OST Learning Institute

April 2025 Newsletter

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Communities of Practice

Training

Equity & Access

Leadership & Management

We’ve got something to celebrate!

Three cohorts - 2023, 2024 & 2025 - of OST professionals have completed the OST Supervisory Series facilitated by Melinda Barbosa.

Throughout the series, they explored new frameworks and concepts, shared best practices, and tackled real-world scenarios to become even stronger leaders in their programs. Huge shoutout to Melinda for guiding three cohorts through this journey with her expertise and enthusiasm!

If you’re interested in joining future professional development opportunities focused on supervising, stay tuned—we’ve got more great things coming!

Introductory Recorded Trainings

Request access to recorded trainings

National Afterschool Association Conference 2025

Dear OST Community,


I recently attended the 2025 National Afterschool Association (NAA) Conference with Katie Gladfelter and Danielle Wright, where the theme—People, Potential, Possibilities—emphasized the importance of building a strong and supported out-of-school time (OST) workforce. The keynotes and workshops reinforced a crucial message: improving job quality through better pay, professional development, and workplace support leads to stronger programs and better outcomes for young people.


Connecting with OST professionals from across the country made it clear that investing in OST staff is essential—not just through training, but by creating real career pathways and ensuring strong workplace support. Being surrounded by others in the field sparked new ideas on how we can make OST jobs more sustainable and rewarding.


I left the conference feeling inspired and energized. If you’re interested in attending a future NAA Conference, I’d love to connect with you!


Ashley

Ashley@AgendaforChildrenOST.org


Resources

At the Agenda for Children OST, we are committed to supporting Cambridge Out-of-School Time programs as you navigate the ongoing federal policy changes that are directly impacting vulnerable children, youth, and families. We understand that keeping up with these constant changes is challenging—especially when many of these actions conflict with our core values and the needs of our communities. These shifts can feel threatening, designed to instill fear, distract us, and drain our energy, often leaving us feeling hopeless and powerless.


Now, more than ever, it is crucial for us to connect, share our collective wisdom, and draw on our strength. We are deeply grateful to be part of a community that is committed to ensuring equitable access to quality afterschool programs.


To support you, we’ve compiled several resource guides that we hope will be useful. We also invite you to share any additional resources that could benefit your peers and colleagues. Use this form to send us your recommendations.

Navigating Federal Policy Changes: A Resource Guide for Youth Development Programs
Resources for Supporting Mixed Status and Undocumented Families
Resources for Supporting LGBTQIA+ Youth in Cambridge

If you need any support or have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Khari (khari@agendaforchildrenost.org) or Susan (susan@agendaforchildrenost.org).

We are here to help.

If you have questions about professional development, please contact ashley@agendaforchildrenost.org or check out our website.