The DAA Collective newsletter keeps Denver's afterschool community connected to resources, professional learning and networking opportunities. Learn more about us.
Coffee and Conversation
Thank you to everyone that came out to the September Coffee and Conversation Experience: Hiring Next Gen Leaders at the University of Denver's Burwell Center for Career Achievement! Our incredible facilitators, Paige Luna and Jessica Rose (Assistant Directors- Employer Connection) presented on their experience with the trends and strategies for success in recruiting and retaining college students in employment. They host these recruitment workshops regularly, both in person and virtually; check out their website for upcoming workshops and many other resources!
Check out a breakdown of the event on our website HERE.
SAVE THE DATE! Our next Coffee and Conversation event will take place on Tuesday, October 22nd. Make sure you check out our next newsletter for more info!
The DAA Collective Leadership Team wants to hear from you!! We have created a poll of some suggestions made by our team of potential conversation topics. Please take a minute to take the poll and vote for what you want to converse about at upcoming Coffee and Conversation events!
In alignment with the City and County of Denver's 2024 Citywide Goals for a Great Government, Mayor Mike Johnston, in partnership with At Large Councilmembers Sarah Parady and Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez, is hosting a Community Conversation around Good Government in the City and County of Denver where neighbors can engage directly with their government. The goal of this effort is to engage with residents on their concerns, and to hear ideas, experiences, and expectations on what can be done to make our local government work smarter and faster with as much participation as possible from the community.
Tuesday, October 1st from 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
Glenarm Recreation Center – Five Points
2800 Glenarm Pl., Denver, CO 80205
Seating for this event may be limited, so it is encouraged (but not mandatory) that you RSVP HERE.
Spread the word about this exciting event to your networks by sharing the following flyers: English Spanish
Edge Coaching Training Opportunity
Looking to increase engagement and executive function in youth? Join the Edge Foundation for a 2-day training for people who work with youth! Edge Coaching work uses the same techniques that executive coaches use with senior business leaders to build AGENCY and COMPETENCE in young people. Not only does this build skills for the classroom, but also success in life! Participants can look forward to:
12 hours of intensive training to support staff & volunteers in learning to establish a coaching relationship with young individuals. Participants will walk away with specific strategies to leverage weekly with students so as to help them identify goals and build resilience.
Coaching demonstrations, practice coaching sessions & Q/A, training manuals, and a workbook.
An Edge Coach certificate upon completion of the training.
WHEN: Wednesday, October 9th & Thursday, October 10th: 9 AM - 4 PM MT each day (lunch is included) WHERE: Greater Colorado Council, Boy Scouts of America (10455 W 6th Ave #150, Lakewood, CO 80215) CONTACT: Space is limited! Check out https://edgefoundation.org/edge-foundation-event/or reach out toryan.mccauley@edgefoundation.org to learn more!
Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities
We are so excited to see all of you at the upcoming professional learning sessions this fall! Check out the full Fall 2024 slate HERE. Please note:
If you are unable to attend after having signed up, please cancel your registration in Eventbrite or email Erma Cerda so that we can open seats up to other interested parties!
All sessions are slated to take place at the locations, times and dates listed. However, the details are subject to change if necessary (ie: inclement weather, facilitator illness, etc), so make sure that you register to attend so that you will receive important updates and correspondence!
The 2024 CAP Fall Conference is right around the corner! This year, they are embracing a superhero theme, celebrating the incredible work of afterschool professionals. The conference will offer professional development sessions, exhibitor experiences in the gallery, networking opportunities, peer learning, and more! There is still time to snag a ticket for this exciting event! The deadline to register is October 11th, so click HERE to register TODAY!
Tasty Foods – FREE After School Meals for Youth
📚🎒 Fuel Your Academic Success with Tasty Food! 🏫
The Office of Children’s Affairs warmly welcomes all youth aged 3 to 18 to receive a nutritious after-school meal and/or snack at various Tasty Food sites across the city of Denver. No ID or registration required – just come on over and enjoy!
To find a Tasty Food site near you, please visit: https://Denvergov.org/TastyFood
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
📚🎒 ¡Impulsa tu éxito académico con Tasty Food! 🏫
La Oficina de Asuntos Infantiles invita a todos los jóvenes de 3 a 18 años a recibir una comida nutritiva después de la escuela y/o un refrigerio en varios sitios de Tasty Food en toda la ciudad de Denver. No se requiere identificación ni registro, ¡solo ven y disfruta!
Para encontrar un sitio de Tasty Food cerca de ti, visita: https://Denvergov.org/TastyFood
Esta institución es un proveedor que ofrece igualdad de oportunidades.
DAAconnect Updates
Families are looking for Fall Programs- is yours listed? Take a moment to visit our Youth Program Locator and make sure your fall programs are updated and visible! If you need to update your information, pleaselogin to DAAconnect today!
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!
Job Opportunities
Join the HERO Kids Sports Team: Become a Youth Sports Coach! HERO Kids Sports is looking for Part-Time Youth Sports Coaches to be part of a team that’s all about fun, creativity, and making a difference!
For job details and information about applying, click HERE.
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!
It's that time of year to start prepping for the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce's 2025 Annual Civics Bee Competition! Participating 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students flex their civics knowledge for a chance to win recognition and cash prizes, and there is no cost to participate. Finalists who advance to the national competition will compete for prizes worth more than $50,000! For more information, check out the competition flyer HERE.
Funding Opportunities
The Colorado Health Foundation’sNonprofit Sabbatical Programgives nonprofit leaders the opportunity to step away from their professional responsibilities. The sabbatical award is a grant that provides nonprofit executives with funds for a salary subsidy, hiatus activities, and support for their organization’s interim leadership needs and capacity building.
If you’re a Colorado nonprofit executive who has served at least three years in your current executive role, has seven or more years of experience leading within the nonprofit sector, and has a demonstrated record of community contribution, you might be eligible for The Colorado Health Foundation 2025 Nonprofit Sabbatical Program.
Lemonade Day University is a FREE opportunity for young entrepreneurs to be involved in a one-day training workshop hosted by Young Americans Bank and Lemonade Day Denver on September 28, 2024! Empower your young entrepreneur to turn lemonade dreams into sweet success! Spots are limited—sign up now! For more information, and to sign up, click HERE.
Miracle League of Metro Denver (MLMD) is partnering with Denver Parks and Recreation to expand to Valverde Park, and they need volunteers for the 2024 Fall season! Miracle League of Metro Denver depends on each and every volunteer to help players both on the field and off by creating an atmosphere conducive to baseball.
To learn more about the many volunteer opportunities available and to sign up, click HERE.
This October, Colorado Respite Coalition welcomes families with children or teens with disabilities to enjoy a weekend of rest and fun at Coming Up for Air (affectionately known as "CUFA"), a low-cost family escape in the mountains!
When: October 11-13 2024 Where: Beautiful Rocky Mountain Village Camp in Empire, CO What: Children with disabilities and their siblings will participate in fun, recreational activities with the support of trained staff and volunteers. Parents and caregivers will learn about community resources, financial wellbeing, and tools to manage stress, and of course, get some time to rest and relax!
The weekend is FREE to Colorado families, although there is a $50 registration fee. Register HERE by September 27th to secure your family’s spot!
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth to age five, no matter their family’s income. Register your child TODAY, and get a FREE BOOK every month until their 5th birthday!
Use this flyer to enroll your child and spread the word to your networks!
Eligibility is self-declared for government food distribution programs; you do not need to provide any proof of eligibility (photo IDs are encouraged but not required).
Distribution is outdoors; please dress appropriately for the weather.
Please bring bags or boxes to transport your food.
Visit their websiteor call 303-371-9250 for locations and weather information
The new online portal allows renters to fill out a brief pre-eligibility form and then apply, if eligible. The portal allows renters to check the status of their application at any time. One of three providers (Brothers Redevelopment, Jewish Family Service or the Community Economic Defense Project) will contact the applicant to process their application.
As of March 1, 2024, households may apply for TRUA only if at least one of the following circumstances applies:
Received a court summons, writ of restitution, or eviction notice from the Denver Sheriff’s Department
Received a utility disconnection notice from Denver Water or Xcel Energy
Had to move out of your previous home within the last 90 days AND have secured a new rental unit in the City and County of Denver for move-in within the next 2 weeks
You do NOT have to disclose your immigration status, and landlord participation is NOT required. Visit denvergov.org/RentHelp and to learn more
EQurious Miranda’s musings on all things SEAL
Practicing Boundary Setting
Hello Qurious Readers!
The word “boundary” is a bit loaded and “buzzy” these days (at least for me anyway) AND when my 11 year old spontaneously used the word this week, I paid attention in a different way. Let me set the stage for you all:
I picked my daughter up from school (she’s in 6th grade) this week and she immediately started sharing all the ups and downs of her day (love this part of the day!). She paused for a moment and said, “I think that my friends are getting a little too comfortable with me. They have started touching my hair (again).” My daughter has thick curly hair which she describes as “puffy.” (Now…this is an important topic of its own, but for today we will focus on the next part of her sentence). She said directly to two of her friends that impulsively came up to her, at different points in the day, and “patted” her ponytail, “It is not ok for you to touch my hair, I would appreciate it if you do not do that again without my permission.” Magical words followed, “I am practicing setting boundaries, mom.” Who is this child??? At 11 years old, she is practicing something that so many adults, myself included, struggle with: setting a boundary when someone is doing something to you or asking something of you, that makes you uncomfortable. Setting this boundary is risky for a tween girl whose friends and relationships are the center of her world. These particular girls are in her "inner circle” and she said, “I think they were a little upset with me, but they needed to know it’s not ok.”
This moment with my daughter has me thinking about the power of the adult/youth relationship in afterschool programs. How are we teaching our young people explicitly how to practice setting boundaries? It starts small (doesn’t everything?). What types of conflicts are your young people getting into? Someone touched or took my things without asking. This kid is sitting too close to me and I feel uncomfortable. The list goes on and on. I invite you all to get curious about how YOU are practicing boundary setting and how you are holding space for OTHERS to set and hold their boundaries. How are we teaching and modeling the skills?
My daughter and I have talked for years about her hair and that it is her right to say “no” at any point when people ask or do not ask to touch her hair. She expressed some frustration that she is having to re-establish this boundary (she had this conversation several times with them over the years) with two of her close friends. I validated that feeling of frustration and added, “That’s the tricky part about boundaries, we have to keep practicing and holding others accountable to them over and over again, and that’s hard.”
