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About
the Afterschool Advisor | |
The Afterschool Advisor is a publication of the Iowa Afterschool Alliance for practitioners seeking resources to improve, sustain, and develop their afterschool program. |
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Impact After School 2014 Keynote Announced
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 Opening Keynote Speaker
Bob Seidel, National Summer Learning Association
Keynote thanks to Minnesota 21st Century Community Learning Centers.
Registration will open soon!
Impact After School Conference
April 24-25, 2014
Stoney Creek Inn and Conference Center, Johnston, IA
Please contact Indira Blazevic at iblazevic@sppg.com with questions or information requests. |
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Literacy Forum to look at OST and Attendance
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 Wednesday, March 5, 1:00-4:30 p.m.
Keynote speaker Hedy Chang of Attendance Works, a national and state-level initiative aimed at advancing student success by addressing chronic absence. The afternoon will include table conversations among stakeholder groups, including out-of-school time providers, about ways to reduce chronic absence. The event is free, but registration is required. View the agenda and register here by February 28! |
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Afterschool at the Iowa Capitol March 25
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Again this year the Iowa Afterschool Alliance and partners will be at the Capitol telling the wonderful stories of afterschool's impact across the state! Join us and meet your legislators, network with other advocates and providers, and have breakfast.  Above: the Siouxland Human Investment Partnership team at the Capitol, February 2014What: Extended Learning in Iowa Legislative Breakfast
When: Tuesday, March 25, 2014; 7AM to 9AM
Where: Iowa Capitol, South Wing of the Rotunda
Who: Everyone is welcome!
If you are interested in participating in this event, please contact Michelle Rich at mrich@sppg.com or 515-237-0328 for more information. |
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Building STEM in Expanded Learning
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As a founding member of the STEM Active Learning Community Partners committee of the Governor's STEM Advisory Council, the IAA is spearheading a focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) in expanded learning! With support from the Noyce Foundation, we are beginning work to build a system for high-quality STEM opportunities in out-of-school time programs across Iowa.
The goal is to substantially increase the number of opportunities for Iowa youth, families, and adults to participate in high-quality, active-learning (informal) STEM outside of the traditional school day. The initial focus will be on providing intensive partnership and program development support to 10 afterschool program sites within two STEM Communities of Practice (CommPacts) in the Southwest and the South Central Iowa STEM Regions.
These resources have additional information about the project:
To stay up to date and this project develops, sign up for our STEM Active Learning email list!
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Iowa 21CCLC Statewide Report Released
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Each year, the Iowa Department of Education provides an Annual Evaluation Report on afterschool in Iowa, in conjunction with the Iowa Afterschool Alliance, 21st Century Community Learning Centers, and Educational Resource Management Solutions (ERMS).
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Nominate a Young Volunteer for Award
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GenerationOn, the global youth service movement igniting the power of all kids and teens to make their mark on the world, is now accepting applications for its Hasbro Community Action Hero Awards!
Do you know remarkable youth volunteers (ages 5-18) who should be recognized for their service? The Hasbro Community Action Hero Award recognizes outstanding young volunteers who show that you are never too young to make a difference in your local or global community. Hasbro Children's Fund and generationOn will celebrate six young people for their extraordinary community service and volunteer activities at a special recognition event in New York City and present each awardee with a $1,000 educational scholarship. Nominations will be accepted through Tuesday, February 25, 2014 at 5:00 p.m. EST (4:00 p.m. Central).
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Free Youth Event
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Grita Al Mundo/Shout It To The World! - free event for youth
March 9, 2014, 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Drake University Olmstead Center
Presenters include:
TRIO program at Central College
Voices of Al Exito Ahijadas
RunDSM - "Finding Our Voice in the Noise"
Whyld Girlz
See this flyer for more information, call 515-480-0904, or email alexitoiowa@gmail.com.
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Grant Opportunities
Ordered by Deadline
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Lemelson-MIT Program: InvenTeam Initiative
Deadline for first application: February 28, 2014
The Lemelson-MIT Program awards InvenTeam grants of up to $10,000 to teams of high school students, teachers, and mentors throughout the U.S. who invent technological solutions to real-world problems. Each InvenTeam chooses its own issue to address, and the students rely on inquiry and hands-on problem solving as they apply lessons from science, technology, engineering, and math to develop invention prototypes.
For more information and to apply, visit the InvenTeam website.
Wellmark Foundation Grant Programs
Deadlines: March 3 or May 6, 2014
The Wellmark Foundation has two opportunities to support community projects that target childhood obesity or community-based wellness and prevention, just at different levels and approaches.
- The Healthy Communities small grant program supports smaller projects under $25,000, that address environmental factors as well as social and economic conditions of a community that affect health.
- The MATCH program is a challenge grant designed to bring other funders/funding to the table to support larger community health projects needing potentially higher levels of funding and/or collaboration.
For more information visit the Wellmark Foundation website here.
QuikTrip Grants and In-Kind Giving
Deadline: Rolling
QuikTrip donates to qualified 501(c)3 agencies that support at-risk youth and early childhood education in the cities where it operates stores. It may also donate in-kind products such as cups, ice, gift cards, or coupons. Click here for information about QuikTrip's priorities and here for contact information.
Federal Funding Guide for Reading Proficiency
The Finance Project has developed a guide to federal funding sources for reading initiatives, LEARNING TO READ: A Guide to Federal Funding for Grade-Level Reading Proficiency.
This guide to more than 100 federal funding sources helps state and local officials, leaders of community-based and national organizations, school leaders, and private investors find funding to strengthen and sustain grade-level reading programs and services for children from birth through third grade.
Child & Adult Care Food Program
Reauthorized by Congress under the "Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010," this federal program provides meals and snacks for school-age youth in afterschool programs.
Find out more by visiting the Iowa Department of Education website.
Iowa Grants Guide Online
The Iowa Grants Guide is a web-based directory of Iowa grant-making organizations. Program information only is provided; grant applications are not. Click here for the Iowa Grants Guide.
FindYouthInfo.gov Federal Funds Search Engine
Click here to search federal grant opportunities with a tool that lets you filter results by topic, such as Afterschool, Positive Youth Development, or Service Learning.
Spark Grant Finder Tool
This online tool locates national and state-specific grants for physical education, afterschool, early childhood and coordinated school health programs. Search for grants here.
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Professional Development Opportunities
Ordered by Scheduled Dates
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The Iowa Afterschool Alliance keeps a calendar of opportunities regularly updated on our website. Visit it at http://www.iowaafterschoolalliance.org/resources/.
Connecting Learning & Living Training
March 1, 2014; Iowa FallsConnecting Learning & Living (CLL) programs provide applicable garden-based, nutritional, environmental and agricultural education to youth Kindergarten through 6th grade, through hands-on lessons and activities that connect learning in classrooms and after-school programs. Sample over 100 lessons for K-6! Cost is $95. Register here.
Engaging Youth in Service Learning
March 5, 2014; 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; Des Moines
Do you want to engage youth in projects to benefit their community, but you aren't sure how? This training is for you! Participants will learn the field's best practice model for service learning, how to brainstorm and plan with youth, and the theory behind youth engagement in service. The session will incorporate ways to empower youth with voice and choice throughout the service learning process and provide opportunities to brainstorm ideas among training participants. Cost is $20 plus fee. Register here. With questions, contact Community! Youth Concepts at (515) 243-4292.
Ensuring World Class Readers: Forum on 3rd Grade Literacy
March 5, 2014; 1-4:30 p.m.; Des Moines
Iowa's third annual "Ensuring World Class Readers" forum will focus on a key issue related to student success: chronic absence. The keynote speaker is Hedy Chang of Attendance Works, a national and state-level initiative aimed at advancing student success by addressing chronic absence. Stakeholder groups, including out-of-school time providers, will have table discussions during the forum about ways to reduce chronic absence. The event is free. Learn more and register here.
Building Resiliency Through Cultura in Action
March 9, 2014; 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; Des Moines
This professional development workshop for mentors, service providers, and educators is presented by Ana Lilia Soto of Andariega Collective, hosted by Al Exito Professional Development. The goal of this workshop is to create empowerment and transformation while navigating our identities as Madrinas, professionals, and Latinas working with Latin@ youth. The discussion and activities will emphasize core strategies in validating one's personal experience and identity in the area of competency to more effectively respond to the needs of our communities. Free for LLAE Madrinas/ Padrinos; $30 for non-LLAE Mentors. Learn more and register here.
Iowa Statewide STEM Conference
March 28, 2014; Des Moines
Join the Governor's STEM Advisory Council for the Third Annual Iowa Statewide STEM Conference. A profile of the Governor's STEM Advisory Council programs and setting course for the future of STEM in Iowa will be the key components of the day's agenda. Iowa's own Ben Milne, founder of Dwolla, will keynote. Click here for the full agenda. Educators, business leaders, school administrators, parents, active learning community partners, policy makers and other interested parties are all welcome to join in the conversation about STEM. Registration is free - register here. Further information regarding directions, parking, lodging, etc. can be found on the registration site above.
2014 National Science Teachers Association National Conference
April 3-6, 2014; Boston
The National Science Teachers Association is asking you save the date for its national conference in April 2014! The current "strands/tracks" planned are: Science and Literacy: A Symbiotic Relationship; Teaching Elementary Science with Confidence!; Leading from the Classroom; and Engineering and Science: Technological Partners. Learn more and register here.
2014 Iowa Impact After School Conference
April 24-25, 2014; Johnston, IowaSave the date for this second annual conference for afterschool coordinators, administrators, front-line staff, and educators! We're expanding to two full days of professional development in wide-ranging areas like STEM in afterschool, engaging youth, program management, sustainability, and many more. Registration will open soon! Watch the IAA website for updates. Please contact Indira Blazevic with questions. Online Courses for 21CCLC Professionals
Ongoing
Short online courses are available for 21st Century Community Learning Centers program staff through You for Youth, the U.S. Department of Education's website for 21CCLCs. Courses cover topics like Project-Based Learning, Aligning with the School Day, STEM, and Strengthening Partnerships. Each course takes less than an hour and is available 24/7.
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The Iowa Afterschool Alliance seeks to improve access to high-quality afterschool programs for all Iowa children, youth, and families through policy and partnerships, practice support and outreach and engagement.
To contact the IAA:
Michelle Rich, Iowa Network Coordinator
mrich@sppg.com
515-237-0328
2910 Westown Parkway, Suite 302 West Des Moines, IA 50266
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