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
New Focus on Improved Literacy by Third Grade Leaves Future Support for Out-of-School Time Programs Under Consideration by The McKnight Foundation
Supporting Student Success: The Promise of Expanded Learning Opportunities Initiative
Recruiting Teen Editors for Hmoob Teen Magazine

ADVOCATING FOR AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
Potential Increases to Federal 21st CCLC Program
Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Tracks Impact of Governor's Unallotments
YCC Policy and Advocacy Committee Meeting


NEW RESEARCH AND RESOURCES
2009 Kids Count Data Books Available
Youth in Correctional Facilities: Responses to the 2007 Minnesota Student Survey
Improving the Quality of Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELOs) Serving Older Youth
Practice Guide: Structuring Out-of-School Time to Improve Academic Achievement


FUTURE EVENTS
10th Annual Minnesota Mentoring Conference - Partnership for Quality: Mentoring's Next 10 Years
Youth Intervention Prevention Conference: Thriving in Changing Times
THRIVE! A Conference for Youth Participants
Proposals for 2010 BOOST Conference Currently Being Accepted

RECENT NEWS AND EVENTS

New Focus on Improved Literacy by Third Grade Leaves Future Support for Out-of-School Time Programs Under Consideration by The McKnight Foundation
On June 30, 2009 The McKnight Foundation announced it will begin investing in a new early child development goal to improve literacy rates of Twin Cities students by the end of third grade.  The news release is available on the Foundation’s website.  The announcement follows more than a year of planning.  At the same time the new focus was announced, a statement was released indicating future funding and support for out-of-school time programs is under consideration by the board of directors. 

The McKnight Foundation has been a pioneer in providing support for out-of-school time programs.  It has funded afterschool and summer programs for more than two decades.  Over the past several years The McKnight Foundation not only invested in out-of-school time programs but they strategically invested in research, communications and intermediaries to support their programmatic grant making efforts.  Essentially, The McKnight Foundation’s pioneering support helped build and shape the emerging field of out-of-school time in Minnesota. 

While improving literacy by third grade is an important strategy in assisting children succeed in school and consequently better position them for success in life, we know the best outcomes from children and youth are found when investments are made early and sustained throughout their life.  Essentially sustaining investments in youth helps protect one’s earlier investments in children.

The McKnight Foundation’s press release did not indicate when the board of directors will make a final decision regarding future funding for out-of-school time programs, however the next board meeting is scheduled in August.  If you would like to share how funding from The McKnight Foundation has impacted children, youth and communities please contact the staff and board directly.  Contact information for program staff, the president and board chair have been provided. 

Tom Miller, Children & Families Program Officer
TMiller@mcknight.org

Christine Ganzlin, Children & Families Program Director
CGanzlin@mcknight.org

Kate Wolford, President
kwolford@mcknight.org

Robert J. Struyk, Board Chair (mail only)

The McKnight Foundation
710 South Second Street, Suite 400
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: 612-333-4220
Fax: 612-332-3833

Supporting Student Success: The Promise of Expanded Learning Opportunities Initiative
Minnesota is one of five states selected to take part in the Supporting Student Success initiative, a joint effort of the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), and the National Governor’s Association’s (NGA) Center for Best Practices.  The project is made possible with support from the C.S. Mott Foundation. 

Youth Community Connections submitted Minnesota’s application which aims to develop a framework outlining strategies to align formal and non-formal learning practices and policies.  This is a great opportunity to anchor the importance of non-formal learning opportunities in the non-school hours as a way of supporting student success and preparing them for their future. The work of the initiative will culminate with the development of a framework that outlines action steps to align policies, resources and best practices of both formal and non-formal learning opportunities to ensure all young people have what they need to be successful in life and in school.

If you would like more information about this work contact the YCC offices at infor@youthcommunityconnections.org. 

Recruiting Teen Editors for Hmoob Teen Magazine
Hmoob Teen was launched in 1997 as "a place for Hmong teens to speak and be heard".   Printed quarterly, Hmoob Teen has grown into a nationally distributed youth magazine produced and written entirely by a team of dedicated editors and teens from around the country.

Hmong American Partnership is currently seeking new teen editors from the Twin Cities Metro area and contributing editors from outside of Minnesota! They are recruiting Hmong teen, 13-18 years old, that love to write or design, are curious about the world, are not afraid to ask questions and not afraid to speak their minds! Editors must be able to work independently and as a team. Editors are only paid for written articles or designs published.

How to Apply?  Send us a letter of interest saying: 1) Why you want to be a HmoobTeen Editor; 2) What you interests are; and 3) What other activities you are involved in.

Include writing samples and/or design samples* with your contact information, including, your name, complete address, age, telephone and email (email addresses are a MUST!) to hmoobtm@hmong.org or drop-off/mail to:

Hmoob Teen Magazine
Hmong American Partnership
1075 Arcade Street
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55106

Deadline: Sept. 30, 2009
New editors begin in November 2009.

ADVOCATING FOR AFTERSCHOOL AND SUMMER LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES

Potential Increases to Federal 21st CCLC Program
Two committees in the House have voted to increase funding for the federal 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) afterschool initiative by $50 million in fiscal year 2010.  Final action will take place when congress returns from their summer break.  If you would like to express your support for these efforts contact your congressional representatives.  You can find your congressional representatives on the YCC website. 

Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Tracks Impact of Governor’s Unallotment
The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) is tracking the impact of Governor Pawlenty’s unallotment efforts.  They report that the impact of Governor Pawlenty's proposed unallotment has become clearer in recent weeks. They provide highlights from Minnesota Budget Commissioner Tom Hanson's testimony on the unallotment’s plan that would trigger the loss of 3,300 to 4,700 jobs.

You can follow along on the MCN Policy webpage or on Minnesota Budget Bites.

YCC Policy and Advocacy Committee Meeting – September 11, 2009
Youth Community Connections’ Policy and Advocacy Committee will not meet in July or August, 2009.  The next meeting is scheduled for September 11, 2009. Location to be determine.

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

2009 KIDS COUNT Data Books Available
The 20th annual KIDS COUNT Data Book profiles the well-being of America’s children on a state-by-state basis and ranks states on 10 key measures of child well-being. The Data Book essay calls for a “data revolution” that uses timely and reliable information to track the progress and improve the lives of vulnerable children.  

Youth in Correctional Facilities: Responses to the 2007 Minnesota Student Survey
The Minnesota Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Department of Public Safety released the Youth in Correctional Facilities: Responses to the 2007 Minnesota Student Survey.  The report compares youth populations in juvenile justice out-of-home placements with youth in mainstream schools.  Exploring similarities and difference between students groups can provide information on what challenges youth in correctional facilities are facing and what targeted interventions efforts may alleviate their personal or situational difficulties.  Similarly, responses from both groups can illuminate protective factors all youth possess.

Improving the Quality of Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELOs) Serving Older Youth
The American Youth Policy Forum has released a new brief on Improving the Quality of Expanded Learning Opportunities Serving Older Youth.  The brief outlines research led by Charles Smith, director of the David P. Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality. 

The invitation to present at this forum came at the culmination of Camp Fire USA Minnesota Council’s participation in a two-year national study that measured the effectiveness of the Youth Program Quality Intervention’s (YPQI) assessment tool in improving quality within youth programs. Camp Fire was joined by 55 other youth-serving sites within Minnesota and 100 sites across the nation to be part of this study.

The forum was designed to help inform the D.C. policy community on best practices for ensuring high-quality within “Expanded Learning Opportunities (ELOs).” The other presenters included Ge Xiong, Vice President of Programs at Camp Fire USA Minnesota Council and Lee Pearson, who led data collection analysis and reporting for the YPQI. Lorraine Thoreson, Education Consultant also presented on the effectiveness of the YPQI assessment tool within the Michigan Department of Education.

Practice Guide: Structuring Out-of-School Time to Improve Academic Achievement
The Institute of Education Sciences at the U.S. Department of Education released a new practice guide on Structuring Out-of-School Time to Improve Academic Achievement.  The five recommendations in this guide are intended to help district and school administrators, out-of-school program providers, and educators design out-of-school time programs that will increase academic learning for students.

FUTURE EVENTS

10th Annual Minnesota Mentoring Conference – Partnership For Quality: Mentoring’s Next 10 Years, October 19, 2009
SUPERB, EXCEPTIONAL, ENERGIZING, INSPIRATIONAL and WONDERFUL are all words youth mentoring professionals from around the country have used to describe this conference!  The Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota invites you to join them for this great professional development opportunity focused exclusively on supporting quality and excellence in your youth mentoring program.   Conference features include: workshops presented by local and national practitioners, two workshops hosted by Keynote Speaker Dr. Michael Karcher, a Great Ideas Exchange supporting quality mentoring, and networking.  Don't miss this fall conference held at the University of Minnesota’s St. Paul Campus. 

Registration, workshop descriptions, and a downloadable brochure are available online at http://www.mentoringworks.org.  Early Bird Rate! Register by September 14th and pay only $100 on a Standard registration.  We also offer a Student/AmeriCorps registration rate of $60.

2009 Youth Intervention Conference – Thriving in Changing Times
October 27-28, 2009
The stakes are higher than they have ever been before and the challenges of meeting the needs of all youth continue to rise. The 2009 Youth Intervention Conference will bring together youth service professionals for 25+ breakout sessions, keynote addresses from nationally known experts in various youth intervention fields, a resource and program-sharing exhibitors hall and intimate round table lunch conversations.  This conference will provide take-home resources to help you help all youth “thrive in changing times” and is especially applicable to the work of social workers, educators and administrators, youth program professionals, law enforcement, mental health professionals and all who work with youth.

The conference will take place at the University Of Minnesota’s Continuing Education and Conference Center in St. Paul, MN. To REGISTER Go to Online Registration or Print a Registration Form.

THRIVE! A Conference for Youth Participants - October 27-28, 2009
A conference for youth attendees will bring 100 youth together to attend keynote and break-out sessions on the areas of Youth Leadership, Violence Prevention, Technology, and Achieving Goals and Dreams. 

This conference for youth attendees will be held in the same venue as the 2009 Youth Intervention Conference, with the majority of youth events taking place in a separate area.  It will run concurrently with the 2009 Youth Intervention Conference but is an event exclusively for youth attendees.

Youth service providers, please encourage the youth you work with to attend the “THRIVE!” conference by helping them secure local sponsorships or donations, transportation and accommodations.  

The conference will take place at the University Of Minnesota’s Continuing Education and Conference Center in St. Paul, MN. To REGISTER Go to Online Registration or Print a Registration Form.

Proposals for 2010 BOOST Conference Currently Being Accepted
Proposals for 2010 BOOST (Best in Out-of-School Time) Conference are currently being accepted through September 25, 2009.  To learn more about the conference or to submit a proposal online visit the BOOST conference website.  The BOOST Conference will take place April 28-May 1, 2010 in Palm Springs, CA.

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