In this Issue

April/May 2008

Spring has sprung and afterschool is hopping all around town as folks prepare to provide supportive, safe, and fun activities for our children and youth this summer. This E-Newsletter is packed full with news you can use to enhance your program, knowledge base, and funding strategies as we all rebuild New Orleans one afternoon at a time!

Day at the Capitol

Afterschool Day at the Capitol on 6/11/2008
 
Please plan now to join us and colleagues from across Louisiana in informing our state legislators about the importance of afterschool for our children, youth, families, and communities.

Specific details will be sent out soon via emai. We will have tables set up in the Capitol Rotunda to highlight afterschool around the state, and are asking providers and youth-based organizations to send us pictures, brouchures, and other materials about your programs. Contact Dara Lum, Director of Research, to coordinate materials or help plan this exiciting event.

Be aware that this event will take the place of our scheduled May provider meeting.

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Afterschool Champions

Earlier this year Afterschool Partnership had the pleasure of nominating Senator Mary Landrieu and US Attorney Jim Letten as Louisiana state champions for the field of afterschool.

Drumroll please... now we are extremely proud to announce that they will both be recognized at the Afterschool Alliance Breakfast of Champions in Washington, DC on 5/14. A fitting honor for two of our greatest allies. Congratulations!

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Focus on Research

Need a quick idea? Want to round out the research section of a grant application? Sure someone has done this before, but not sure how? Remember afterschool's national leaders and visit their websites for some of the most up to date and innovative thinking in youth development.

Building Out-of-School Time Opportunities for Children, Youth, and Families
Developing Spaces by and for Teens in Out-of-School Time Programs
A new publication from BOSTnet analyzing how the environment of a program can affect the types of activities that can occur, but also who can access these activities, what information it gives about the program, and how children and youth interact with their environment. The report highlights the importance of teen voice in developing spaces for teens.

The After-School Corporation

Connect for Kids/Child Advocacy 360/Youth Policy Action Center

AfterSchool Professional Network

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Funding Opportunities

Applications for the Unified Summer Grants Collaborative have been collected and are currently under review.

Final awards will be announced by the week of 5/4/2008

Baptist Community Ministries is holding an Information Session on their Transom Grant Application Process, 7/10-11. To reserve a space please contact Laurie Miester (lmiester@bcm.org) SOON as seating is limited and attendance is required in order to submit an application.

Louisiana Office of Youth Development has released a RFP for Youth Services Funding. Visit their website for the application and contact information.

The Gulfsouth Youth Action Fund, a youth-led philanthropy initiative, proudly announces plans for its Youth Change Campaign. Contact Dr. Kyshun Webster (kwebster@operationreach.org) of Operation Reach for complete details and nomination forms.

White House Faith-Based and Community Initiatives Conference is scheduled for 5/29-30/2008 at The Sheraton Hotel, New Orleans, LA.

The White House is hosting a series of 2008 conferences designed to connect effective social service organizations with resources, including federal funding opportunities, that can strengthen and expand the services they offer. The conference is free, but pre-registration is required by May 15th. Register online now.

United Non-profits of Greater New Orleans offers a daily digest of non-profit news including up to the minute funding opportunities for the New Orleans community. Contact Susan (susan_unp@yahoo.com) to join. She can also provide a copy of Digest #685 which includes info on several youth and arts focused grants.

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SUMMER

Louisiana Rebuilds provides a great listing of summer and childcare opportunities. Visit to find activities of interest for children/youth and to include your programs.

Americorps/VISTA is now accepting applications for 150 full-time summer positions to work with youth in New Orleans. Anyone 18 years old and older interested in working with youth 18 years old and older are encouraged to apply.

• Begin 6/1 and continue through 8/3
• Living allowance of $865 per month
• $1,000 Segal education award for those who complete 10 weeks of service

Visit www.volunteerlouisiana.gov for applications and complete information.

Junior Achievement of GNO can provide 5-6 one hour hands-on interactive activities that teach kids financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship to your summer program. Contact Christopher Sommers (chris@jagno.org).

Baton Rouge Youth Job Fair
5/10/2008
9AM - 12PM
River Center
Youth ages 16 - 24
Over 30 Employers
Contact Enola Williams for additional information: EWILLIAMS@brgov.com or 225.358.4576

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Our Calendar

5/13: Articles Club at 12:00 pm, Afterschool Partnership, 4240 Canal Street.

Bring your lunch, drinks provided. We will be discussing “America’s After-School Choice: The Prime Time for Juvenile Crime, Or Youth Enrichment and Achievement,” available at: www.fightcrime.org/reports/as2000.pdf

5/21: The May provider meeting will not be held in order to accommodate our Day at the Capitol on June 11. The next provider meeting will take place at the end of summer on August 20.
 

6/9-13: Advancing Youth Development (AYD)

The next session of Advancing Youth Development for direct service youth workers (30 hours) will be presented on 6/9-13/2008 from 9am-2pm.
Applications are DUE 5/19 and are available by contacting Shelley. This training has proved extremely valuable to organizations though out New Orleans and we are happy to provide it at no cost to participants.

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