The DAA Collective newsletter keeps Denver's afterschool community connected to resources, professional learning and networking opportunities. Learn more about us.
October Coffee and Conversation: To the Numbers and Beyond! How is Data Telling YOUR Impact Story?
Thank you to everyone that took a moment to submit a vote in last newsletter's poll of potential future Coffee and Conversation topics! According to you all....Data is VERY Cool!
How do you react when you are asked to “collect data” at your sites or for your organization? Often times we don’t even know WHY we are asked to collect data. If we don’t understand why, how can we share its impact with all our stakeholders, including families?
Join the DAA Collective Leadership Team on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 from 9am-11am to discuss the vital importance of collecting, interpreting and sharing data (numbers and beyond!). Why is it important to gather accurate data from programs? How can we use data to tell a story? How do you explain how participants’ data will be used to parents? How can the DAA help your organization with their data efforts? All this and more...let's talk about it!
Celebrate the 25th annual Lights on Afterschool on Thursday, October 24th!
Join more than 8,000 communities and 1 million Americans in celebrating afterschool programs for this year's Lights On Afterschool! This nationwide event, organized by the Afterschool Alliance, calls attention to the importance of afterschool programs and the resources required to keep the lights on and the doors open.
We encourage you to hold or join in on a Lights On Afterschool celebration to showcase the great things happening in your program and help call attention to this important issue.
This year, the Denver Afterschool Alliance is celebrating Lights On Afterschool in a few different ways:
Twelve community-based organizations came together and made an impact photo book that highlights the work that is happening in Denver around youth development. These impact photo books will be gifted to City Council members as well as other community stakeholders.
On the actual Lights on Afterschool day, Thursday, October 24th, the City and County Building will be lit up!
On Monday, October 28th, a City County Proclamation will be signed at 3:30pm during the City Council Meeting.
And make sure you are following #thedaacollective on social media (Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn) to see our daily celebratory posts the week of Lights on Afterschool (October 21st - October 25th)!
Want to get involved? Here are a few ways you and your team can participate in bringing awareness to the necessity of quality afterschool programs during Lights on Afterschool:
Let your voice be heard! Reach out to legislators to advocate for afterschool programs in Colorado! Colorado Afterschool Partnership has provided some great talking points, as well as a sample email to get you started HERE.
Join in on the Afterschool Alliance's Lights on Afterschool Lightbulb Challenge- simply take a photo of yourself, your team and/or your program posing in the shape of the Lights on Afterschool lightbulb logo and post it on social media with the hashtags #LightbulbChallenge and #LightsOnAfterschool.
Post in your facility’s windows, and provide artwork to families, partners, and local businesses to post in their windows.
For more ideas, check out the Afterschool Alliance Lights on Afterschool website HERE, and access samples and tips for getting the word out about Lights On with their partner toolkit HERE.
Upcoming Professional Learning Opportunities
We are so excited to see all of you at the upcoming professional learning sessions this fall! Check out the full Fall 2024 slate HERE. Please note:
If you are unable to attend after having signed up, please cancel your registration in Eventbrite or email Erma Cerda so that we can open seats up to other interested parties!
All sessions are slated to take place at the locations, times and dates listed. However, the details are subject to change if necessary (ie: inclement weather, facilitator illness, etc), so make sure that you register to attend so that you will receive important updates and correspondence!
Spooky Season Is Here at Denver Parks and Recreation!
Spooky season is here which means Denver Recreation Centers are beaming with activities. From Pup-or-Treats to Haunted Houses, there's something for the whole family to enjoy! Click on the links below for more information:
Haunted House & Carnival
Oct. 18 - 20 4:00 - 8:00 PM @ La Alma Recreation Center
Trunk or Treat Oct. 11 @ La Alma Recreation Center Oct. 25 @ Scheitler Recreation Center Oct. 25 @ Cook Park Recreation Center
Fall Activities Oct. 10 Spooky Splash Bash @ Twentieth Street Oct. 18 Freaky Friday Pup or Treat @ Eisenhower Oct. 18 Green Valley Ranch Spooktacular Oct. 21 Pumpkin Plunge @ La Familia Oct. 25 Spooky Paddle w/ Denver Outdoor Recreation Oct. 25Beyond the Grave Rave @ Aztlan Oct. 25 Montclair Fall Festival Oct. 26 Washington Park Spooktacular
DPR's annual membership sale will return this November! They are slashing the price of all Individual Annual memberships by 40%! Sale runs November 1-30. November Sale Details
Colorado Children's Campaign- School Climate Data Webinar!
In 2022 the Children's Campaign ran a bill to require CDE to collect and report school climate data, HB22-1376. We hoped this data could help us understand the importance of a positive school climate and how it can improve academic outcomes for historically underserved kids. The bill passed in 2022, and CDE has been working with schools and communities since then to determine the best ways to collect and report school climate data. The first round of this data was released in mid-September.
Join the Children's Campaign and CDE staff for a tutorial webinar on using the data dashboards and hear from district and school leaders about their perspectives and how we can use this data to better support students. The webinar will take place over Zoom on October 15th at 2pm.
Sign up to attend: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_NL2Ifz-QQVGWF_cx1KsENQ#/registration
Tasty Foods – FREE After School Meals for Youth
The Office of Children’s Affairs (OCA), in partnership with Hunger Free Colorado (HFC), is excited to offer a new FREE service to increase food security among the youth and families you serve.
Starting this fall, a bilingual SNAP Outreach Navigator (Spanish/English) will visit your site(s) to assist families with SNAP information, enrollment, and recertification. SNAP offers financial aid to low-income individuals and families for purchasing nutritious food. The Outreach Navigator will also share information about other essential resources.
Please take a moment to complete thisbrief survey (available in English and Spanish) to help OCA and HFC improve this FREE on-site service for the youth and families you serve. Your input is valuable, and we look forward to enhancing community support together! For more information, contact Cierra Presley at 720-654-9826 or cierra.presley@denvergov.org
https://forms.office.com/g/e1a9Y5ejsu
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La Oficina de Asuntos Infantiles (OCA), en asociación con Hunger Free Colorado (HFC), está entusiasmados en ofrecer un nuevo servicio GRATUITO para aumentar la seguridad alimentaria entre los jóvenes y las familias a las que usted sirve.
A partir de este otoño, un Navegador Bilingüe de Difusión de SNAP (español/inglés) visitará su(s) sitio(s) para ayudar a las familias con información, inscripción y recertificación de SNAP. SNAP ofrece asistencia financiera a individuos y familias de bajos ingresos para la compra de alimentos nutritivos. El Navegador de Difusión también compartirá información sobre otros recursos esenciales.
Por favor, tome un momento para completar esta breve encuesta (disponible en inglés y español) para ayudar a OCA y HFC a mejorar este servicio GRATUITO en persona para los jóvenes y las familias a las que usted sirve. Su opinión es valiosa y esperamos mejorar juntos el apoyo a la comunidad. Para más información, contacte a Yanira Duarte al 720-363-6867 o yanira.duarte@denvergov.org
The month of September saw 1937 NEW users to the Youth Program Locator- are your programs being listed for all of these new families to see?
Take a moment to visit our Youth Program Locator and make sure your fall programs (and beyond) are updated and visible! If you need to update your information, please login to DAAconnect today! And if you need help with updating or anything else with DAAconnect, please don't hesitate to reach out to us at daaconnect@denvergov.org
Job Opportunities
Join the HERO Kids Sports Team: Become a Youth Sports Coach! HERO Kids Sports is looking for Part-Time Youth Sports Coaches to be part of a team that’s all about fun, creativity, and making a difference!
For job details and information about applying, click HERE.
Opportunities for Teens
Does your organization have employment/internship and/or programming opportunities available to teens beyond the summer months? Send a flyer or posting to Erma Cerda, and we will post it in the newsletter for programs to share with youth!
High School students are invited to attend the Commerce City Youth Commissions first ever Kickstart to Adulthood (KSA) Conference on Tuesday, October 22nd! This conference is open to high school students that are interested in learning more about how they can get ready for "adulting". Speakers from all over Colorado will talk on two crucial topics effecting youth today: mental health and students rights!
Check out the workshop descriptions:bit.ly/3ZSnf4R
This conference is FREE for students to attend! Parents must apply for the students.
The deadline to apply is Wednesday, October 12th. Spots are limited, so apply now HERE.
It's that time of year to start prepping for the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce's 2025 Annual Civics Bee Competition! Participating 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students flex their civics knowledge for a chance to win recognition and cash prizes, and there is no cost to participate. Finalists who advance to the national competition will compete for prizes worth more than $50,000! For more information, check out the competition flyer HERE.
Funding Opportunities
Caring for Colorado Foundation has a funding opportunity available that prioritizes youth health and well-being. They are working to advance health and well-being for young people, ages 9 to 25, in Colorado who experience health inequities due to economic injustice, racism, and discrimination through strategic investments designed to support young people, strengthen families, and build youth-centered communities.
Part 1 applications are due by 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 14, 2024 -Apply HERE.
If you need technical assistance accessing the grant application portal, please contact the Grants Management team atgrants@caringforcolorado.orgor by phone at 719-566-7841.
The Colorado Health Foundation’sNonprofit Sabbatical Programgives nonprofit leaders the opportunity to step away from their professional responsibilities. The sabbatical award is a grant that provides nonprofit executives with funds for a salary subsidy, hiatus activities, and support for their organization’s interim leadership needs and capacity building.
If you’re a Colorado nonprofit executive who has served at least three years in your current executive role, has seven or more years of experience leading within the nonprofit sector, and has a demonstrated record of community contribution, you might be eligible for The Colorado Health Foundation 2025 Nonprofit Sabbatical Program.
The wait is almost over! Explore the newly renovated Central Library in the heart of downtown Denver starting Nov. 3. Let your curiosity guide your journey through this iconic building where connection, learning, and enjoyment await you. Pick your path to discover the past, honor the present, and explore the future. Your journey awaits you!
Explore Central: Grand Reopening Celebration Sunday, November 3, 2024 10 W. 14th Ave. Pkwy. Ribbon cutting ceremony begins at 10 a.m. Library reopens at 11 a.m. Open to the public
A fun-filled day awaits you with entertainment, activities, and community! Are you ready to #ExploreCentral? Learn more at www.denverlibrary.org/explore-central. Registration is encouraged but not required.
Mirror Image Arts is offering Youth Mental Health First Aid Training! Youth Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an evidence-based training program administered by the National Council for Mental Wellbeing that teaches individuals how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges. More than three million people across the United States have been trained in MHFA by thousands of dedicated Instructors. This skills-based course teaches people how to identify, understand and respond to signs and symptoms of mental health or substance use challenges in youth. Similar to physical First Aid and CPR, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a crisis until professional assistance is obtained or the crisis is resolved.
Mirror Image Arts will bring Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) training to you virtually: Saturday, October 19 (Please register by Tuesday, Oct 15)
Tuesday, October 29 (Please register by Tuesday, Oct 22)
Cost per individual: $50 (Partial Scholarships Available) Click the link to sign up: https://www.mirrorimagearts.org/youth-mental-health-first-aid
Miracle League of Metro Denver (MLMD) is partnering with Denver Parks and Recreation to expand to Valverde Park, and they need volunteers for the 2024 Fall season! Miracle League of Metro Denver depends on each and every volunteer to help players both on the field and off by creating an atmosphere conducive to baseball.
To learn more about the many volunteer opportunities available and to sign up, click HERE.
Community Resources
Denver’s LeafDrop Program allows residents to dispose of their fall leaves in an environmentally friendly way. Each fall, Denver’s Office of the City Forester partners with Denver’s Department of Transportation & Infrastructure (DOTI) and Ace Hardware to provide paper leaf bags and designated drop-off sites for Denver residents. Compostable leaf bags are accepted in green compost carts during heavy yard waste seasons, including April – June and September – November.
Print out a coupon and bring it to an ACE Hardware store for a free 5 pack of leaf bags HERE
EQurious Miranda’s musings on all things SEAL
The Power of AND
Hello Qurious Readers!
I’ve emphasized this 3 letter word in other posts. It’s a powerful little word that can shift the trajectory of a conversation (and maybe avoid some arguments?). AND. I am someone who embodies information when I hear it from multiple sources, many times and in many forms. This is to say, the concept of (often) replacing the word “but” with “and” has the power to shift the course of my internal and external thoughts and actions. It allows for duality; the concept that two things can be true at the same time! What?!? This blew my mind when I truly grasped this concept a few years ago. I can feel both frustrated and anticipatory at the same time? I don’t have to choose or invalidate one emotion for another? This is a skill I practice in all aspects of my life…parenting, partnership, friendship, supervising, facilitating…the list goes on!
We are modeling every day for the adults and young people we work with, whether we like it or not. Young people are watching us and taking in every word we say to them. I don’t recall explicitly teaching my 11 year old daughter about the power of AND, but she sure has internalized it, made sense of it and is applying it. Here’s how I know…
As you all know by now, my car conversations afterschool tend to reveal lots of juicy nuggets, and this was one of those moments. She was telling me about her classes that day and that her language arts teacher asked the class their thoughts on giving peers constructive feedback when reviewing presentations, writing, etc. Some friends shared that they were scared to tell their friends something “bad” because they didn’t want to hurt their feelings. My daughter raised her hand and said, “I think as long as when we say something positive and use the word “and” instead of “but” right after it, we can add something that they can do better and it won’t take away the good stuff we said." She then emphasized…”Because when we say something nice to someone and then say, “but” it kind of erases what we just said like we didn’t really mean it.” Sometimes when we say something nice to ourselves or someone else and follow that with the word “but,” it invalidates our first thought. Mic drop. (Well for me anyway!)
I challenge you all to try in these next couple weeks to pause before you use the word “but” and replace it with “and.” Get curious and notice how it feels for you (it may feel really weird and awkward AND keep trying!) as well as how the person you are talking to (even if it is your internal dialogue) responds.
