The DAA Collective newsletter keeps Denver's afterschool community connected to resources, professional learning and networking opportunities. Learn more about us.
2024 Afterschool Professionals Awards Ceremony
2024 Afterschool Professional Awards Winners pose with their certificates. (Top Row L-R): Jesse Broadfoot, Jesus Rodriguez, Kimberlee Sia; (Bottom Row L-R): Euda K. Best, Yoli Casas, Janaya Alirez
On Monday, April 29th, the Denver Afterschool Alliance celebrated our 7th Annual *Afterschool Professional Awards ceremony and luncheon at City Park Tavern. Winners were selected from a pool of nearly 100 nominees! Maxine Quintana, Out-of-School Time Director of the Office of Children's Affairs and the Co-Founder of the DAA welcomed the group, and congratulatory remarks were offered by Dwight Jones, Executive Director of the Office of Children's Affairs as well as from Dr. Tony Smith, Deputy Superintendent of Denver Public Schools. City Council President, Jamie Torres, generously spoke and presented the winners with their awards. Finally, Mayor Mike Johnston congratulated the winners in a special video! We are deeply grateful for each of the speakers for taking the time to honor and celebrate the hard work of the winners and all OST professionals.
Congratulations to the 2024 Afterschool Professional Awards Winners!
Yoli Casas, VIVE Wellness
Creativity and Innovation Award
Jesus Rodriguez, Youth on Record
Equity and Inclusivity Award
Janaya Alirez, Life-Line Colorado
Future Out-of-School Time Leader Award
DPS- Extended Learning and Community Schools
Organizational Quality Award
Kimberlee Sia, Denver Public Schools Board of Education
Out-of-School Time Champion Award
Euda K. Best, Consumption Literacy Project
Youth and Community Collaborator Award
We celebrate all the nominees and winners for your continued hard work and dedication to the Out-of-School Time field! View a slideshow with various photos of some of the nominees and winners HERE. Be sure to check out our Instagram posts from Afterschool Professionals week as well!
*The 2024 Afterschool Professional Awards were sponsored by a private donor who is dedicated to elevating and celebrating afterschool professionals in the City and County of Denver!
May Coffee and Conversation: Bringing the DAA Into Focus
Have you ever wondered what it means for your organization to be a member of the Denver Afterschool Alliance (DAA)? Or, just generally, what does the DAA do? The DAA Team will answer these questions, and many more, at the May Coffee and Conversation: Bringing the DAA Into Focus! Along with breaking down the DAA three lines of service, we will review what has been done this past school year in an effort to plan, and walk with intention into the future. DPS Community Partnership Specialist, Robin Kiggins, will be on hand to lead a discussion on what the DPS Community Partnership process looks like , share resources and answer any questions. Join us on Tuesday, May 21st from 9am-11am. Location TBD.
RSVP Today!
We will bring the coffee!
2024 Partners in Philanthropy Awards Nominations OPEN
Denver Business Journal is seeking nominations for 501(c)(3) organizations that have demonstrated innovative & impactful programs serving our community for the 2024 Partners in Philanthropy Awards! Winners will be celebrated at the Partners in Philanthropy awards breakfast on Wednesday, October 2 and profiled in the special section that publishes Friday, October 4, 2024.
All nominations must be submitted by Monday, June 3rd, using the website template HERE.
For more information about the nomination process, contact, Event Director, Jan Wambolt.
MSU Denver Summer Program Teaching Opportunity
Metro State University (MSU) Center for Urban Education is looking for instructors that will bring fun, innovative, hands-on, and not boring classes and activities to middle and high school students this summer. Classes during summer programming run Monday-Thursday from June 17-July 12.
They are currently seeking proposals for the following classes:
Science
Language
Media
Social/Emotional Learning
Technology
Creative Writing
For more information and to submit a proposal, please click HERE.
Questions? Please contact Jose Beltran.
Newcomer Hiring Fair
Jobseekers! Are you ready to take the next step in your career journey? Denver Economic Development & Opportunity (DEDO) invites you to attend their upcoming Newcomer Hiring Fair on May 16th from 1pm-4pm at Girls Inc of Metro Denver (1499 Julian St, Denver, CO 80204).
At the fair, you'll have the opportunity to connect directly with a diverse range of employers eager to fill various positions. Whether you're seeking your first job, a career change, or new opportunities: this event is for you!
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.
Groundwork Denver has employment opportunities for youth this summer!
Groundwork Denver is seeking a part-time temporary intern to assist in energy audits, energy efficiency improvements and air sealing. The internship is open to youth ages 16 and up! Please apply through the online posting at https://groundworkcolorado.apscareerportal.com/j/0288d1y
The Youth Green Team is a summer employment program for youth approximately aged 14 to 18-years old. Participants will work on projects focused on improving the physical environment and health and well-being for the Denver metropolitan area, as well as our public lands, including national forests, parks, and wildlife refuges. The Youth Green Team has a number of different positions available over the summer. Check out Groundworks Denver's jobs webpage for more information and to apply: https://groundworkcolorado.org/about/job-openings/
DAAconnect Updates
The DAA is preparing a report and map for Mayor Johnston’s press conference about summer programming options in Denver. We need your help to ensure that the Youth Program Locator has accurate summer program info ASAP:
If your program is not appearing or needs updating, please update your listing inDAAconnect. You can update your Program Schedule directly from your Dashboard.
If you have already updated your summer program listing, THANK YOU--we appreciate you doing so! 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
The Denver Department of Public Health & Environment (DDPHE) is pleased to announce a new funding opportunity of the Healthy Food for Denver’s Kids (HFDK) program for organizations to provide healthy and culturally responsive food to newcomer youth in Denver.The primary goal for this grant opportunity is to increase the number of children and youth aged 18 and under receiving healthy meals, snacks and food boxes, with a focus on new immigrants located in the City and County of Denver (this may include serving newcomer youth who are unhoused or are experiencing unstable housing). HFDK may award up to $600,000 total as part of this specific funding opportunity
Applicants are encouraged to apply for one-time micro-grants from $10,000 to $50,000 per organization. In alignment with the micro-grant policy, current grantees are not eligible to apply for this opportunity.
A new RFP has opened up regarding Youth Violence Prevention in Rec Centers (Night Moves). Collaborators will work with Denver Parks and Recreation (DPR) to provide high quality, engaging youth services. They will work jointly with DPR to design, plan, coordinate and implement activities and events that are appealing to youth and keep them returning. DPR and collaborators will seek out youth voice from the Night Moves Youth Peer Mentors and the DPR Youth Council to ensure services are in alignment with youth needs and interests. RFP Closing Date is 05/22/2024 11:00 AM EDT For more information about this opportunity, please visit Bidnet HERE.
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
The Denver Police Explorer Program is accepting applications!
The goal of the Denver Police Explorer Program is not simply to expose Explorers to what a career in law enforcement is like, but to take it one step further and help these young people who do decide to go into law enforcement to prepare for their future career. For qualifications and to apply, clickHERE.
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:
Sensory Rest and Reset
May is here! The longer days and outdoor can bring increased excitement, energy and the anticipation of summer. Remember to check in with yourself and the young people you work with and take time to rest and reset when needed. Our friends at Roots Up remind us to take a “sensory reset” in their most recent newsletter where they share the following tips/suggestions for sensory reset:
A sensory rest involves intentionally reducing or eliminating sensory stimuli to give your brain a break from processing information. Here are some tools that can help facilitate sensory rest for all ages and learning styles:
Noise-Canceling Headphones: Especially helpful for noisy environments where you still need to hear what’s going on.
Dim Lighting: Reduce bright lights and opt for softer, dimmer lighting. This can help calm your senses and promote relaxation.
Guided Imagery: Visualization exercises can help create a mental escape from daily stressors. Here is a Roots Up 5-minute Forest guided imagery.
Relaxing Tunes: Listen to a song/melody that is soothing and relaxing
Aromatherapy: Essential oils like lavender can be diffused or applied topically to promote relaxation and sensory rest through the sense of smell.
Soft Clothing: Cotton PJ's, loose fitting t-shirts and pants, or seamless + tag less clothes can be nice options that feel soothing against the skin.
Take time to notice and check in with what you, your team, and the youth in your program need as we navigate the last few weeks of the school year together!
