The DAA Collective newsletter keeps Denver's afterschool community connected to resources, professional learning and networking opportunities. Learn more about us.
2025 Afterschool Professional Awards Nominations are OPEN
2024 Afterschool Professional Awards Winners: Front Row (L-R) Euda K. Best, Yoli Casas, Janaya Alirez; Back Row (L-R) Denver Public Schools-Extended Learning and Community Schools (Jesse Broadfoot), Jesus Rodriguez, Kimberlee Sia
Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week is April 21st-25th this year, and we are excited to spend the week celebrating the powerful impact of the OST community in Denver. On April 24th, we will honor selected individuals and organizations with an awards ceremony where recipients will be acknowledged by the Mayor, Superintendent and City Council members. We invite you to honor a peer, supervisor, yourself and/or your organization with a nomination in the following five award categories that align with DAA’s values of Equity and Inclusivity; Quality; Collaboration; Driven by Data and Creativity. A diverse committee of individuals across the city will work together to select award recipients.
Quality and Capacity Building Champion
Systems Builder and Advocate
Smooth Operator Award
OST Champion Award
Future OST Leader
Please click on the form below for a more detailed description of the award categories and to submit a nomination! Nominations are due by 5pm on Friday, March 7th!
Not sure if the person (or you) fits a specific category? NOMINATE! If you have someone in mind that you want to honor, celebrate and appreciate: submit a nomination. If the person is not selected for the “award,” they will still receive notification of the nomination and have the opportunity to be spotlighted by the DAA. Let people know you see them and appreciate them!
Coffee and Conversation: I Matter Colorado Experience
I Matter Colorado was established in 2021 to provide access to mental health and substance use disorder services for youth, in response to the growing need that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. It is open to youth 18 years of age or younger, or 21 years of age or younger if receiving special education services. The program provides six FREE therapy sessions for youth in Colorado!
Join us on March 4th from 9am-11am for our Coffee and Conversation: I Matter Colorado Experience! Attendees will be given an opportunity to learn more about this incredible program and how they can offer it to the youth that they serve! Our facilitator, Tripti Sharma MA LPC, manages I Matter with the Behavioral Health Administration and works with the Colorado Department of Education's Project AWARE team as co-coordinator. She is passionate about increasing access to behavioral health care for Coloradoan’s across the state.
We're back!! Some details are still being finalized on the 2025 Spring Slate, so make sure you refer to the DAA Collective newsletter and/or daalearn.org for up-to-date information regarding the Professional Learning opportunities. Check out the full DAA Collective Spring Slate HERE!
Spotlight On Upcoming Activities at Sand Creek Regional Greenway Partnership!
Youth enjoy a playdate on the Sand Creek Regional Greenway Trail
From January 1st, 2025 through December 31st, 2025 the Sand Creek Regional Greenway Partnership (SCRGP) will be running their 25 Things to Do on the Greenway Program! Get outside and enjoy all the Greenway has to offer by completing at least 20 of the outdoor activities listed on their 25 Things to Do on the Greenway worksheet. SCRGP staff will be offering monthly public programs as part of their Playdate on the Greenway series, that offer the opportunity to complete these activities, but you are also welcome to go out and complete them on your own! Open to anyone who would like to embark on an adventure this year! If you complete at least 20 or more activities by December 31st, 2025 you will receive a PRIZE!
Desde el 1 de enero de 2025 hasta el 31 de diciembre de 2025, pondremos en marcha nuestro programa 25 cosas que hacer en la Vía Verde. Salga al aire libre y disfrute de todo lo que la Vía Verde puede ofrecerle realizando al menos 20 de las actividades al aire libre enumeradas en nuestra hoja de trabajo 25 cosas que hacer en la Vía Verde. El personal de SCRGP ofrecerá programas públicos mensuales como parte de nuestra serie Playdate on the Greenway, que ofrecen la oportunidad de completar estas actividades, ¡pero también puede salir y completarlas por su cuenta! Abierto a todos los que quieran embarcarse en una aventura este año. Si completas al menos 20 actividades antes del 31 de diciembre de 2025, ¡recibirás un PREMIO!
Join the Sand Creek Regional Greenway Partnership (SCRGP) for one of their FREE public programs! They host a monthly Playdate on the Greenway event at different locations along the trail as part of their Outdoor Wellness Program. They also host Nature Photography Programs, Pollinator Art Workshops, Bug Programs, and more. Check out all upcoming events on their calendar page.
Únase a Sand Creek Regional Greenway Partnership (SCRGP) en uno de sus programas públicos GRATUITOS. Organizan un evento mensual Playdate on the Greenway en diferentes lugares a lo largo del sendero como parte de su Programa de Bienestar al Aire Libre. También organizan programas de fotografía de la naturaleza, talleres de arte sobre polinizadores, programas sobre insectos y mucho más. Consulta todos los próximos eventos en su página de calendario.
The Denver Human Services IDDEAS Program manages local taxpayer dollars dedicated to funding services and supports for Denver residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. IDDEAS stands for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Equitable Access to Services. If you are interested in advocating for your community and neighbors, please apply to serve on the IDDEAS Advisory Council! The Council meets monthly to discuss the use of IDDEAS Mill Levy dollars for the benefit of Denver residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Don’t miss your chance to be part of the Future Fest 2025 Parade! This exciting opening event celebrates the creativity and energy of Denver’s community. Showcase your organization or group as part of this vibrant procession. Let’s kick off Future Fest 2025 with a spectacular parade!
Calling all nonprofit and community leaders working with young men of color in Denver!
The 2025 My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Denver Summit (April 11–13, 2025) is your opportunity to connect, collaborate, and take action toward creating lasting change for young men of color. Over the course of three powerful days, we’ll engage in transformational workshops, strategic networking, and inspiring performances from Denver’s own rising talent.
General Admission: $100 (includes lunch) Youth Registration (Ages 11–18): Free Group Discounts Available for organizations registering five or more attendees
Capacity is limited to 200 attendees, and spots will fill quickly! Register today and secure your place at the 2025 MBK Denver Summit!https://www.sffoundation.org/2025mbksummit
Support and Resources for the OST Community
Youth sit and listen to instructors during afterschool programming at Place Bridge Academy
The DAA is committed to providing support and resources to the OST community, as well as to all the youth and families that they serve. It is important to us to share the resources provided from various organizations and leaders in our community to empower community members with the tools to exercise their rights and protect their loved ones. Though things are constantly changing, we will do our best to communicate the most up-to-date resources with all of you as we receive more information.
To support organizations advancing equity and justice in the face of recent policies specifically targeting immigrants, refugees, people of color and transgender individuals, the Colorado Health Foundation offers a range of resources, including Advocacy Rapid Response Funding for short-term, time-sensitive efforts focused on advocacy, organizing and policy change. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. For more information and to apply, please visit their website or contact Michael Smith, senior program officer.
The City and County of Denver offers an Immigrant Support Toolkit for families to use to access information about available resources from the City, partners and neighboring cities.
Congresswoman Diana DeGette's office may be able to help with a variety of immigration issues (including the US Citizenship process, obtaining travel documents, etc). Visit her website HERE.
Early Milestones Colorado released a "Supporting Immigrant Families Special Issue" of their Milestones Monitor Newsletter. Check it out HERE.
Denver Public Schools has released atoolkit with immigration resources for families that is available in English and Spanish, and contains information and resources about rights, current DPS policies, training, mental health support, DPS resources and community partner resources. Their Safe and Welcoming webpage also contains information from the toolkits such as current DPS policies, resources and an FAQ.
DAAconnect Updates
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 Youth
Senate President James Coleman is hosting his 2nd annual Black Student Excellence Award Ceremony! This event was created to recognize and honor Black high school students in Denver who are achieving in and out of the classroom. Eligible students in the Denver Metro Area are encouraged to apply by March 1st. Please share with an outstanding student you know!
Eligibility requirements:
* Black high school student (9th-12th grade) in the Denver Metro
* Weighted, cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher
* Demonstration of community or leadership service
Job Opportunities
Seeing Our Adolescents Rise (SOAR) is seeking a proactive, detail-oriented, and highly organized Executive Assistant to support executive tasks and streamline operations! Applicants must reside in the Denver Metro Area.
SustainEd Farms is hiring for several Program Specialiststhat will help to deliver engaging sustainability and nutrition programming in school gardens across DPS this upcoming season. This position is a part-time, independent contract position.
Do you serve middle school youth?The New York Life Foundation's 2025 Aim High grant competition is now open! A total of 30 grants worth $1.8 million will be awarded to afterschool, summer, or expanded learning programs serving middle school youth living in under-resourced communities.
To learn more about the Aim High grant process and best practices for a strong application, watch the recording of their recently aired livestream.
The Mile High United Way has just released their 2025 Strategic Investment Grants Request for Proposals! The Strategic Investment Grant (SIG) opportunity is their flagship grantmaking program investing in eligible nonprofit organizations across the seven-county Metro Denver area. The goal of this Strategic Investment Grant opportunity is to focus investments on strengthening organizations whose work aligns with Mile High United Ways overarching strategy to provide high-quality early childhood education, high-quality out-of-school time programming and access to housing, food, legal services, and tax preparation.
For more information (including eligibility details), check out the RFP HERE.
View application information HERE.
Community Opportunities
Denver Parent Advocates Lending Support (DPALS) supports families who have an open case with the Denver Human Services (DHS) Child Welfare Division. We connect families with parent partners to help them navigate the child welfare system. Parent partners play a neutral, but supportive role in helping families to successfully move through the process. This helps create safe, stable, and nurturing environments for their children.
Through peer-to-peer support, participating families receive:
Encouragement
Navigation assistance
Referrals to other services and resources
The DPALS Program would like to invite the community to attend their upcoming FREE virtual Evidence-Base trainings. Check out the following flyers for more information:
TransSeen, a program offered through YouthSeen, just launched the Be You, Be Seen Self-Care Essentials program!
This initiative provides free self-care products for transgender and gender-expansive individuals, including:
Young Americans Center for Financial Education's YouthBiz program uses hands-on, real-life experiences to allow young people to participates in all levels of entrepreneurship, from learning the basics of business idea development to marketing and selling a real product! This spring, YouthBiz has a lot of great workshops available for youth! Check out their Workshop Menu HERE.
Young, local entrepreneurs sell their unique products, all handmade by them at YouthBiz's Spring Young Entrepreneur Marketplace in Cherry Creek! Registration to participate is OPEN! For more information and to register, use the QR code on the program flyer HERE.
Explore.Act.Tell is a free experiential learning program that teaches students in grades 6-12 to understand and act on solutions to hunger insecurity in their community. Students will practice skills needed to become good citizens and advocate for community involvement and service.
WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN?
A fully funded leadership program (grades 6-12)
Lessons + Projects + Competition— and ready to use
Community Service Learning/ PBL
Win grants for your charity or school
Register today for full access to lessons and project information and a welcome kit will be mailed.
For more information, check the program flyer HERE.
Seeking Storytellers and Filmmakers! The acclaimedSeriesFest Mobile Cinema Lab Summer Intensiveis 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
Bank of Trust--How deep is your bank?
Hello Qurious Readers!
I was scheduled to facilitate The Bank of Trust deepen workshop from our SEAL Professional Learning Series this week and there is such great content and “nuggets” in it that I wanted to share a couple with you this week. Trust is built or broken in MOMENTS.
Let that sink in for a moment. Each of us have a metaphoric “trust bank” that people around us consistently add coins to and/or take coins out of and vice versa .Think about someone in your life that you trust. What do they do consistently that adds coins to your bank? I deeply trust my best friend. She has known me for over 40 years. She has been beside me during so many life moments big and small. She adds coins to my bank when she validates my feelings, sits beside me and listens and sends me texts randomly to let me know she’s thinking of me. My trust bank is deep; it takes a lot of “coins” in my bank for me to trust people due to past trauma and experiences. Imagine if you thought about your interactions with others through a trust bank lens…how would you intentionally put coins in others’ banks? What happens when you take a coin out and break trust? It happens to all of us. How will you rebuild and repair trust and add coins? Banks are not created equally---some are deeper and it takes more coins to build trust. Each moment is an opportunity---what will you do with it?
