The DAA Collective newsletter keeps Denver's afterschool community connected to resources, professional learning and networking opportunities. Learn more about us.
Summer Opportunities for Denver's Youth
During a press-conference on Monday, Mayor Mike Johnston announced $1.7 million for new youth summer programming, as a part of a new investment to prevent youth violence and grow local economies. Together with Denver Public Schools, the Office of Children’s Affairs, Denver’s Department of Economic Development & Opportunity and Human Rights & Community Partnerships, Mayor Johnston detailed new summer program support and the launch of the Mayor’s YouthWorks Initiative. This effort is a part of the City and County of Denver's Youth Violence Prevention initiative that is committed to ensuring youth of all ages have a safe, supportive and enriching summer.
A new Summer Opportunities for Youth website is now live and contains program and activity resources, youth employment opportunities (including details about the Mayor's YouthWorks Initiative), healthy meals and mental health resources! Check it out HERE.
May Coffee and Conversation: Bringing the DAA Into Focus
The topic of this month's Coffee and Conversation was "Bringing the DAA Into Focus", so our team dug a little bit deeper into explaining what the Denver Afterschool Alliance (DAA) does, how we support the Out-of-School Time community and what we continue to do to help strengthen our relationship with Denver Public Schools. We saw a lot of new faces this month, representing 10 different organizations! Thank you to everyone in attendance for great conversation and your enthusiasm to build new connections with each other and with the DAA.
And an extra special "thank you" to Robin Kiggins, DPS Community Partnership Specialist, for bringing her Community Partnership wisdom and guidance into the space!
As always, a full breakdown of the event (including links and resources) will be posted on daalearn.org by the end of the week.
We will be taking a break from our Coffee and Conversations in June, but make sure you continue to read upcoming newsletter editions as we have a special Coffee and Conversation event in the works for summer!
Discovery Link Expansion!
For the 2024/2025 school year, Denver Public Schools: Extended Learning and Community Schools will be expanding their Discovery Link program to the following 10 new DPS elementary schools:
● Columbian
● Doull
● Force
● Green Valley
● Gust
● Knapp
● Lena Archuleta
● Marrama
● Responsive Arts & STEAM Academy (RASA)
● Schmitt
This exciting expansion is helping to ensure that all DPS Elementary Schools have an OST program option available for families!
Join the Denver Mayor's Youth Commission!
The Mayor's Youth Commission provides youth the opportunity to develop leadership skills and advise the director of the Office of Children's Affairs on issues impacting youth living in the City and County of Denver.
Applications to join are currently open to youth (grades 9-12) that attend a DPS school or live in Denver, and adults that work for the City and County of Denver or for a youth serving organization. June 15, 2024 is the last day to apply! Use the QR code on the program flyer HERE for more information and to apply.
Questions? Please contact childrensaffairs@denvergov.org or Austin.Collins@denvergov.org
Looking to Bring in Math Resources to Your Program?
Colorado Department of Education (CDE) and the Governor’s Office have partnered with Zearn Math, in an ongoing initiative to support math learning for youth in grades K-8!
Through this initiative, all schools and youth service providers can sign up for access to Zearn Math at no cost. Zearn Math offers adaptive digital lessons that help all youth catch up and move forward with grade level math. Each digital lesson includes guided instruction from on-screen teachers, frequent pause points to check for understanding, and engaging interactive math manipulatives. If a student struggles, digital lessons launch just-in-time, foundational support to address their needs. Click here to learn more about Zearn Math.
Zearn Math can be implemented flexibly, during the school day, in after-school programming, or at home. Students can access Zearn Math online 24/7, and educators and program-providers have access to free training on how to utilize the platform effectively.
For more information, please contact Ashley Birsic, Chief Partnership Officer with Zearn Math.
Help CAP Spread the Word About the Importance of Summer Learning!
HB24-1331 would provide $3.5 million annually to out-of-school time programming, including robust summer learning experiences. Help to spread the word to our State Senators and Representatives about why summer learning matters by joining the Summer Learning Letter Writing Campaign. Participants in the campaign will receive a packet of postcards for your youth and staff to decorate and write messages that convey the importance of summer programs to them. To participate please sign up HERE by Wednesday, May 29th!
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!
The Sand Creek Regional Greenway Partnership (SCRGP) is looking for High School students who are interested in Environmental Science to help collect habitat quality data on water quality, vegetation composition, and bird diversity along the Sand Creek Regional Greenway this summer! Check out the program flyer HERE.
Contact Zoe Bliss if you want more information about this opportunity.
DAAconnect Updates
After Mayor Johnston’s press conference this week, it is anticipated that a lot of new families and youth will be turning to the Youth Program Locator to look for summer programming options in Denver. You don't want to miss this opportunity for your program to be seen by new Denver families: if you haven't already done so, please take a moment to make sure that your summer programs are listed, accurately!
If your program needs updating, please log-in to DAAconnect to update your Program Schedule directly from your Dashboard. If you have questions or need assistance in updating your summer program, please reach out to our DAAconnect team at DAAconnect@denvergov.org.
Funding Opportunities
Denver Community Active Living Coalition (CALC) in partnership with the Department of Transportation & Infrastructure (DOTI) and Denver Streets Partnership (DSP) invite you to get creative about living an active life in your neighborhood! They are offering Micro-Grants of up to $500 for individuals and $1500 for businesses and organizations in support of walkability, bikeability, or access to safe and healthy spaces for physical activity. Any individual, business, or organization within the City & County of Denver is eligible to apply for the Micro-Grant. For more information and to submit an application, clickHERE.
The first opportunity is aimed to leverage healthy minds and youth resiliency with funding for organizations that support youth of color and youth who identify as LGBTQ+ (age 12-18) as they explore and grow their resiliency through identity, agency and belonging. Funding requests are expected to range from $150,000 to $250,000 over two years. Funding will be provided as program/project support grants. For more information and to access the application, click HERE.
The second opportunity is available to youth-serving nonprofit organizations, government entities, schools and other youth-focused community collaborators that are supporting holistic, culturally responsive and youth-driven physical well-being. The funding requests are anticipated to range from $50,000-$200,000 over two years. For more information and to access the application, click HERE.
Denver Kids is looking to hire a full-time, bilingual (in English and Spanish) Denver Kids Advisor! To view the full job description, please click 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.
Community Opportunities
Kim Robards Dance (KRD) invites you to join them on June 22nd for “Works In The Works”, an evening featuring a sneak peek of a new work in progress by critically acclaimed Artistic Director Kim Robards, signature works, a tour of The KRD Venue and a Q&A with the choreographer and dancers! Check out this SAVE THE DATE flyer -Use the QR Code on the flyer to get your tickets now!
Transform Education Now (TEN) is hosting an interactive meeting with families whose students are in Special Education programs! Join TEN and parent leaders to share experiences and build connection with the Denver community! The meeting is tomorrow, May 24th from 9:30a-11am at Mi Casa Resource Center (345 S. Grove St., Denver, CO 80219)
Check out the event flyers: English Spanish
If you have any questions, please contact Anita Banuelos, Director of Community Organizing at TEN.
Right Brain Curriculum has recently expanded into the Colorado region! They offer engaging, project-based learning programs online and in after-school centers, camps and schools. Each program is a complete curriculum package ready to engage and excite young minds.
To learn more about what they offer, as well as information on formatting, pricing, and partnership opportunities, click HERE.
Fortaleza Familiar is a non-profit dedicated to the wellness and safety of BIPOC, LGBTQIA2S+ youth and their families. Through their Liberate Ourselves Youth Leadership Summer Camp, youth ages 12-18 are able to expand their leadership skills, self esteem and self advocacy through the power of affirming education and community building!
Check out the program flyers HERE. Registration must be completed online HERE by May 31, 2024
Professional Learning Opportunities
THAT'S A WRAP on the Professional Learning Spring Sessions! Thank you to everyone that attended and to all of our incredible facilitators! We look forward to continuing to bring FREE Professional Learning sessions to the OST Community in the Fall!
Emotional Intelligence Corner:
Summer Transitions
There are 7 ½ days of school remaining! This is a crazy time of year for schools, youth providers, youth and families. We invite you to pause and consider the importance of the transition from the school year to summer. While many youth may be participating in a summer program where you will connect with them regularly, others may be moving schools, transitioning to another school level, etc., and/or you may have staff moving on. How are you intentionally transitioning, or in some cases, closing a relationship? This is an opportunity to model for youth (and adults) what healthy “termination” of a relationship can look and feel like. Here are some tips/ideas for closing out a relationship:
Acknowledge and name the last day you will see each other
Reflect on what you learned from each other this year
Give youth a small “gift” to take with them to remember you/the program
Give youth a packet of fun activities to do throughout the summer if they are not attending your summer program
Provide a journal with various prompts for them to write/draw in over the summer
