- Your business name in the title of the e-mail

- A block of space directly under the welcome letter from BOOST

 - 200 words to use as you wish

- Space for a logo or graphic

- A link of your choice

Letter From BOOST

Greetings BOOSTers!

I have just returned from a getaway in the beautiful city of Seattle.  Other than seeing the usual tourist highlights- Space Needle, Experience Music Project (EMP), Olympic Sculpture Garden, and a VIP tour from a friend of the unique neighborhoods throughout the Emerald City- I also made a special trip to the famous Pike Place Market.  I have always held a fondness for the public market because I provide trainings on the FISH! Philosophy and can never get enough fish throwing and positive energy. 

FISH! Philosophy is a practice and a skill that evolves over time creating a positive workplace and a vibrant culture each time it is embraced.  Here are a few examples of these powerful workplace practices:

Be There for another person by listening or giving your undivided attention.  Put down your cell phone, focus, and be careful to not judge others.
     

Play speaks to the kid in all of us and sees the humor in everything.  Look at the world openly and creatively.   

Make Their Day can be a simple gesture, taking a genuine interest in others and show interest.
  

Choose Your Attitude is something only you can do.  As Bear says in FISH!, "You gotta choose where you're gonna be as soon as you get out of bed. I consciously make that choice every day."

I saw many of the guys featured in the film and asked one if I could photograph him while he was at "play".  He indulged me and after taking the photograph (see left), he smiled and winked at me.  I responded with a Cheshire cat smile and realized that he had just MADE MY DAY!

So, I challenge you to create a powerful and intentional culture of positivity by making a difference in someone else's day.  Make sure to tell us all about it on our Facebook page!  

Thank you for all of the work you do to support children, youth, families and communities.

Tia Quinn
Executive Director, BOOST Collaborative

Seeking New Members for the BOOST Conference Leadership Team

We are looking for dedicated, passionate leaders to be a part of the 2012 BOOST Leadership Team! This team is critically important to the success of our event. This amazing group is guided by the National BOOST Conference Advisory Board and provides big ideas, new connections, practical strategies and adds credibility to the planning process. They represent the diversity of after school and out-of-school time programs and include individuals serving at all levels of the field. We are a quality conference truly planned by after school professionals, adding voice and value to the needs of the field. 

ENTER TO WIN A FREE TRAINING (worth over $1,200)

What types of training does your team need? Behavior Management? Classroom Management? Asset Development? Homework Help? Pick a training topic from our training menu that is most needed in your program and post it on our Facebook wall.  We will pick one response at random and bring the training to you!

Click here to see our trainings topics and determine what you need most- over 32 training options to choose from!

Next, click here to post on our Facebook wall.

Contest begins June 10th and ends June 22nd at 5pm PST. You have until December 31st, 2011 to redeem your free training (one topic, up to 3 hours, maximum of 45 people). Includes BOOST Trainer, all training materials, and travel. You need to provide staff and training location and meals (if needed).

To read more by Roberta Pantle click here.

To read other weekly entries please click here. 

Program Highlight

Beyond the Bell - TAKE ACTION Leadership Campaign Culmination  

On Saturday, May 21^st, 2011 over 2,000 students and adults gathered for the TAKE ACTION Leadership Campaign Culmination event at Paramount Studios in Hollywood, California on the New York City backlot.   

The Beyond the Bell TAKE ACTION Leadership Campaign develops high schools leaders throughout the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).

Leadership is taught through service learning projects, outdoor education retreats, celebration of the arts, and a peer mentoring model which assists students in bridging transitions.

The campaign focuses on supporting and promoting national anti-tobacco campaigns, Denim Day (a nationwide program to combat sexual assault), and awareness of issues that students feel are important to them, their community, and school. The program is overseen by Champions, EduCare Foundation, and !Mpact People.

This culminating event featured students from 29 high schools who had the opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments and showcase their talents on 3 various stages.

Performance categories included, dance, spoken word & DJ, and a music stage for both vocal and instrumental. Paramount Studios also provided two 8 feet tall art walls in which artwork from all 29 high schools were featured.

This year also featured the first ever Live Urban Art Competition.Six high schools were selected based on applications they were required to submit. Teams were provided with a 6'x4' canvas to create their pieces of artwork at the event.

Awards were given out on the main stage for the various performance categories.

Another highlight of the day was a 2,000 person Flash Mob, choreographed by Chuck Maldonado, a choreographer who has work with artist such as Missy Elliot, Usher, and Fergie.

America's Got Talent host Nick Cannon emceed the event, which included guest appearances from former American Idol contestant and LAUSD student Allison Iraheta, former America's Best Dance Crew contestants and Sally Kirland.

Click here to see highlights the event and celebration of the accomplishment and hard work from the students at Los Angeles Unified School District.

For more information on Beyond the Bell, click

here. 

Gloria Richardson
Academic Excellence Afterschool Program Blytheville, AR   

The Academic Excellence Afterschool Program in Blytheville, Arkansas is finishing up its first year as a program for first and second grade students in the Blytheville School District.  If there is one thing that we have learned through this year it is that enthusiastic and quality staff is key to creating a successful program.

Gloria Richardson is this type of staff member.  Gloria Richardson is a third year, nontraditional college student, majoring in Elementary Education at Arkansas Northeastern College in Blytheville, AR.  Gloria has always had a passion for working with children.  While working outside of the educational field she has fulfilled this desire by working with children in her church and in her community.  She is truly excited about finally being able to pursue her dream of becoming a classroom teacher.  Gloria was presented with the opportunity to work in the program through a partnership that the Academic Excellence Program has with Arkansas Northeastern College. 

Gloria's passion and excitement for working with students is evident in her role as Activity Leader in the afterschool program.  Her group members (students) are never absent and love being with her.  She has truly built meaningful relationships with these students.  Through observations and interviews conducted by the program director, Mindy Simpson, and other outside agencies she has been observed to be a "natural" in the classroom setting.  "When I search for leaders for my program an applicant with the excitement and joy of working with students like Gloria has is hard to find.  I wish there were 20 more just like her!"

Submitted by:

Mindy Simpson

Program Director

Academic Excellence Afterschool Program

Blytheville, AR 

 
Have a staff member you would like to recognize in the our monthly newsletter?  Contact us at inspire@boostcollaborative.org

Summer programs throughout the country are leading the way with a vision for how to fill the empty weeks of summer with enrichment and academic activities that form a bridge from one school year to the next. On June 21, 2011, take part in Summer Learning Day, a national celebration of programs that give kids a boost by engaging them in fun, active learning while school is out.

Now you can find others in your community and across the nation that are also celebrating programs that make summer matter! Go to The National Summer Learning Association's website to see their interactive 2011 National Summer Learning Day map. Add your event so others will know what you have planned.  You can also find resources to help you plan, including free webinars.

Summer Learning Day is a great opportunity to shine a spotlight on how your summer programs support kids and families and honor your community partners. Can't join us on June 21st? You can hold your event any time during the summer - just be sure to register on the Association website. You can also follow Summer Learning Day on Twitter with the hashtag #sld2011. 

Out-of-school time (OST) programming can be a crucial asset to families in rural areas where resources to support children's learning and development are often insufficient to meet the community's needs. However, many rural programs face challenges in implementation and sustainability.
 
This Research Update highlights the benefits, challenges, and successful strategies of OST programs in rural areas, based on profiles from HFRP's OST Database.