The DAA Collective newsletter keeps Denver's afterschool community connected to resources,
professional learning and networking opportunities. Learn more about us.
Upcoming DAA Collective "Come As You Are NOW" Coffee and Connection Break!
As the end of the school year approaches, and in solidarity with the National Alliance on Mental Illness’More Than Enough campaign, the DAA Collective is inviting you to our "Come As You Are NOW”Coffee and Connection Break as we come full circle from our August “Come As You Are” kickoff event. It’s been a year filled with successes and challenges; we can all use a reminder that showing up, exactly as you are, is always More Than Enough. Let’s take a break from our busy pre-summer schedules and come together to reflect, relax and celebrate everything we have accomplished and overcome this year!
Join us Tuesday, May 23rd from 10:00-11:15am at the Table Public House for casual conversation, connection, coffee (and snacks)!
The Office of Children's Affairs is looking for youth and adults to join the Mayor's Youth Commission in Denver! Here, you'll have the opportunity to work directly with city leaders and community members to address issues and identify solutions that impact young people in Denver. What a great platform where you can 'Be the Change!'
To apply, youth must be a Denver resident or attending Denver Public Schools (high school) in 2023 - 2024. Adults must be employed with a youth-serving organization or the City and County of Denver.
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. Data from this study will help inform how to support recovery as communities start rebuilding. A HUGE "THANK YOU" to the 36 organizations that have already completed the survey, and we know we still have so many more of your voices that need to be heard!Help us tell and share the magnificent impact of OST programming for youth and families in this great city!
All organizations that have worked with the DAA since 2018 are eligible to participate. At least ONE person from each organization is being asked to complete the 20-30 minute survey, but multiple people can complete it! Simply use the QR link below to take the survey TODAY!
As a small token of our appreciation, we will send you a Starbucks gift card upon survey completion.
Attention OCA Award Recipients! OCA award report training dates are now open for registration! This is a mandatory training for all new award recipients in 2023. Please sign up for one virtual training below.
Award reports require that you collect data on your participants: first name, last name, date of birth, DPS ID, gender and race/ethnicity, plus each participant’s summary attendance for the spring term (Jan 1-June 2). If you are missing any required data, please work on collecting that now and do not wait until it is time to submit reports!
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.
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.
Enrollment is open for Ready for 202X to incoming DPS 9th Grade students (entering 9th grade Fall 2023)!
Ready for 202X is a program that helps give incoming freshmen the skills they need to be successful though high school and beyond! Students can register to participate HERE.
Please pass along this program flyer to your networks!
Stem From Dance is looking for female identifying middle school students of color to enroll in Girls Rise Up, a STEM-based summer program! In this FREE program, girls of color learn to code, dance, unlock their joy, step into their power, and discover their STEM potential — all through the power of dance.
The program runs for three weeks, Monday-Friday, from June 12th - 30th at Denver School of the Arts. The student application deadline is May 19th (but may be extended).
Students can apply HERE.
Denver Parks and Recreation's Summer 2023 activity registration is OPEN, online or in-person! To view the Summer 2023 Activity Guide, click HERE.
Funding Opportunities
Certifiably Green Denver's Equity Funding helps women and minority-owned small businesses fund their sustainability projects. The 2023 application for funding is now open! Funding will be distributed on a rolling basis beginning in July 2023. Please note, only businesses located in the City and County of Denver can apply, and the maximum amount of funding a business can apply for is $10,000.
For more information and to apply for funding, click HERE.
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 Kids is currently seeking to fill two positions in the Educational SEL Counselor role, as well as one position in a Youth Pathways Advisor role! Check out these links to the job postings: Educational SEL Counselor Youth Pathways Advisor
Do you know anyone in the Denver Metro, Green Valley Ranch, or Montbello looking for part-time employment and also enjoys working with youth doing meaningful work? Are you looking for additional experience working with youth in an after school setting? Colorado "I Have A Dream" Foundation (CIHAD)is hiring Engagement Specialists at their Green Valley Ranch location (Z Place Opportunity Center)! Apply using the link HERE!
The YESS Academy Cannabis Awareness & Education Social Emotional Curriculum empowers youth to thrive in a post-legalized world by giving them the information and skills to make healthy decisions — for themselves. If you would like to request a Youth Cannabis Education demo, 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: Mental Health Awareness Month
May is Mental Health Awareness month!
This year, The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), is celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month with the More Than Enough campaign! It’s an opportunity for all of us to come together and remember the inherent value we each hold — no matter our diagnosis, appearance, socioeconomic status, background or ability. We want every person out there to know that if all you did was wake up today, that’s more than enough. No matter what, you are inherently worthy of more than enough life, love and healing. Showing up, just as you are, for yourself and the people around you is more than enough.
Consider how you are creating a space and environment for you, your teams and youth to show up just as they are and feel as though they are more than enough.
