In this Issue

June 2008

As summer begins we encourage you to take just a minute to cool down and read up on afterschool in New Orleans and beyond. This E-Newsletter provides the updates you've come to expect and detailed participation information for our June 11th Day at the Capitol. Plan to join us for this important step in our work rebuilding New Orleans one afternoon at a time.

Day at the Capitol

6/11/2008
Please plan 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.

We will have a morning session beginning at 10:00 am with speakers at the State Museum and then have tables set up in the Capitol Rotunda from 1:00 - 4:00 pm to highlight afterschool around the state. Anyone is welcome to attend, RSVPs are requested, but not required, by sending your organization name and the number of participants to Dara.

We are also asking providers and youth-based organizations to send us pictures, brochures, and other materials about your programs, please feel free to send those to Dara whether or not you are able to attend.

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New Orleans Crime Fighting Coalition

Afterschool Partnership was recently invited to join the New Orleans Crime Fighting Coalition. The Coalition, comprised of members of the New Orleans Business Council, Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans, the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation, the Metropolitan Crime Commission, the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Urban League, and others, works to increase public safety, to bring attention and information on how to reduce violent crime and public corruption in the city.

Afterschool Partnership is honored to be a part of this effort and to lend our expertise and knowledge to the issue of youth crime prevention. We look forward to sharing with the Coalition the good work our partners are doing in this area and sharing resources of the Coalition with our membership.

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Focus on Research

Putting It All Together: Guiding Principles for Quality After-School Programs Serving Preteens

This article published by Public/Private Ventures and funded by the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health, identifies elements of a successful preteen afterschool program, including a focused strategy, supportive relationships, family engagement, and cultural competence. Authors Rachel Metz, Amy Arbreton, and Julie Goldsmith outline program importance and key indicators, as well as ideas for implementing them.

 Remember the following websites offer a wealth of knowledge to assist you:
The After-School Corporation

Connect for Kids

AfterSchool Professional Network

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Local Resources

• LANO's Hurricane Planning Guide is available now in our online Resource Library; it is a valuable resource to help in your organization's and family's hurricane preparation.
   
• Sojourner Truth Academy is an open-enrollment social justice/college preparation focus high school that will open with ninth graders in the 2008/2009 school year.
  
  STA is seeking leadership opportunities for incoming ninth grader students, such as structured volunteer opportunities or summer programs. Please call with information about such opportunities or to enroll at 504.274.3622.
   
• The Church of Abundant Life Angel Food program allows people to purchase boxes of premium groceries valued at $100-$150 for $30.  The program offers families an opportunity to purchase quality fresh groceries at affordable prices.
  
  The Angel Food program can be used for organization community feeding programs or in personal homes. There are no qualifications, no applications, and no limits on the amount of food purchased. For more information call 504.367.4000.

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Our Calendar

6/11: Day at the Capitol

6/9-13: Advancing Youth Development (AYD)
This session of Advancing Youth Development for direct service youth workers (30 hours) is filled. If we were not able to accommodate you during this session please contact Shelley for information about the next offering. This training has proved extremely valuable to organizations though out New Orleans and we are happy to provide it at no cost to participants.

7/8: Articles Club at 12pm, Afterschool Partnership, 4240 Canal St. Bring your lunch and come prepared to share and discuss current research. We will be discussing the article "How Did You Spend Your Summer Vacation? What Public Policies Do (and Don't Do) to Support Summer Learning Opportunities for All Youth" (Fairchild, McLaughlin & Costigan) available by clicking HERE.

8/20: Provider Meeting at 10:30am, 4319 Carondelet St. Our monthly Provider meetings are currently on summer hiatus. Please plan to join us at our next meeting scheduled for August.

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