Newsletter 5/12/2022

Afterschool Professionals Awards, OST Munch and Mingle, DAAconnect Updates and More!

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View this email in your browser The DAA Collective newsletter keeps Denver's afterschool community connected to professional learning and networking opportunities. Learn more about us. Come MUNCH and MINGLE!! The DAA Collective Leadership Team is inviting YOU to  Munch and Mingle! Take a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle to relax, connect with peers, grab some cool swag and enter to win door prizes! Snacks will be provided for you to MUNCH on while you MINGLE! Friday, May 20th from 11am - 12:30pm at Junction Food and Drink Colorado Center 2000 South Colorado Blvd Denver, Colorado 80222 RSVP by Tuesday, May 17th!! Sign Up to Attend HERE 2022 Afterschool Professionals Awards Ceremony Recap The 2022 Afterschool Professionals Awards Ceremony was held on Thursday, April 28th at the stunning rooftop terrace of the Carla Madison Recreation Center. This year, we were fortunate to welcome Denver City Councilman, Paul Kashmann, who presented awards to outstanding leaders in the OST community. The blue skies and Denver skyline were the perfect backdrop to a beautiful celebratory event that saw so many of our OST family finally able to come together, in person!  This years Afterschool Professionals Awards Ceremony coincided with the 10th Anniversary of the Denver Afterschool Alliance (DAA). As a result, one of its original founders, Maxine Quintana, presented a very special slide show about the origins and growth of the DAA. Also in honor of the DAA Anniversary, Out-of-School Time professionals with 10+ years of service in the field were recognized at the ceremony! Keep reading to learn more about this years award winners! Congratulations to This Year's APA Winners!! Councilman Paul Kashmann with APA Winners (L to R): Lauren Steavpack, Maddy Chilese, Yvette Jarvis and Aimee Alcorn. Service Award Winner Aimee Alcorn Senior Director of Clinical Services with Colorado "I Have a Dream" Foundation When asked about the impact she sees in her OST work, Aimee responded with:  "Creating a safe space (not only physically, but emotionally as well) for youth to come to daily with a team of professionals who whole-heartedly believe in them! They say that it isn't only the impact that you make on the lives of the specific youth you work with but the impact that they go on to make in the world that matters! I can not wait to see what these young people go on and do with their passion and talents - they are a group of world changers!!" Creativity/Innovation Award Winner Maddy Chilese Your Voice Program Coordinator with Mirror Image Arts When asked what her greatest professional reward has been, Maddy explained: "The greatest reward is the feeling of community with the youth we serve, families, and fellow providers. It's the reward of being a part of something bigger than yourself. And having that community when times are hard builds a professional and personal resilience I have never known before." Equity/Inclusivity Award Winner Yvette Jarvis  Program Supervisor with Denver Public Schools: Extended Learning and Community Schools  The advice Yvette has for someone new coming into the OST field is: "Check your biases at the door, show up with your best self everyday and when you are feeling less than your best be vulnerable and truthful with your students. Never forget that you matter to those children more than you know." Collaboration Award Winner Lauren Steavpack Program Director with Colorado Young Leaders When asked about her motivation to work (and continue to work) in OST programming, Lauren responded with the following:  "Our young people are not only our future leaders, but are doing some incredible work right now around climate action, equity and reimagining a more united world. They keep me inspired and focused on the bigger vision." Need Help With Hiring? Check Out the DAA Workforce Study Do you still need to hire staff?  If yes...we have some suggestions you might find helpful!    The DAA commissioned a research study where we gathered input from nearly 50 young job seekers (ages 14-24), here's what they had to say... Most of the job seekers didn't even know that OST jobs existed!  So...are you posting flyers in your local gathering places?  Are you using local social media groups, neighborhood listservs, etc.? Most of the job seekers really want flexibility.  So...are you able to offer M/W/F vs. T/Th positions?  For the Summer, can you offer June vs. July employment?    Most of the job seekers want to feel connected to their job, supervisor and colleagues.  So...are you building relationships, getting to know workers as individuals, recognizing growth and accomplishments, etc.? The DAA Workforce Study document takes a deeper dive into our study findings and includes great resources for improving hiring processes, like a recruitment checklist, job posting examples and a sample job posting in a new and exciting infographic format.  Follow this link to check it out:  DAA Workforce Study DAAconnect Updates Parents are still searching for Summer Programs!   Is your program listed on the Youth Program Locator? If not, be sure to update your Program Schedule in DAAconnect. For assistance, please contact us at: daaconnect@denvergov.org.   DAAconnect training material is now available in the HELP CENTER tab when you log in to your DAAconnect Account.   Our DAAconnect team is always happy to help if you need assistance or additional support in the system. Please reach out if we can help: daaconnect@denvergov.org. Great DPD Opportunity for Denver Youth The Denver Police Volunteers in Police Service program is accepting applications for the Denver Police Teen Volunteer Program, which is for teens between the ages of 16 and 19. The Teen Volunteer Program is designed to provide an opportunity for teenagers to experience DPD behind the scenes while working alongside police officers and staff.  The volunteer program runs from June 12 to the beginning of August and requires 20 hours of volunteer time during that period.  The Mayor's Youth Commission Application Deadline Has Been Extended! The Office of Children's Affairs needs your help recruiting Denver Youth to serve on the Mayor's Youth Commission for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year! Candidates must submit an application by May 31, 2022! Visit https://www.denvergov.org/mayorsyouthcommission to learn more and apply! Rose Community Foundation Has an Open Funding Opportunity! Rose Community Foundation is pleased to announce an open funding opportunity for nonprofit organizations in the Greater Denver region. This opportunity is intended to help build practices and learning environments that equitably integrate efforts to strengthen social and emotional needs and academic learning for students, with a focus on the teachers and administrators that create and contribute to classroom culture.  Organizations are invited submit a Letter of Intent (LOI) to determine eligibility and fit for the full application. To be considered for the full application, please submit your LOI through the Foundation's online grants portal by 5 p.m. on May 16. LOI questions, full funding timeline, eligibility requirements, reporting and grantee expectations, and application criteria can be found in the application overview.  Total funding available in this opportunity is $1.5 million. We anticipate making between 20-30 grants and anticipate this to be a highly competitive process.   April 15 - May 16: Letter of Intent process open. Not all organizations that submit an LOI will be invited to submit a full application. June 1 - June 28: Application open for invited organizations. Invited organizations will be notified on May 31 and can apply through the Foundation’s online grants portal. August 26: Grant decisions made. All organizations will be notified of funding decisions. For questions, please review the Funding Opportunity FAQ or schedule a meeting with Maria Torres (she/her/ella), community impact officer. For questions about the grants portal or assistance with access, please contact If you have questions about the online grants portal or application, contact Chen-Pin Hu (she/her), grants associate. To learn more and submit a Letter of Intent, click HERE   Upcoming Professional Learning Sessions YPQI Methods: Structure and Clear Limits Wednesday, May 18, 2022 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM Community Opportunities Big Brothers Big Sisters Colorado have launched an intentional effort to connect youth of color with Bigs (mentors) that reflect their diverse backgrounds. On June 10th, 2022, they will be hosting a large recruitment/networking block party event to better partner their efforts of POC mentoring with the metro community.   RSVP to attend the BIG Block Party For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters Colorado, please visit their website HERE Job Opportunities Pop Culture Classroom is now hiring to fill their open Executive Director position! Learn more here Emotional Intelligence Corner: Calm, Clear and Kind Calm, Clear and Kind is what young people and educators need according to this Greater Good Science Center article.   “Calm in body” refers to an educator’s ability to remain calm and regulate their own stress in the face of the challenges inherent in teaching. In doing so, they are less reactive and better able to support youth with their own emotion regulation. “Clear in mind” is an educator’s capacity to remain present with young people and to stay curious and in tune with their needs. It also emphasizes the importance of listening and maintaining clear, democratic communication with youth. “Kind in heart” encompasses more than just having a nice personality. It includes practicing non-judgment and expressing warmth and connection, cultivating trust and respect, and attending to the needs of the young people you work with.   Check out the article for a deeper dive into practicing the Calm, Clear and Kind framework with young people, your colleagues and YOURSELF! The DAA Collective: info@daalearn.org Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.