!
The Denver Afterschool Alliance (DAA) has been partnering with Vanderbilt University, Research for Action and the Wallace Foundation on a study for the last year and a half on understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Out-of-School Time (OST) ecosystem. Denver is one of 5 cities participating in this process, which will provide data from across the country to help inform how to support recovery as communities start rebuilding.
WHO is eligible to participate?
All organizations that have worked with the DAA since 2018. The DAA has provided a main contact (what is in our DAAconnect database) to Research for Action. Main contacts should have received their first survey email from Research for Action the week of April 3rd. At least ONE person from each organization is being asked to complete the 20-30 minute survey, but multiple people can complete it! Simply forward the link to the appropriate individuals, or use the QR link below to take the survey TODAY!
How will data be used?
All survey responses will be confidential, and will go directly to Research for Action. A summary of findings for Denver will be shared with OST providers and will inform the DAA on how to best advocate for and support OST providers and strengthen the Denver network. This is particularly critical as we in the process of experiencing our first mayoral transition in 12 years. Help us tell and share the magnificent impact of OST programming for youth and families in this great city!
We know your time is valuable and so is your voice. We appreciate you taking the time to complete the survey and for all you do to support youth and families in Denver. As a small token of our appreciation, we will send you a Starbucks gift card upon survey completion.
Summer Employment Opportunities for 14 and 15 Year Olds
The Denver Afterschool Alliance recognizes that summer hiring continues to be an issue for many organizations. With Denver teens (specifically 14 and 15 year olds) expressing a desire to work, we have been working to help identify and connect supply and demand. Please share these open summer opportunities for 14 and 15 year olds with your networks!
Children's Farms in Action
Children's Farms in Action (CFA) is a nonprofit that promotes sustainable agriculture and healthy eating in schools by providing hands-on learning experiences and partnering with local businesses. CFA operates an urban farm in Montbello which supplies local farmers markets and food distributions with fresh produce. CFA's summer internship program works with teens aged 14-18 to grow, harvest, process, and sell produce while teaching environmental stewardship, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills. This is HARD WORK, but if you love to be outside in the sun, working in soil, and growing vegetables--this might be the right place for you! Experience Needed to Apply: While prior experience is not necessary, a willingness to learn, work hard, and be outdoors in various weather conditions is essential. Teens must have transportation to and from the farm, as well as their legal guardian's permission to participate. Employment hours available: The internship runs for nine weeks from June 5th to August 4th (Monday - Friday from 8a-12p). Payment being offered is $15/hour.
HERO KIDS SPORTS is an innovative, non-competitive sports enrichment program for kids ages 2-12 years old, teaching the fundamentals of sports and the values of teamwork in a fun and encouraging environment. HERO Programs have been curated for all skill and play levels supporting kids in building their confidence through an 11-sport curriculum. Experience Needed to Apply: Positive, fun and enthusiastic energy for inspiring kids through sport! Must own or have reliable transportation to commute to and from programming. Experience working with/caring for children ages 2-12 years old. Coaches are required to learn and follow the HERO Kids Sports Curriculum Program. Coaches are accountable for all children at all times during class. Employment hours available: June 5th - August 18th 7:30-4:30pm Payment being offered is minimum wage with growth opportunity.
Submit resume and a message of interest to HERO Kids Sports at Careers@HEROKidSports.com
Your message of interest can be via email and/or video and must include the following information:
Why are you interested in joining the HERO team?
What is the potential that you see?
What is at least 1 question you would like to get answered by a member of our HERO Team?
What employment option(s) are you interested in with HERO? I.e. Summer
Please offer 3 time windows over the next 7 days that you would be available to have a 10 minute phone interview with a member of our HERO team.
What is the best phone number and email to contact you?
Denver Parks and Recreation
The City and County of Denver's Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) has a variety of employment opportunities for Denver's youth community, including seasonal and year-round positions. From Recreation Centers, Pools, Parks, and Golf Courses, Denver Parks and Recreation promotes the well-being of Denverites and connects communities through engaging programs. Experience Needed to Apply: Some positions have no experience or education requirement. Please refer to each job posting for exact minimum qualification requirements. Employment Hours Available: Dependent on position, facility, and program area Payment being offered is $17.29/hour - $18.83/hour, depending on position. Please refer to each job posting for exact payrates.
Denver Parks & Recreation - Aquatics
DPR-Aquatics is looking for Lifeguards to work at any of our 15 indoor and 16 outdoor pools throughout Denver. Lifeguard positions are open to teens, aged 15 years and up!
Experience Needed to Apply: No experience needed, however an American Red Cross Lifeguard Training certification is required and the course is offered for free to candidates committed to working for Denver Aquatics. Employment Hours Available: Year round hours available and very flexible. Hours are available early mornings, evenings, daytime, 7 days a week. Outdoor pools are open June 9 - August 19, and lifeguards can work at either indoor or outdoor pools as well as move to indoor pools year round if desired. Payment being offered is $17.29/hour
Those interested in positions with DPR (including aquatics) can visit the City and County of Denver's job board HERE and search for "Parks and Recreation"
Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week!
Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week (April 24th - 28th), is a time to recognize and honor out-of-school time professionals and all of the amazing work that you all do for families and young people in our community! This year, the Denver Afterschool Alliance (DAA) is committed to making sure that EVERYONE in the OST community has the opportunity to be celebrated and honored. We are offering virtual appreciation tool kits to all organizations to help support and plan celebratory activities for the duration of the Appreciation Week! Complete the following form by TOMORROW, Friday, April 14th to receive a tool kit for your organization!
The impact that you all make on young people, our community and each other is HUGE, and deserves to be shared! The DAA would like to invite you to write an impact story about a person or an organization in the Denver OST community that has had a powerful impact on you, staff, young people and/or the community. Your stories will be shared in our DAA Collective newsletter. Take a moment to publicly recognize your peers for all of their amazing work! To participate, please email your story to Erma Cerda.
Tasty Food: Where Denver Youth Eat Free!
Denver youth, ages 5 - 18, can enjoy supper and snack combos at Tasty Food sites across the city! Youth can grab-n-go, and parents/caregivers can pick up a supper and snack combo on behalf of their children. No ID or registration is required.
Our DAAconnect Team will be hosting a few virtual trainings in May on award reporting. Attendance at one of these trainings is mandatory, as the award reporting process has changed slightly from last year. The dates of the training will be May 19, May 23, and May 29. There will also be additional dates in June. The additional dates and times of the trainings will be announced soon. Stay tuned for more info!
Summer is just around the corner!
Now is a great time to visit our Youth Program Locator and make sure your summer programs are listed, so that families can easily find you! If you are not on the Youth Program Locator or need to update your information, please login to DAAconnect today and update your profile and program schedule.
Check out the Partner Directory to connect and collaborate with other youth service professionals! The Partner Directory will no longer be accessible in DAAconnect. It is now available on the homepage of theYouth Program Locator! If you haven’t visited the Partner Directory lately, be sure to check it out to easilyconnect with other youth-serving professionals and explore ways to work together to expand programs and services.
Denver Public Schools is looking for community partners!
Community partners can work with DPS students and schools and access student outcome data through DAAconnect. Please contact Cynthia Willer at cynthia_willer@dpsk12.org, or sign up for an onboarding session here to learn about what it takes to become a District partner.
Funding Opportunities
Denver Arts & Venues has announced the availability of $800,000 in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding to offer a reduction in program costs to organizations and individuals who hold performances or events in a Denver Arts & Venues facility between June 1, 2023 and December 31, 2024. At least 20% of the funding will be reserved for small businesses, organizations, or individuals with annual revenues of $1,000,000 or less during 2021.
Denver Arts & Venues is also hosting a virtual pre-application meeting on April 19 at 11:30 a.m. for those looking to gain additional information about the program.
Job Opportunities
Mirror Image Arts is hiring for a full-time Grants Manager! Responsibilities will include grants management and other organizational efforts to ensure the implementation of the strategic plan.
The Master Community Association (MCA) is sponsoring a presentation by Dr. Lisa Damour about her latest book, The Emotional Lives of Teenagers: Raising Connected, Capable, and Compassionate Adolescents. In this talk she will address the fact that adolescent mental health isn't about feeling good, calm, or relaxed, but about having the right feelings at the right times, and knowing how to manage those feelings effectively. Dr. Damour will offer guidance on how to help teens open up, and how to keep teens from being overwhelmed by their emotions or feeling at the mercy of their moods. Dr. Damour will provide concrete strategies for supporting teens as they manage their feelings at home, with their peers, online, and at school. To register to attend, please click HERE.
CSU Spur strives to provide hands-on experiences for students to learn about food, water, and health. It serves as a laboratory, veterinary clinic, market, museum, art studio, classroom, garden, innovation center…all in one! They are now accepting field trip requests for summer and the 2023/24 school year!
Reservations are required to bring a group to CSU Spur.
All CSU Spur education programs are FREE to school groups.
Transportation (bus) reimbursement is available for qualifying schools.
If you are interested in bringing your group to CSU Spur, please fill out this interest form.
The Denver Police Teen Volunteer Program is currently recruiting teens ages 16-19 for their summer program! Teens will be working alongside Denver police officers and staff for the betterment of the City and County of Denver. This is a great opportunity for teens to earn volunteer hours for graduation, college and scholarship applications! For more information and to apply, click HERE.
Application Deadline is Wednesday, May 10, 2023
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!
What is self-celebration?Self-Celebration is celebrating the person you are now; not your future self or not the person you wish you could be. It is about accepting, encouraging and empowering yourself in this moment. And you can celebrate who you are, anytime or any place and for any reason.
In a staff meeting this week a team member planned an optimistic closure asking people to “humbly brag” about themselves. Turns out that was exactly what the group needed in that moment…self-celebration! People acknowledged, named and celebrated their successes in parenting, their jobs and getting through days amidst challenge, stress and overwhelm. Pause, reflect and celebrate yourself today!
