The DAA Collective newsletter keeps Denver's afterschool community connected to resources, professional learning and networking opportunities. Learn more about us.
Save The Date!
We hope everyone has enjoyed a great summer with lots of rest and relaxation built into all the great summer programming!
We are so excited to announce that Coffee and Conversation Events are back! To kick off the new school year, please join us on Tuesday, August 27th from 9am -11am for Smooth Operations to discuss everything program operations: what are the structures, processes, and details necessary to implement a successful afterschool program? Creating a climate and culture where all youth thrive requires intentionality and clearly developed structures, processes and protocols...sound easy? We know it isn’t! Come share your successes, challenges and questions--let’s work together to create smooth operations! More event details to follow in our August 15th newsletter!
Community Events Now Posted on Youth Summer Website!
The Summer Youth Website was created in conjunction with 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, and contains program and activity resources, youth employment opportunities, healthy meals and mental health resources. And now, you can find Community Pop Up Events on the website as well! There are a lot of upcoming events scheduled in August (many of which are FREE), check them out HERE.
2024 CAP Fall Conference Early Bird Registration OPEN!
Early Bird Registration for the 2024 Colorado Afterschool Partnerships (CAP) Fall Conference is officially open!
Register at the CAP website HERE.
Upcoming Back To School Events in Denver
Please share these two upcoming Back To School Events where youth are able to receive FREE school supplies with your networks:
The Denver Police Department (DPD) Back To School Bash
When: Saturday, August 10th from 9am-11am
Where: Paco Sanchez Park (1290 Knox Ct, Denver, CO 80204)
There will be a FREE backpack/school supply giveaway for youth and parents with a valid school ID (while supplies last), as well as games, activities, afterschool and mentorship program resources and more! Spread the word to families with this flyer, and if your organization is interested at tabling at this event, please contact Megan Ladd with DPD.
Denver Public Schools Family and Community Engagement (FACE) Back To School Giveaway and Resource Fair
When: Saturday, August 10th, 1pm-3pm
Where: Manual High School (1700 E 28th Ave, Denver, CO 80205) or John F. Kennedy High School (2855 S Lamar St, Denver, CO 80227)
This event offers free school supplies and resources for DPS families! Sign up HERE to receive FREE school supplies at the event!!!
DAAconnect Updates
Help The DAA Promote the Locator to Families!
Our Youth Program Locator Informational Toolkit is available for you to use and includes flyers, sample posts and graphics for social media and websites, as well as general language for communication about the benefits for families, providers and organizations to use the Locator!
And if you have an event coming up and would like DAA swag items to give away, please contact us at DAAconnect@denvergov.org!
It's not too early to enter your program schedules for fall! Take a moment to visit our Youth Program Locator and make sure your fall programs are listed, so that families can easily find you! If you need to update your information, pleaselogin to DAAconnect today!
Opportunities for Teens
Does your organization have employment/internship and/or programming opportunities available to teens beyond the summer months? Send a flyer or posting to Erma Cerda, and we will post it in the newsletter for programs to share with youth!
2025 Registration to become a referee with Colorado Soccer Association is OPEN!
Youth aged 13 and up are eligible to become a US Soccer certified referee, but they must complete certification courses which include online learning modules and an in-person session. For more information on choosing the correct courses, and to register, click HERE.
Groundwork Denver’s Adams County Climate Justice Team is looking for Team Members (ages 14-18)! The Adams County Climate Justice Team is an environmental justice focused part-time temporary employment program for youth and young adults. Participants are expected to work approximately 72 hours between approximately August, 2024 – June 2025 and will work on projects focused on improving the physical environment in the Commerce City and South Thornton area. Job Description Application
Job Opportunities
Groundwork Denveris hiring! Please click on the links below for detailed job descriptions: Home Energy Efficiency Internship (ages 18+)
This is a part-time temporary intern position that will assist in energy audits, energy efficiency improvements and air sealing. Please note: This intern will be working during the day throughout the school year. Adams County Climate Justice Team Supervisor (ages 18-25)
The Adams County Climate Justice Team Supervisor will supervise, mentor and coordinate a team of youth and young adults.
Funding Opportunities
A Technical Assistance funding opportunity is available for BIPOC-Led, youth-focused organizations supporting young men of color! In partnership with Mile High United Way, My Brother's Keeper (MBK)- Denver, and the Sims-Fayola Foundation will award a $15000 grant to an organization whose programs align with at least one of the six MBK Milestones within the Denver Metro Area. Applications for this grant will be conducted via Zoom, rather than through submitted proposals, and the deadline to sign up for a Zoom call is August 16, 2024.
For more information (including the six MBK Milestones), click HERE. If you have any questions, please email mhuwgrants@unitedwaydenver.org
Community Opportunities
Beyond Dreams Therapy at Colorado Dream Foundation is open, available and accepting client referrals!! The Beyond Dreams therapy program is designed to provide comprehensive and compassionate care, tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. Referrals can be made by community providers, caregivers, and clients (youth over the age of 12 can refer and consent for themselves). Spanish and Amharic speaking therapists are available!
To submit a referral, click HERE.
And feel free to please spread the word about this great resource with these flyers.
Join Young Invincibles Rocky Mountain on Thursday, August 8th for an in-depth clinic on federal student loan repayment! This event is provided at NO-COST to you and whether you're just starting your repayment journey or are well into it, this clinic is for you!
Thursday, August 8, 4:00-6:30 PM MT
Auraria Campus, CU Building, CU-1100
1250 14th Street, Denver, CO 80202 The first hour of the event will include a training and Q&A session on student loan repayment and forgiveness options. The remainder of the event will serve as an open clinic for borrowers to get support navigating their student loans and signing up for income-driven repayment programs. Laptops will be available for folks to use during this session. Register here!
The Office of Financial Empowerment & Protection (OFEP) is offering a FREE FAFSA Workshop on Thursday, August 8, 1:00 PM -3:00 PM at the Blair-Caldwell African-American Research Library, Community Room (2401 Welton Street, Denver, CO 80205) This session is for anyone looking to complete a FAFSA. There will be a presentation on the FAFSA, a question-and-answer session, and time for attendees to receive one-on-one assistance to complete their FAFSA application. Attendees are encouraged to bring their personal computers for online FAFSA preparation. Register here!
National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS) invites you to the 2024 National Youth Transportation Equity Convening (NYTEC) on September 20th - 21st! #NYTEC2024 is the largest youth-led convening on transportation equity and mobility justice, where youth and adult voices will take center stage to discuss strategies, share experiences and collaborate on crafting solutions for an inclusive, equitable and sustainable transportation system. Registration is FREE for all Colorado youth and adults who work with youth.
Register HERE.
EQurious Miranda’s musings on all things SEAL
Hello Qurious Readers,
What other than the Olympics are on my mind right now?? These games are chalked full of opportunities to build and practice social emotional learning skills! So many directions to go here, but what is top of mind for me is how we can learn and practice sitting with and accompanying others when they are experiencing big emotions. (Empathy, anyone??) Managing disappointment, resilience, perseverance, joy, excitement…just some of the themes that have come up in my house since the Olympic opening ceremonies on July 26th. My first instinct (like many of you I’m guessing) is to jump in and “fix.” I mean who likes to feel uncomfortable? (That applies to those experiencing the emotion and the support person).
As my daughter (who is a competitive gymnast) and I watched the women’s gymnastics qualifiers and Jade Carey fell backward on her final tumbling pass, her eyes welled up with tears, “I know how that feels and it just isn’t fair. She worked so hard and then she fell.” Yep, sometimes we work so hard at something, and it just doesn’t turn out the way we hoped. What I was sure NOT to do was “at least” the moment and say something like, “Well at least she made it to the Olympics, such a small percentage of people can say that and what an honor it is just to be on the team…at least she still gets to perform on the vault.” (You get my point.) While this statement may be true, I would miss this opportune moment to sit with my 11 year old gymnast who was seeing herself in Jade Carey and connecting with her own feelings of sadness, disappointment, anger, frustration, etc. when she fell off the beam during her final state competition the week before. But she had worked so hard…
When my sweet girl said, “At least she gets to do the vault.” I responded, “Yes, that’s true, so great that she gets to compete on vault AND (key word!) it’s ok for her to feel sad and disappointed that her floor routine didn’t go how she had practiced it so many times. That’s really hard.”
I invite you all to get curious about when you find yourself “at leasting” (yep, I made that a verb) yourself or someone else. Pause. Consider how you can sit with yourself and/or the other person in and through their emotions. That’s practicing and building your empathy muscles. Find those moments and go win yourself gold in empathy!
