The DAA Collective newsletter keeps Denver's afterschool community connected to resources, professional learning and networking opportunities. Learn more about us.
January Coffee and Conversation Networking Event
Let's welcome 2025 with connection!
Building community and deepening relationships is a priority for the DAA in 2025. Join us on Wednesday, January 29th from 9am-11am for an opportunity to meet, connect and network with peers in the Out-of-School Time community! We all share the goal of providing access to high quality afterschool and summer programming for youth, so come ready to share and learn about all the diverse OST opportunities Denver has to offer.
As an added bonus, this event will take place at the new Blossom House Community Hub (3300 W Nevada Place, Denver, CO 80219)! Cultivated by LifeSpan Local, this hub will include early childhood education, a Denver Public Library branch, a community kitchen, youth space, community spaces and much more!
COME TO THE 7TH ANNUAL DENVER FAMILYFEST FOR THE BEST DAY WITH YOUR FAMILY!
FamilyFest is Denvers annual indoor family festival. Enjoy family-friendly entertainment and exhibits, free kids activities, and register for awesome prizes! At FamilyFest, families can learn, explore, have fun and find family resources. Saturday, 2/8/25
12pm - 5pm
Arapahoe County Fairgrounds & Event Center
25690 E. Quincy Avenue, Aurora, CO 80016
Free Parking
Admission: Adults $16 at event
Kids 12 & Under: Free (Must be accompanied by an Adult)
Kids Activities: Free (Except Facepainting) Comp adult ticket link available for Denver Public Schools courtesy of Jessica Jane RobinsonHERE.
For more information about this event, check out the website HERE.
Upcoming Spanish-Language Method's Workshops Available
Please join us for one, or both of two SEL Methods Workshops provided in Spanish. These hands-on workshops, created by the Weikart center, provide participants with SEL skills geared to improve the quality of staff interactions with youth and support youth SEL skill development. The two workshops we will start with are:
Únase a nosotros en uno o ambos de los dos Talleres de Métodos SEL ofrecidos en español.
Estos talleres prácticos, creados por el Weikart Center, proporcionan a los participantes habilidades de SEL diseñadas para mejorar la calidad de las interacciones del personal con los jóvenes y apoyar el desarrollo de habilidades SEL en los jóvenes. Los dos talleres con los que comenzaremos son:
Calling all Community Partners and Local Organizations!
The Future Fest 2025 Community Partnerships Registration is NOW OPEN! Connect with Denver’s youth and families in an unforgettable experience! Showcase your mission, host an interactive activation, and be part of this vibrant celebration on April 26, 2025 at Civic Center Park! Please complete the registration form on this websiteto secure your spot for our 2025 event.
For more information and details on how to get involved, visit us at our Future Fest website!
Are you recruiting or supporting aspiring early childhood educators? TEACH Colorado offers free support to any aspiring educator across the state, including those considering becoming qualified to teach in an early childhood setting. This support includes one-on-one advising from early childhood pathway experts, financial aid, information on open early childhood teaching positions, and all sorts of multilingual resources. We want to support your early childhood educator recruitment efforts! Community organizations, childcare centers, school districts, educator preparation programs, and early childhood councils can utilize this toolkit to support and recruit early childhood educators. The toolkit includes social media graphics, shareable videos, customizable assets, and information to inspire the future early childhood educators in your community — spread the word today!
Are you considering a career in early childhood education? TEACH Colorado can help you get started with confidence! Colorado’s youngest students need passionate teachers for their first steps in school. Be at the forefront of joy, wonder, and curiosity. Learn more about how to become an early childhood teacher with free support from TEACH Colorado. Sign up todayfor free access to 1:1 advising, group webinars, multilingual how-to guides, and up to $1,000 in financial aid!
Looking for a Recruitment Opportunity?
The Denver Economic Development & Opportunity's Denver Workforce Development is thrilled to offer a fantastic recruitment opportunity to connect with eager jobseekers looking to enter the workforce! Join us every last Thursday of the month for an online job fair from 5pm to 6pm MST, and showcase your company to the local community.
Why participate?
Direct access to a diverse pool of motivated jobseekers.
Efficient recruiting with real-time chats and interviews.
Enhanced visibility for your organization within the community.
Support and assistance from our team to ensure a smooth experience.
RSVP now to reserve your virtual booth and start building your future team!
Families are already looking for Summer Programming! Make sure your organization is showing up on the Youth Program Locator, and that your current and future programs for 2025 are listed! Please reach out to our DAAconnect Team if you have any questions or need help updating your organizations profile: daaconnect@denvergov.org.
Opportunities for Teens and Young Adults
Servicios de la Raza is currently accepting applications for the La Raza Youth Leadership Program for Spring 2025! The mission of La Raza Youth Leadership Program is to empower Chicanx/Latinx youth (grades 9-12) to achieve their educational and leadership potential and instill the desire to give back to the Latino Community. Application closes on January 31st at 11:45pm, so sign up HERE.
If you have any questions regarding the La Raza Youth Leadership Program, please contact Monse Jimenez at (303) 285-3710 or miriamjd@serviciosdelaraza.org.
Job Opportunities
Colorado Dream Foundation is hiring for a Bilingual (Spanish language) Behavioral Health Therapist! They will support the behavioral and mental health needs of clients ages four through adulthood, as well as serve as an advocate for all youth and families on their caseload and within the greater Colorado Dream Foundation program.
For more information, check out the job posting HERE.
Community Opportunities
Apply for a free or low-cost tree!
The Denver Digs Trees program focuses on providing medium and large sized shade trees within the City of Denver. ALL Denver residents, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and schools are eligible to apply. Applications close on February 15.
Interest Meeting for The JOY Collective: Journey of You – Reclaiming Birth and Wellness for BIPOC Families
Date: Saturday, February 1, 2025 Time: 12:30pm Where:Mama Bird Doula Services
The JOY Collective is a space for honoring the fullness of the reproductive journey for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color—from fertility and pregnancy to birth, postpartum care, and even bereavement. Together, we are committed to restoring the joy and sacredness of birth in BIPOC communities while building a collaborative space for practitioners to share wisdom and strengthen support for families. Please RSVP to secure your spot: RSVP HERE
LifeSpan Local has some really exciting events coming up at the end of January!
FAFSA Information drop in event
January 23rd 5 - 7:30pm
Participants can come to Blossom House at any time from 5-7:30pm to ask questions and get assistance completing the FAFSA applications. Registration is encouraged HERE
Hydroponics 101 for Teens
January 28th 5 - 7pm
Ages 14-19 are invited to learn about the hydroponic farm and help create a system for the Nabi Youth Space. CALL/TEXT 720-935-2693 TO REGISTER
Seeking Storytellers and Filmmakers! The acclaimedSeriesFest Mobile Cinema Lab Summer Intensive is looking for students ages 13-18 who are seeking to apply, grow, and hone their skills for creating content. By using professional film equipment, students will work as a team to write, direct, edit, and act in their own short film or TV Pilot, guided by film industry experts. This one week camp is open to all levels of aspiring filmmakers- beginner, intermediate, and advanced. The camp concludes with a special red carpet screening for friends and family!
Dates: June 16-20, 2025 AND June 23-27, 2025
Location: Community College of Aurora
EQurious Miranda’s musings on all things SEAL
Hello Qurious Readers!
I started my day on Monday, January 20th listening to Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech which always gives me inspirational chills, hope and motivation. In the speech he says, “Let Freedom Ring from the snow capped Rockies of Colorado.” I felt like he was speaking to me. Monday was also the day that the new president was sworn in to office. Regardless of your political views, change, transition and the unknown can be scary. The majority of you reading this post work with young people. How can you use the words of Dr. King to inspire them to dream and take action on what they can control today. It can be a lot to think about your “dreams” when there is so much hard, unknown and sometimes devastation around you. I was reminded of this in my conversation with my 11 year old:
Me:Uzo, let's listen to Martin Luther King Junior’s “I Have a Dream” speech.
After the speech, I asked her…”What is a dream that you have?” Uzo: A dream for me or the world? Then she said…”It’s hard for me to think about dreams when there are so many sad things happening like people losing their homes in the fires. How can I think about my dreams? It doesn’t seem fair. I guess my dream would be world peace. A world where people are kind and bad things don’t happen and when they do we help each other. Me: It is a lot and the fires are so sad. It makes sense it’s hard to think about your dreams when hard things happen. And…as you said, “...when something bad happens, we help each other.” We can start there.
She made a list of all the ways she could help people who lost their homes in the fires and posted them on the bulletin board in her room.
Try a similar activity with the youth (or adults) in your program. Create art that represents your dream (e.g., drawing, poems, etc.) and name one step you will take towards it. There is always a step we can take, even if it is tiny. Revisit your art regularly and take another step each time and/or modify your dream. Imagine your program space filled with the dreams of your young people---does that look like freedom?
Here is the link to Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech. Let the inspiration flow. Thank you for inspiring young people every day to take a step toward their dreams.
