The DAA Collective newsletter keeps Denver's afterschool community connected to resources, professional learning and networking opportunities. Learn more about us.
Civic Learning Lab
Public Health for Public Safety (PHPS) with help from the Office of Children’s Affairs has partnered with Groundwork Denver, CSU Extension, Denver Department of Public Health & Environment Community Advisory Group (CAG), and CSU SPURto bring opportunities for education, leadership, and community engagement to neighborhoods throughout the Denver Metro Area.
Through the Family Leadership Training Institute (FLTI) and its Civic Learning Lab platform, youth leadership training pathways are beginning that will provide community participants with the tools and education necessary to help initiate the journey towards generational wealth/wellness and sustainable independence. This 10-week Civic Learning Lab program is an intergenerational cohort that aims to bring together community youth and elders to learn, share and implement change in their community. Participants will be paid a stipend of $25 per hour to engage with one another in community-led training sessions, and all participants (especially youth) will have the option to become members of the PHPS youth leadership council and youth ambassadors.
The deadline to apply is July 1, 2024. Check out the program flyer HERE, or visit the website HERE for more information!
Questions? Contact Groundwork Denver's Aracely Navarro.
2024 Spring Award Report Working Sessions
Attention 2024 Award Recipients: Spring (1/1/24-6/5/24) Award Reports are due on June 25and must be completed in DAAconnect!
We will be offering a few in-person and virtual ‘Award Report Help/Working Sessions’ where you can sign up for a timeslot to get individualized help uploading your attendance and completing your report. Please sign up for a session by clicking on a link below—spaces are limited!
Note: If these dates/times do not work for your schedule, please reach out to the DAAconnect team as soon as possible
Below are some helpful reminders when completing your award report:
Plan ahead! Do not wait until the due date to complete your report. Our team is small, so if you call or email us on or just before the due date, it is unlikely we will be able to assist you in time and your report may be late!
Download the template from DAAconnect and start filling out your roster now. Be sure to include the required fields: participant first name, last name, DOB, DPS ID, gender, ethnicity, and total number of times each participant attended (summary attendance) for the spring 2024 term.
Make sure the correct Sites are appearing in the Program Data form of the OCA Award Report. If you do not see all of your award-funded sites listed, please reach out to our DAAconnect team at DAAconnect@denvergov.org for assistance.
Please let the DAAconnect team know if you have any questions or need assistance!
For Youth By Youth Art Contest
The Denver Police Department (DPD), in partnership with the Denver Police Foundation, has announced a new youth engagement initiative: the For Youth By Youth Art Showcase and Contest! The Art Showcase and Contest is an opportunity for Denver's youth (aged Kindergarten through 12th grade) to create safety messages through art, which will later be shared with elementary-aged kids who will learn about safety while having fun coloring the designs. Twelve winners will be chosen by the community and awarded a $50 gift card (courtesy of the Denver Police Foundation), a tour of the Denver Police Crime Lab and an opportunity to meet with Denver Police Chief, Ron Thomas.
Artwork must be submitted by Monday, July 1st!
All entries must include a Consent Entry Form signed by the youth's parent or legal guardian.
For more details (including the consent form and information about how to submit artwork), click HERE.
Used Book Sale!
The Denver Public Library Friends Foundation is hosting a large multi-day used book sale at the Historic Elitch Garden Theater from June 7-9. Over 18,000 used books will be available at discounted prices! CDs and DVDs will also be available.
The Used Book Sale will be open at the following times each day:
Friday, June 7, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday, June 8, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Story Time and Children's Crafts - 2:30-4:00 p.m.
Sunday, June 9, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
SUNDAY ONLY - Bag Sale! Fill a bag (provided) with books and take it home for $12/bag plus tax.
Questions? Please get in touch with Andrea Hamilton, Manager of Philanthropy - Used Book Sales, at ahamilton@denverlibrary.org.
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
DAAconnect Updates
Even though summer has just begun, it is never too early to enter your fall afterschool program offerings in DAAconnect, so that they are visible on the Youth Program Locator!! You can enter any future program start date and the program schedule to appear on the Locator. If you do not yet know the exact times, you can select “To Be Determined” for the program schedule, and the listing will still be visible.
We encourage you to list your afterschool programs as soon as possible bylogging-in to DAAconnect! If you have questions or need assistance in updating your program schedules, please reach out to our DAAconnect team at DAAconnect@denvergov.org.
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!
Check out the Summer Opportunities for Youth website for youth employment opportunities (including details about the Mayor's YouthWorks Initiative) HERE.
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.
The Public Health Institute at Denver Health has an open Public Health Program Coordinator position available! Applications will be accepted until a qualified pool of candidates is secured. Check out the job description HERE.
Warren Village is recruiting for a Youth Program Coordinator for their afterschool and summer program at their Ivy Crossing location. Check out the job description HERE
The Office of Children's Affairs is hiring for a new Executive Assistant III position! Take a look at the job posting 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.
The 2-hour training will cover an array of topics integral to understanding and addressing the social determinants of health, including, but not limited to:
Defining Social Determinants of Health: An overview of what they are, why they matter, and how they disproportionately impact historically underserved communities.
The Impact on Mental Health: Examining how social factors such as socioeconomic status, education, and environment influence mental well-being.
Strategies for Improvement: Practical approaches and organizational changes that can mitigate adverse effects.
Creating Pathways for Advocacy: Addressing systemic inequalities and empowering employees to become advocates for change.
Call to Action: Concluding with actionable steps and resources to promote health equity in our most underserved communities.
All Trainings will be held virtually on the following dates:
Tuesday August 13th 1-3pm
Thursday August 29th 10a-12pm
Tuesday September 10th 1-3pm
Thursday September 19th 10a-12pm
Please contact Program Administrator, Cristina Valadez, with the date you are interested in attending, and she will send you a Zoom invite.
The History Colorado Center is always looking for volunteers to help tell Colorado's story! Volunteers are vitally important to their operations, and there are a lot of cool opportunities available! Check out the volunteer opportunities available at the History Colorado Center HERE.
HealthOne has opened a brand-new mental health clinic in the Southwest Denver/Littleton area that offers individual, family, and group therapy for both adolescents and adults (we accept all major insurances including Medicaid). The HealthOne Mental Health Therapy Center (MHTC) is open Monday-Friday 9:00PM-4:00PM, with evening appointments available during the school year. Please find an informational flyer about the Mental Health Therapy Center HERE.
Also, they are offering an Anxiety and Mindfulness Group for Teens through the summer! Check out the program flyer HERE.
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!
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.
Emotional Intelligence Corner:
World Emotional Intelligence Day!
Six Seconds is the global nonprofit community working toward a billion people practicing emotional intelligence. They are hosting World Emotional Intelligence Day—TODAY! The metaphor for this day is, Honey Bees. They are pollinators who work hard and contribute – collaborating in community and reaching out into the world so flowers bloom. Bees support each other as a network and individually thrive as a result. Imagine what can be if we do the same with emotional intelligence!
A question the folks at Six Seconds encourage people to consider is: “How is emotional intelligence making something better in your life?” “Something” can be in your personal and/or work life. Examples include:
A relationship
Your own wellbeing
Collaboration with a team
How you are showing up as a leader
Improving program/organizational outcomes
Create YOUR own message today:
Post on social media sharing how it feels to practice emotional intelligence (you can include the hashtags: #EmotionalIntelligenceDay #6secondseq)
They also have a Trello Board with text and image ideas you can use for sharing the value of emotions
Bottom Line: Intentionally focusing on developing and practicing social emotional learning skills matters!
