The DAA Collective newsletter keeps Denver's afterschool community connected to resources, professional learning and networking opportunities. Learn more about us.
Submit Artwork to the 2023 Lights On Afterschool Contest!
As always, the winning artwork will be printed on more than 50,000 posters that will be displayed at more than 8,000 Lights On Afterschool events around the world. The Lights On Afterschool poster contest is a great opportunity for an afterschool program to gain national recognition for the opportunities it offers. The winning artist will be featured on the Afterschool Alliance website, blog, and in a national press release, and their afterschool program will be credited on the poster in addition to receiving the grand prize of $500!
The deadline for submissions is July 10, 2023. For full details and guidelines for how to submit your art, visit the Afterschool Snack.
Opportunity for Spanish Speaking Families!
Programa Familiar de Lenguaje (PFL) aims to provide opportunities for language development and family bonding. This is offered through play and learn classes where songs, games, books and crafts are used to encourage turns of conversation between adult and child to develop language. Their programming is not only preparing children for success in school, but is empowering caregivers with the tools and resources to feel supported in being their child's first teachers. PFL offers this resource for free to Spanish-speaking families with children under the age of 5.
They have one more in-person pop-up class coming up in July! The class will be on July 12 from 9:30-11 at Westwood park. Families can sign up using this link.
Zero Fare For Better Air 2023!
During the months of July and August, RTD will offer ZERO fares across the entire system as part of the Zero Fare for Better Air initiative! Experience the many benefits of RTD at zero fare while we all do our part to reduce ground-level ozone and increase transit usage across the region.
National Summer Learning Week
To celebrate 2023 National Summer Learning Week (July 10th-14th), the Denver Afterschool Alliance will be highlighting community-based organizations and how they are working towards closing the summer achievement gap. These community-based organizations are working together to keep kids safe and healthy every summer, and ensure they return to school in the fall, ready to succeed!
Make sure you are following DAA Collective on Instagram and Facebook to see all of the National Summer Learning Week in action!
FREE Summer Meals For Youth!
Youth, ages 5 - 18, are invited to enjoy FREE breakfast, lunch, supper and/or a nutritious snack, all summer long, all over the city of Denver! No ID or registration is required.
23 new locations have been addedas Tasty Food Sites, so make sure you check out the updated Summer Tasty Food Site schedules: English Spanish
To find a Tasty Food site near you, please visit the website HERE
DAAconnect Updates
Family Support Services on the Youth Program Locator! We are excited to provide families with an easy way to search for support services on the Youth Program Locator! Support services include mental health support, veteran's support, rental assistance, substance misuse support, clothing, food banks, and much more. This is a new search category on the Youth Program Locator, but we still need more support services added!
For organizations that offer such services, please add these selections to your DAAconnect profile, so that they are listed on the Youth Program Locator. In DAAconnect, visit the Organization Profile tab, add or select an existing Focus Area and view the additional subservice categories under Health, Wellness & Family Supports service category. If you know of an organization that provides these services, but is not listed on the Youth Program Locator, please let us know so we can reach out.
Bayaud Enterprises offers FREE mental health counseling services to Denver residents ages 18+.
Consultations are available Monday-Friday, 9am until 2pm on a walk-in, call-in or appointment basis.
For walk-in services, please visit at 333 W. Bayaud Ave Denver, CO 80223.
For call-in services or for more information, please call at 303-248-7979.
The Splash & Bash is a FREE with your MY Denver Card event exclusively for Denver teenagers (ages 13-18) to kick back, relax, and enjoy the pool to themselves on a hot summer day with their friends while participating in various activities. Activities include an inflatable obstacle course in the pool, games, raffle prizes, and more! Food and ice cream will be provided! Registration is welcome; however, not required. Check out the event flyer HERE. If you have questions, please contact MYDenver.Recreation@denvergov.org.
Where: Cook Park Recreation Center (7100 Cherry Creek S. Dr., Denver, CO 80224) When: Wednesday, July 19, 2023 Time: 5:00-8:00 PM
Emotional Intelligence Corner: Co-regulation Tips
This weeks EI Corner was taken from a recent Roots Up newsletter.The founder of Radiant Beginnings and Roots UP, Julie Campilio, provides 5 tips for co-regulation which is when an adult self-soothes, and in turn helps a child (or adult) self-soothe alongside them.
These are quick and easy things you can do to ease big emotions in order to support the youth (and other adults) around you:
Take a break. Take a minute to yourself, and shake your body around.
Cold water. Splash cold water on your face or rub an ice cube on your wrist until it melts.
Breathe. If it’s possible for you, take three full, deep breaths.
Aromatherapy. Smell some lavender oil. (Dabbing lavender on a stuffed animal or blanket can be helpful to children, too!)
Taste. Pop a peppermint, and really focus on the way it tastes or how it opens up the nasal passages.
As many of you reach the summer programming mid-point, take the time to practice strategies that work for YOU and support the adults and youth around you to find those most effective for them to regulate their nervous systems so everyone can be fully present together.
Subscribe to the Roots Up newsletter to receive your tips and resources today!
