September 2023

Iowa Afterschool Alliance News

Have you registered for the Impact Afterschool Conference? Don’t miss out – register now and secure your spot!

Join us for the Impact Afterschool Conference at the Holiday Inn and Suites Des Moines-Northwest in Des Moines on September 28-29, 2023. The conference features dynamic workshops and keynote sessions on a variety of relevant topics such as social and emotional learning, STEM, literacy, behavior management, family engagement, college and career readiness, diversity and inclusion, agriculture, team-building, health and wellness, and more. The conference also provides the chance for attendees to network and share best practices learned through their own work.

Don’t miss your chance to attend this event. Check out the schedule below and register today! 

It’s on! We’re proud to be joining the Afterschool Alliance and thousands of out-of-school time programs in the largest nationwide showcase of afterschool programs during the 24th annual Lights On Afterschool celebration on October 26th!

 Afterschool programs provide the fun, safe, and engaging environment that youth need to emerge from the pandemic confident and hopeful. On October 26, we’re helping to shine a light on the important role of afterschool programs in our community - and you can too! 

Sign up now to join the celebration - you will receive free posters to promote your event, and tips make your Lights On Afterschool like no other! The Lights On Afterschool toolkit provides all the resources you need to plan a great showcase of your program. Help make this year the brightest Lights On celebration yet!

Happy Lights On Afterschool!

Grant Opportunities

Are you ready to take your afterschool program to new heights and prepare your students for a future full of possibilities? Look no further! We are thrilled to announce the opportunity for your program to participate in the Jobs for the Future Possible Futures career exploration program.

The Iowa Afterschool Alliance and the Active Learning Community Partnership is looking for 6 programs to facilitate the Possible Futures curriculum.

This 8-week program provides career exploration to learners in grades 6 through 10, with a vision that every young person will gain the foundational knowledge, skills, and experiences they need to make critical decisions about their future with confidence.

Each site will receive $1,000 stipend as well as a personalized Qualtrics data dashboard for participating. Please contact Elva Griffin at egriffin@sppg.com with questions or for more information.

The Alliant Energy Foundation provides support to improve the quality of life in communities served by Alliant Energy in Iowa. The Foundation’s Giving for Good program provides support for events, programs, and initiatives in the following areas: hunger and housing, workforce readiness, environmental stewardship, and community safety and engagement. Projects and outcomes that focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion are of particular interest.

Applications are accepted year-round and reviewed monthly. Click here to apply online or learn more. 

STEM Opportunities

For more opportunities from Million Girls Moonshot,

please visit the STEM for Iowa website.

Are you on the Mizzen by Mott app? Check out the STEM Activities for K-5th in Small Groups playlist, a mix of engineering + science activities! Click here to download the app today.

Know someone interested in working with an afterschool program? STEM AmeriCorps applications are now open! STEM AmeriCorps members will help build capacity in afterschool programs by developing and facilitating engaging, high-quality activities that promote increased social, emotional, math, science, and reading proficiency. Members are placed in afterschool programs across the state and serve from September through June. STEM AmeriCorps members receive $11,700 in stipends for living expenses over the school year. They also receive a $3,447.50 education award that can be utilized toward qualifying loans or current educational expenses. This is upon completion of their service term. Please contact Elva Griffin at egriffin@sppg.com with questions or for more information.

STEM Flights is a national nonprofit organization that combines STEM education with a free flight experience for middle and high school students.  They pair students with Pilot Mentors in their geographic area to receive a flight experience, learn about aviation and STEM careers, and connect with local aviation enthusiasts. Students complete the STEM Flights application, study online aviation and STEM curriculum, and submit a letter of recommendation before they are matched with a pilot.  Student applications are accepted year-round and in all 50 states.  

Our mission is to create positive experiences in aviation and inspire America’s youth to pursue STEM and aviation careers.  If you know a 6th-12th grade student who is interested in the world of STEM or aviation, encourage them to apply today! 

To learn more, please visit www.stemflights.org or reach out to stemedu@stemflights.org for additional information. 

STUDENTS APPLY HERE!  Student Application

Surprisingly STEM Video Series

Surprisingly STEM is a video series that highlights exciting and unexpected careers at NASA. This series is designed to inform students about the broad range of career opportunities at NASA – outside of the typical associations of rocket scientists  and astronauts – and to break down perceived barriers for working at the agency.

• Monthly Release of new pre recorded 5 minute career episode 
• Associated STEAM Activities 
• Monthly Live Session with NASA expert to answer Student Questions 

CHECK OUT THE FLIER HERE

Inclusion Spotlight

Mathematician, and 2016 Ford Legendary Woman, Minerva Cordero, is a Professor of Mathematics and Associate Dean in the College of Science at the University of Texas at Arlington. She is a renowned researcher in the area of Finite Geometries and has presented her research at numerous national and international conferences. Her passion for mathematics began early in her life with what she calls “the sternest teacher ever”, her fourth-grade math teacher. She describes her research as creating the building blocks necessary to develop secure encrypting mechanisms. Her teaching career spans over 25 years, and her passion and excellence in the classroom have been recognized by several prestigious teaching awards. She is equally passionate about increasing the number of women and other underrepresented minorities in mathematics and science. Minerva holds three degrees in mathematics: a doctorate (PhD) from the University of Iowa, a Master of Arts from the University of California-Berkeley, and a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Puerto Rico, her native land. She and her husband, who is also a mathematics professor, have two sons who also love mathematics! Learn more about Dr. Minerva Cordero here!

Wallace Foundation Resources

Millions of urban children and teens lack access to afterschool programs that provide rich opportunities for growth, learning and fun. One possible solution is to coordinate the work of programs, government agencies, private funders and others involved in afterschool programs—that is, build an afterschool system that is greater than the sum of its parts. Key components of afterschool systems include efforts to improve program quality and collection of data to inform decision-making.

​​Browse reports and other resources the Wallace Foundation provides for insights into making high-quality afterschool programming more readily available to urban young people.

Out of School Time Professional Development Center

The Out of School Time Professional Development Center provides Out of School Time training to OST professionals. The classes provide in-depth curriculum and certificates. If you or your staff are interested in signing up for courses visit the Out-of-School Time website. Check out the entire course catalog here. 

Great Content on Y4Y!

You 4 Youth is a free online professional development site that is designed to support 21CCLC program staff but is a valuable tool for any afterschool professional looking to build their skills! Recently, Y4Y has rolled out a whole module on literacy. Click here to register.

Iowa Child Care Training Registry

Find professional development for school-age programming on the State of Iowa Child Care Training Registry on topics ranging from health and safety to developmentally appropriate programming. Find out more online.

National Afterschool Association PD Resources

NAA provides afterschool professionals with resources to stay up-to-date on the latest topics in afterschool and summer learning. Find out more on their website here. 

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