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Trends in Afterschool for 2015: 
Join us Mar 8-11 2015 - register now!
Click here to learn more and register!

NAA's Annual Convention delivers exceptional learning and networking opportunities for every participant. With inspirational keynote speakers, more than 150 engaging workshops and unique networking events, the NAA Convention is the premier event for afterschool and out-of-school time professionals.

Now more than ever, with 21st CCLC under threat, your legislators need to hear from you about the importance of 21st CCLC! 

On Tuesday, March 10, we're teaming up with the National AfterSchool Association and afterschool professionals from around the country in Washington, D.C., to meet face to face with Members of Congress and urge them to support kids and families who rely on afterschool programs. 2,000 afterschool professionals will be bringing their powerful stories to our nation's capital to share with one another in workshops and sessions and to share with our federal elected officials.

Click here to learn more the Afterschool for All Challenge!

What else is on the horizon for Afterschool programs? Here's a look at a few things that will continue to drive afterschool forward in 2015:

High quality after school programs have always focused on building positive relationships between adults and youth. Personalized learning will take this to a whole new level in the coming year. We will see a signifi cant increase in youth voice and choice as afterschool professionals use their relationships with youth, taking into consideration each student's potential, abilities, and intellectual and social competencies and enlist youth as active co-designers of the learning experience to extend positive student experiences and outcomes in 2015.

The STEM afterschool movement has made a lot of progress and 2015 will bring further elevation of this work. We will continue as key players in the STEM ecosystems. We will also move beyond science to take advantage of additional opportunities that develop youth not just as users of technology, but creators oftechnology, through additional engaging computer science resources that develop skills like coding. In addition, engineering will be on the upswing as we continue to recognize its value in developing specifi c technical skills and the additional possibility of using the understanding of the engineering design process as a means to develop creativity and grit.

Recent national and global events indicate that addressing cultural competence through a focus on diversity awareness is more important than ever before. In 2015 after school programs will take an even more active role in fostering cultural competence in youth, developing young people that have knowledge and comfort with people of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, the skills to be able to work effectively across cultures in a respectful way, and a commitment to social responsibility that advances social justice within our communities.

Public policy and other grassroots advocacy efforts will continue to position afterschool as an integral part of the overall learning ecosystem. With over 5,000 hours of out-of-school time per year, 2015 will see afterschool playing a bigger role than ever in engaging families, schools, and communities as part of their contribution to whole-child development and building healthy, thriving communities.

Quality is important in early childhood, K-12, and in out-of-school time. I t's not either/or, it's ALL. In 2015 leaders at all levels will begin talking about the continuum of quality, valuing each other's contributions, and working together to ensure well-developed and well-educated children and youth at all levels regardless of program type or funding stream.
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Diane Genco
Executive Director
NJSACC: The Network for New Jersey's Afterschool Communities
www.njsacc.org
dianegenco@njsacc.org