TheConnector

TheCONNECTOR is Youth Community Connections’ (YCC) communication tool for sharing updates and for seeking action from its partners. TheCONNECTOR contains the following highlights:

RECENT NEWS AND EVENTS
Children's Briefing
21st Century Community Learning Centers Competition is Open
Minnesota Department of Education Needs Grant Reviewers
Coalition for Science After School
M-powered Manufacturing Initiative
Afterschool Formula Meeting Materials Available On-line
Nominate Your Program for Inclusion in Afterschool Alliance's Issue Brief
Mayors' Challenge to Set Targets for Child and Family Well Being
Cable's Leaders in Learning Awards

ADVOCATING FOR AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Contact your newly-elected and returning representatives about Afterschool and Summer Learning
December Policy and Advocacy Meeting
Get Involved and Complete YCC's Advocacy Survey

NEW RESEARCH
Charting a Course: An Out of School time Resource Guide
A Guide to Assessing and Increasing School Engagement
New Brief Examines How Schools Affect All Aspects of Adolescent Development

FUTURE EVENTS
Youth Day at the Capitol - March 5, 2009
Youth Work Institute - Webinar Youth Development Series
Minnesota Foundations 2009
Shutting off the Tap to Teens

RECENT NEWS AND EVENTS


Children's Briefing
A briefing on children’s and youth issues will highlight key legislative issues relevant to Minnesota’s smallest residents and the organizations who work on their behalf.  Speakers include legislative leaders and nonprofit advocates who work on a variety of children's issues including education, health care, child care and prosperity of children in Minnesota.

There is no fee for this briefing but we do request that you register.  You can register online today on MCN’s website:  http://www.mncn.org/event_policy.htm#child.

When:             December 4th, 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Where:            Neighborhood House, 179 Robie St., St. Paul

21st Century Community Learning Centers – Cohort 4 Grant Competition
The Minnesota Department of Education is pleased to announce the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) – Cohort 4 grant competition. Approximately $3 million is available to establish or expand high-quality afterschool programs that offer a broad array of services and activities designed to reinforce and complement the regular academic program of participating students before and after school, on school release days, weekends and school vacation periods.  Examples of agencies and organizations eligible to apply for a 21st CCLC grant include, but are not limited to: schools, school districts, non-profit agencies, city or county government agencies, faith-based organizations, institutions of higher education and for-profit corporations.

Eligible applications must include a collaborative between a school or school district, and one or more community-based organizations, faith-based organizations or other public or private entities. Applicants must primarily serve youth who attend high poverty schools or schools eligible for Title I school wide programs.

The application packet and a link to a WebEx recorded presentation of the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Cohort 4 Grant Application Workshop is available here:
http://education.state.mn.us/PAIEGMS/searchGrants.do?command=allactive

The direct link to the WebEx presentation is:
https://mde.webex.com/tc0409l/trainingcenter/record/navRecordAction.do?siteurl=mde&firstEnter=1

Applications must be postmarked by a U.S. Post Office, personally delivered to the Minnesota Department of Education, or submitted to a delivery agent for delivery on or before December 23, 2008.

Submit all questions and requests for additional information via email only to the following email address: MDE.Prev-Interv@state.mn.us

Minnesota Department of Education Needs Grant Reviewers
21st CCLC Cohort 4 grant applications will be reviewed and scored by peer reviewers that reflect the diversity of Minnesota’s communities and will include youth. Individuals interested in reviewing grants can sign-up at the following web address:
http://www.zoomerang.com/Survey/?p=WEB228E9XEFG2Z


Coalition for Science After School
Complete Survey by December 10th for a chance to win a $75 gift card from Amazon.
Youth Community Connections is working with the Coalition for Science After School to bring the voices of Minnesota programs to improve the quality of science learning resources available to afterschool programs.  In order to better understand your interests and needs, we are collecting information about your existing science programming.  This information will be collected specifically for Minnesota to use in securing better resources and opportunities for you. 

The survey should take less than 15 minutes to complete.  One response per site is appropriate.  To complete the survey, please follow this link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=_2fTFVevLKdEO28riNedrDEQ_3d_3d

Due Date: All responses should be received by December 10, 2008. 

Prizes: Everyone who completes this survey will be entered into a drawing for one of ten $75 gift certificates from amazon.com! If you win one of the gift certificates, you will be notified after December 10, 2008.

In addition to the prizes, you will have the option to subscribe to the Coalition for Science After School listserv which will provide regular updates about curriculum, funding and field test opportunities. 

Questions should be directed to Jason Freeman, Director of CSAS, by phone (510-642-8106) or by email (scienceafterschool@gmail.com).

M-Powered Manufacturing Initiative
HIRED is offering two manufacturing programs, one for plastics and one for metals, known as the M-POWERED manufacturing initiative. 

Recruitment for January classes has begun.  HIRED and it's partners are trying to address the manufacturing workforce shortage by offering a "fast track" training program to get individuals trained and on the job in a matter of months. 

The new high school classes are unique because it allows seniors to take either one of the courses, while completing their winter/spring semester of high school.  Once they have graduated and completed Level 1, they will work with them to competitively interview with one of our employer partners for a permanent position.  The plastics class ends at this point, but the metals class goes on to provide an "on the job training" piece (Level 2) and more advanced training (Level 3). 

This program is covered by a grant for those who are eligible and the student needs to be 18 by the time they graduate.  This is a wonderful opportunity for students who want an alternative to a traditional post-secondary education, enjoy "hands on" work, and are ready to hit the ground running once they graduate. 

For more information contact:

Lee Shumate, Business Relations Manager
HIRED
612-267-3837
lee.shumate@hired.org
www.hired.org

The Afterschool Formula: Bringing It All Together
Thanks to everyone who attended the meeting earlier this month.  It was great to see so many of you! Meeting materials for each of the breakout sessions are available on our Website.

Nominate Your Program for Inclusion in Afterschool Alliance’s Issue Briefs
The Afterschool Alliance and MetLife Foundation are partnering to develop and disseminate a series of Issue Briefs that address topics related to older youth (middle school and high school age) and afterschool programs. We need your help in finding programs that are:

• Preparing youth to be members of the workforce
• Preventing dropouts
• Effectively recruiting and retaining older youth
• Fostering strong mentor relationships

Nominate your program for a chance to be highlighted in our Issue Briefs and for an opportunity to be chosen to receive a MetLife Afterschool Innovator Award.  The award will go to afterschool programs that exemplify promising practices in each of the four areas listed above. Each awardee, as well as several other nominees, will be recognized in the related Issue Brief and in the final compendium of briefs. Awards will be given out by the Afterschool Alliance in conjunction with the 2009 Lights On Afterschool.  Each recipient will receive an award of $5,000 to be used to continue or improve upon their highlighted program.

Please take a moment to either make the nomination yourself or to point likely candidates in our direction.  The nomination form and more details are online at http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/metLife.cfm.  If you have any questions please contact Megan Iversen at miversen@afterschoolalliance.org or call (202) 347-2030. Nominations must be submitted by Wednesday, December 31, 2008.

Mayors Launch Challenge to Set Bold, Specific Targets for Child and
Family Well-Being
Twenty-six prominent mayors have launched a new initiative to promote city leadership and action on behalf of young people and their families.  The Mayors' Action Challenge for Children and Families (www.mayorsforkids.org) calls on mayors from across the nation to set at least one bold, measurable, locally-defined goal in each of the following areas to ensure that every child has:

• Opportunities to learn and grow;
• A safe neighborhood to call home; 
• A healthy lifestyle and environment; and 
• A financially fit family in which to thrive.

The Challenge is supported by Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman.  To view the webcast of this session, visit www.nlctv.org.

Based on the premise that strong cities are built on a foundation of strong families, the Challenge will highlight the importance of municipal leadership and innovation and help mayors find their collective voice on these issues. Thus far, more than 60 mayors representing cities and towns across the nation have already signed on to the Challenge.  Mayors can visit www.mayorsforkids.org to learn more and sign on. 


Cable’s Leaders in Learning Awards
If you know of an education leader who is doing extraordinary things to help kids learn, complete the recommendation form to encourage them to apply for a Cable's Leaders in Learning Award. Applications for awards are open and will run thru December 17, 2008.  Winners will be recognized in Washington, DC (June 2009) and receive a $3,000 stipend. 

ADVOCATE FOR AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER LEARNING

Contact your newly-elected or returning representatives about Afterschool and Summer Learning
Youth Community Connections’ encourages you to contact your newly-elected or returning state representatives.  This is a great way to introduce yourself and introduce the importance of afterschool and summer learning opportunities in your community. 

You will find a sample letter on our website along with the latest information about who is elected to state office. 

Policy and Advocacy Committee Meeting – December 12, 2008
Youth Community Connections invites you to join our Policy and Advocacy Committee on Friday, December 12th from 9:00-11:00 AM in Conference Center A, Rooms CC 3 & 4 at the Minnesota Department of Education. MDE is located at 1500 Highway 36 W in Roseville (directions). (Please note - this is a change of location.)

As we advocate for after school learning opportunities for children and youth across the State of Minnesota it is important to understand how the state budget deficit will affect our work. 

Christina Wessel, deputy director of the Minnesota Budget Project at the Council of Nonprofits, will provide an overview of the state forecast and provide insight into how this affects non-profits and advocacy efforts across the state. 

Please RSVP by Wednesday, December 10th by contacting Michael Messinger at michael@youthcommunityconnections.org or 612.627.0157.

 

Partner Involvement in Advocating for Afterschool Opportunities – Your Input Needed
Public and private organizations across the State of Minnesota come together through Youth Community Connections’ to advocate for afterschool, summer and year-round learning opportunities for children and youth. 

Together we are working to strategically leverage resources for afterschool and summer learning programs. The state-funded Afterschool Community Learning Opportunities Grant program is administered by the Minnesota Department of Education and is scheduled to end June 2009 without further action by the State Legislature. 

Youth Community Connections will advocate in support for the continuation of these public investments and is seeking partners to assist in lobbying on these efforts.  You can find out more about the Afterschool Community Learning Opportunities Act by visiting our website.

As we continue our advocacy efforts, it is important for Youth Community Connections’ staff to understand how you or your organization can contribute to this shared effort.  We ask that you complete a short survey identifying specific ways in which you or your organization can assist in securing resources for afterschool and summer learning opportunities.  The following survey should take approximately 10 minutes to complete.  Click here to take the short survey.

NEW RESEARCH AND RESOURCES

Check out some of the latest research on after school, youth engagement and quality improvement on YCC’s website under latest research.

Charting a Course: An Out of School Time Resource Guide
This resource is designed to assist school and community personnel as they work to create and maintain high-quality out-of-school time opportunities for young people in Minnesota. Building off of the Charting A Course: Connecting Out-of-School Time Resources booklet, the Resource Guide provides detailed information about each of the various funding resources available through the Minnesota Department of Education as well as research, resources, and operational tools.

A Guide to Assessing and Increasing School Engagement
Students who are disengaged from school are at risk for many poor outcomes beyond poor academic achievement.  They are at risk of skipping classes, sexual activity, substance use, and ultimately dropping out of school.  A new Child Trends brief, Assessing School Engagement: A Guide for Out-Of-School Time Program Practitioners, provides information on why school engagement matters, how out-of-school time programs can affect school engagement, and how to measure engagement.  The brief includes specific measures of school engagement from three surveys and a list of additional resources.

New Brief Examines How Schools Affect All Aspects of Adolescent Development
While the primary purpose of school is the academic development of students, its effects on adolescents are far broader, also encompassing their physical and mental health, safety, civic engagement, and social development.  A new Child Trends research brief, The School Environment and Adolescent Well-Being: Beyond Academics, presents national estimates from a variety of sources on the school environment of adolescents in the areas of health, safety, social support, academics, and civic engagement.  This brief is designed to be of particular interest to school principals, district staff, and others who are responsible for all aspects of school functioning.  It should also be useful to those focusing on a narrower range of school functions (e.g., academics, health and safety, civic development) who want a better sense of how their concerns fit into the larger environment.
 
This brief is a product of a partnership between Child Trends and the National Adolescent Health Information Center at the University of California, San Francisco, to create resources and provide assistance to improve the health of young people and their families.

FUTURE EVENTS
 

The Youth Policy Alliance (YPA) invites teams of 5 or less youth and 1 adult to apply for participation in the 2009 Rally for Youth Day at the Capitol.  Because of space and budget considerations, participants will be selected to attend based on:

• Their connection to the focus areas of the YPA and Rally for Youth Day at the Capitol theme and messages.  See the key messages and call to action on page 2 of the application.
• Geographic representation. We believe that it is extremely important for youth attendees to connect with legislators from their own districts, in every district in Minnesota.

Please return the application via e-mail, fax or U.S. Postal mail. Applications are due January 9, 2009. 

E-Mail: Promisefellow@mentoringworks.org
Fax: 612.370.9195
Mail: Lindsey Carlson
         Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota
         Attn: Rally for Youth
         81 S. 9th Street, Suite 200
         Minneapolis, MN 55402 

The Youth Policy Alliance is a coalition of youth serving organizations, associations and collaboratives in Minnesota advocating to ensure all young adults are “Ready for Life."

Youth Work Institute Presents: New Directions for Youth Development Webinar Series

Academic Learning, Youth Development Learning, Therapeutic Learning: How can they come together so young people can succeed?

DATE:     Thursday, December 4
TIMES:   11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Eastern, 10:30 a.m.-noon Central, 9:30-11 a.m. Mountain, 8:30-10 p.m. Pacific
COST:     Free, but registration is mandatory.  Click here to register.

This action dialogue builds on the recognition that schools, afterschool programs, and student support services have to work together to increase student academic and life successes. In day-to-day reality, teachers, youth workers and therapists relate to young people from different frameworks and sometimes even reject each others' approach. Thus the ideal of coming together to build 21st century learning environments where professionals support each other to mentor, teach and treat youth.

This webinar assembles five leaders who are experienced practitioners, perform research, and reflect on what students need. The dialogue will be between a trauma expert, a teacher trainer, a director of an innovative community youth development program, and a former school principal of a "relational school." The focus of each presentation and the discussion is on increasing quality relationships in the service of learning, and how to take the necessary steps for students to get excited and motivated to do well, to learn skills, and to be known and know about themselves.

 

Minnesota Foundations 2009
Attend the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits'  Minnesota Foundations 2009 where you will learn specific, up-to-the-minute information about the priorities, financial outlooks, program shifts, and staffing of more than 75 of Minnesota's most important foundations. Use this information to feed directly into your 2009 fundraising plan and ensure fundraising success, even in difficult times.

Minnesota Foundations 2009 is also a great opportunity for you to network with hundreds of your peers involved in fundraising, and share resources and strategies to further augment your fundraising efforts.

Details:
Tuesday, December 9
1:00 - 4:30 p.m. (registration opens after lunch at 12:30 p.m.)
Continuing Education and Conference Center, 1840 Buford Ave., St. Paul, 55108

Directions and parking information: http://www.cce.umn.edu/conferencecenter/directions/index.html
To register: http://www.mncn.org/event_fundraising.htm#Minnesota
Minnesota Foundations 2009 assumes a working knowledge of proposal writing, budgeting and the basics of foundation and corporate grantmaking. All participants receive a copy of the publication 2009 Minnesota Grants Directory, which will be released at the event.

 

Save the Date: Shutting off the Tap to Teens – December 4, 2008
A skill-building workshop to reduce underage alcohol use.

Keynote speaker: Pete Schuermann, Director of HAZE
Mr. Schuermann will discuss the observations and experiences of the filmmakers of HAZE, a documentary depicting the high-risk drinking behaviors of youth and young adults today. Clips from the documentary will also be shown.

Workshop: Two panels of experts will discuss policy approaches and provide practical advice for preventing underage alcohol use.

For more information contact: Katie Zientara, Minnesota Prevention Resource Center,
763-427-5310.

Youth Community Connections
1313 - 5th Street SE, Suite 321 ~ Minneapolis, MN 55414
PH: 612.627.0160
WEB: www.youthcommunityconnections.org