On June 4th, we hosted a virtual event on the power of local intermediaries, Connections and Solutions: Local Intermediaries Leading the Charge for Afterschool .

Nearly 300 afterschool leaders came together for community, solidarity, and solutions. Leaders from Youthprise (MN), Greater Tacoma Community Foundation (WA), and Collective for Youth (Omaha) kicked off the event with a conversation on how we can center racial equity in our system-building efforts and mitigate the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 on communities of color.

We’re navigating unprecedented times as a nation, as a community, as individuals. I can’t think of a better conversation to have right now other than how to support our young people, our future, and those who serve young people.
-Fahren Johnson, Senior Program Officer, Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, WA

Will the real youth champions please stand up? The time to do so is now.
My vision was framed around a simple mathematical formula, Y 2 + E = QR. Translated, as we increase our investment in young people and elevate racial equity, we are always going to come up with quality results.
-Wokie Weah, President, Youthprise, Minnesota

 Are we doing the audits on ourselves? Recent events call-out the need for us to ask ourselves: What’s in our DNA? Did I pass that on to my sons? Is that still in me? How do I clean that out of myself, my family, my community, my people so that we can in fact honor the work that needs to be done.
-Hillary Salmons, Executive Director, Providence After School Alliance, RI

Recordings
Below are recordings from the event, including our racial equity discussion and breakout sessions, along with resources highlighted during the conversation.

  • Featuring Every Hour Counts, Youthprise (MN), Providence After School Alliance, Greater Tacoma Community Foundation and Collective for Youth (Omaha).   
  • We were honored to be joined by Lewiee Blaze, youth activist from Minneapolis, MN, who shared with us his powerful spoken word poem, Black Lives Matter (click to listen).
  • Thank you to Suzette Harvey, President and CEO of Prime Time Palm Beach County, and Karen Pittman, Co-Founder, President and CEO of the Forum for Youth Investment, for sharing their reflections and observations at the close of the event.  

Breakout Sessions
Partnerships (Recording) : In what ways can school districts and community organizations partner to meet the social and emotional needs of young people?
  • Featuring ExpandED Schools (NYC), Providence After School Alliance, and Prime Time Palm Beach County. 

Reimagining Learning (Recording) : How do we reimagine learning and youth development and impart arts, hands-on learning, and recreation in dynamic ways? 
  • Featuring After School Matters (Chicago) and Boston After School & Beyond.

Supporting Providers & Youth Workers (Recording) : How do we protect and support the afterschool workforce?
  • Featuring Collective for Youth (Omaha) and Prime Time Palm Beach County (FL).

Resources
  • Dada, What Color Was George? Marcus Pope, Vice President of Youthprise, Minnesota, wrote this powerful blog capturing the impact George Floyd's killing and institutionalized racism has on his life.
  • Will the Real Youth Champions Please Stand-up? Youthprise's President, Wokie Weah, wrote this insightful blog sharing how the organization is championing youth in their fight for racial equity.
  • Every Hour Counts COVID-19 Resource Guide Our guide is filled with resources, tools, and guidance to support afterschool intermediaries, educators, providers, families, and community leaders.

Support Youthprise, Minnesota
During the event we shared an opportunity to donate to Youthprise to honor the memory of Mr. George Floyd and to support an organization that is mobilizing youth leaders for the long-term fight for racial equity. We hope you will consider making a donation to Youthprise, based in Minneapolis, so we can raise meaningful resources, as all donations are being matched 1:1 by the McKnight Foundation. To make a donation, click here .

Our Thoughts, Our Words, Our Work: Young Thought Leaders and Activists in Minnesota's Fight for Equity
Join Every Hour Counts and Youthprise on  Wednesday, July 15th, 2 PM ET/ 1 PM CT / 11 AM PT for a forum on what Minnesota's fight for racial equity looks like and how youth are leading. Registration details to come.