January 29, 2025

This is your weekly newsletter featuring program spotlights, innovative resources, and training opportunities for the out-of-school-time industry in Florida. Together, we can ensure all children and youth in Florida have access to affordable, available, high-quality expanded learning opportunities to foster their success in school and beyond.

LAST CALL for Nominations: 2024-2025 Out-Of-School Time Recognition Program- Engage Every Student

The U.S. Department of Education designed a Recognition Program for Out-of-School Time Learning, which aims to recognize (1) non-profit organizations working in collaboration with school district/local education agencies (LEAs), (2) city municipalities or local government entities working in collaboration with school district/LEAs or (3) LEAs working in collaboration with non-profit organization or city municipalities that engage K-12 students in high-quality afterschool or summer learning programming. 


Applications are due this Friday, January 31!

Learn More & Apply

If you have an idea for an afterschool spotlight or would like to be featured, email Holly to help share your story!

Retired Brevard engineer saw lack of marginalized kids in STEM: How he's changing things

Engineers from around Brevard volunteer with the South Brevard NAACP ACT-SO STEM class to teach local kids. Bryan has been involved in the school system for a number of years through mentoring kids and working with the late Bob Barnes on Aspiration Academy, a program with the goal of elevating learning opportunities for Brevard's low-income kids. Something he noticed was a lack of Black students in STEM programs.

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Gen Z & Career Mentorship: How Teen Clothing Designer Impressed Corporate Execs

18-year-old Nico has an eye for style. What he’s still piecing together is what it takes to thrive in the fashion industry. Luckily, Carter’s, a national partner of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, gave him the behind-the-scenes look he needed with a one-day internship.

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Orlando City SC and Orlando Pride Partner with YMCA of Central Florida to Launch Lions Pride Jr. Youth Soccer Program

Orlando City SC and the Orlando Pride are partnering with the YMCA of Central Florida to extend the impact and influence of soccer at the youth level. The Lions Pride Jr. soccer program aims to share the joy of the game with participants, while developing their skills and promoting healthy sportsmanship, and is available to players ages 3-14.

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NBA Foundation Names L.O.V.E. Our Youth a 2024 Community Changemaker

L.O.V.E. Our Youth (located in Orlando, FL) and its founder, Lasheena Williams, MNM, CNP were presented with the NBA Foundation's 2024 Community Changemaker during the American Express Leadership Academy in New York City on Thursday, November 14, 2024. The exclusive honor highlights organizations across America making transformative impacts in their local communities.

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LEARNING FROM OTHERS: We need social-emotional learning in elementary after-school programs

Today, schools have social emotional learning (SEL) programs to help students process and regulate their emotions. Shy students as I was are often overlooked, even though they may need more help. There’s not enough time during the school day for each student who would benefit. This is why we need SEL so more students have access to these programs after school, to improve their quality of learning and their relationships with their teachers, families, and peers.

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Florida celebrates Literacy Week!

The Florida Department of Education is partnering with different groups to promote good reading habits in children.

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New spotlights highlight how programs are helping improve student engagement by creating a culture of care

In a new brief, “Addressing Chronic Absenteeism: How Afterschool Programs are Building School-Day Engagement and Improving Attendance,” the Afterschool Alliance delves into how afterschool programs help schools combat chronic absenteeism, with one approach being to foster a culture of care through supportive adults and mentors.

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Tallahassee groups join together for period product drive

With data showing the average price of tampons jumping 36% since 2019, Tallahassee groups organized the Period Poverty Community Drive. Over a dozen groups are collecting donations through Jan. 31st.

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After$chool Funding: Funding Out-of-School Time Programs - Now and in the Future

Children’s Funding Project, in collaboration with Grantmakers for Education and our team at the Afterschool Alliance released an important new tool for the field, “Funding Out-Of-School Time Programs – Now and in the Future.” The tool is aligned with the efforts of the U.S. Department Education’s 

Engage Every Student initiative.

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ICYMI: Florida Afterschool Advocacy Fellowship Launches with Inaugural Cohort!

Florida After School, Inc. is proud to announce the launch of its inaugural Florida Afterschool Advocacy Fellowship. This program empowers ten outstanding individuals to champion high-quality out-of-school-time (OST) programs across the state.

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Host a Workshop at Prime Time's Afterschool Symposium

Prime Time Palm Beach County, Inc. is requesting proposals for its Afterschool Symposium 2025. This one-day, in-person event will take place on May 9, 2025, at the West Palm Beach Marriott hotel. The theme for this coming year is: "Empowering Young Minds, Engaging Communities, Creating Lasting Impact."

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Afterschool Virtual Resource Fair

Wednesday, February 26 at 11:30 AM

Join us for a Virtual Resource Fair where you'll discover valuable tools, services, and partnerships to support your programs. Connect with vendors, explore new resources, and gain insights-all from the comfort of your home or office!

Register Now
Register Here

Prime Time Offers STEAM Opportunities in Out-of-School Time Programs

Trainings: Every other Friday morning beginning January 24 at 9AM


This fall Prime Time's STEAM training series will be back and better than ever! Participants will learn and practice engaging activities that explore the worlds of science, technology, engineering, arts and math. This series will boost practitioners’ confidence in science knowledge, demonstrates activities that link youth development strategies and intentional STEAM learning opportunities and guides participants in implementing STEAM in their program that is easy and effective.

Register Here

STEM Educator Workshop: Engineering in Elementary School

Workshop: Thursday, February 6 from 8:30AM-3PM


During this workshop, participants will engage with our professional learning team in a hands-on workshop focused on our Youth Engineering Solutions (YES) elementary school curriculum. This full-day, learner-driven workshop introduces participants to the concepts of engineering and prepares them to facilitate high-quality engineering with students.

Register Here

Thriving in Tomorrow's World: Learning Spaces for a Future-Ready Generation - CASEL

Webinar Series: Thursday, February 13 at 1PM (EST)


How do we prepare a generation for a world that is more complex, globally connected, and technologically advanced than we have ever experienced? To thrive in their futures, young people will need strong relationships and relevant, enduring skills—such as adaptability, collaboration, and conflict resolution. As educators, caregivers, and systems leaders, we must shape learning environments that cultivate these skills, while promoting young people’s wellness, agency, and sense of self. 

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Youth Mental Health First Aid Course

Youth Mental Health First Aid is a course for participants 18 years and older who want to learn how to help an adolescent (age 12-18) who may be experiencing a mental health or addictions challenge or is in crisis. This course is designed for adults who regularly interact with young people, including parents, family members, caregivers, teachers, school staff, peers, neighbors, health and human services workers, and other caring citizens.

REGISTER NOW!

Join us at NAA25!

Celebrate yourself and others at NAA 2025 Convention from March 9-12, 2025 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee! Learn & Connect: Afterschool professionals will be recognized in their work and gain practical tips, proven strategies, and new ideas at NAA25. Every learning session values human connection and inspired learning.

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SAVE THE DATE

Afterschool Symposium 2025 - Prime Time Palm Beach County

On May 9, 2025, out-of-school time professionals are invited to attend Prime Time's annual Afterschool Symposium. Prime Time hosts its Afterschool Symposium every year to celebrate the exemplary efforts of our local out-of-school time practitioners while offering professional development workshops that deliver the tools to Empower Young Minds, Engage Communities and Create Lasting Impact so together we can help children and youth succeed by strengthening and expanding quality in the out-of-school time field.

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REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

CALLS TO ACTION

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GRANTS

Florida After School, Inc. | FLafterschool.com

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