Events

TIP: the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania's Center for Youth Development has an extensive and diverse list of upcoming trainings in their online calendar.

Mar 2: Foundations 101. This is an introductory overview of the basics of grant research and Regional Foundation Center resources. It is FREE and registration is first come first served (max 12). From 9:45 to 11:45am. Location: Free Library of Philadelphia, 1901 Vine St., Philadelphia. RSVP: 215-686-5423

Mar 2: A Strategic Approach to Cost-Effective Marketing. Learn the keys to developing a strong, integrated strategy reflecting organizational context, goals and stakeholders. The stronger the strategy, more effective you can be for less money. From 10am to 12pm. Location: 260 South Broad Street, 17th floor Philadelphia.

Mar 5: A Comprehensive Approach to Success in Education and Careers for Out-of-School Youth.This forum will provide an overview of the Community Education Pathways to Success model, discuss results from a recently released evaluation, and provide recommendations for policy. Location: Washington, DC

Mar 5: Out-of-School Time Professional Development Provider Meeting. Come learn about the City's efforts to coordinate, increase access to, and improve professional development for all OST staff through the Out-of-School Time Professional Development Project. All people who work with youth programs are welcome! From 10am to noon. Location: Temple University Center City, 1515 Market Street. Register or Learn More

Mar 8: Afterschool Advocacy Day. The PA Statewide Youth Development Network is hosting this day of advocacy in conjunction with the 2010 ELO Conference. From 11am to 4pm. Location: Harrisburg. Contact: David Kern

Mar 9: Introduction to Federal Funding for Nonprofits. This introductory Regional Foundation Center workshop on federal funding will cover the politics, process, positives and pitfalls to federal funding, and focus on preparing proposals. It is FREE and registration is first come first served (max 12). From 9:15 to 12pm. Location: 1901 Vine St., Philadelphia. RSVP: 215-686-5423

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Mar 9-11: The 5th Annual Promising Practices Extra Learning Opportunities Conference. This conference is sponsored by the PA Department of Education in conjunction with the Center for Schools and Communities. Location: Hilton Harrisburg, Harrisburg, PA.

Mar 10: Strong, Smart, and Bold Founders' Breakfast. This is the 8^th annual Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia and Southern NJ founders breakfast. From Location: PA Convention Center, Rm 201. Contact: 215-735-7775

Mar 11-13: Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Educators Conference. This conference will feature sessions that embrace the process of discovery, inquiry learning, hands-on activities, and instructional strategies that optimize learner engagement.

Mar 12: Increasing Capacity and Quality in New York City's Beacons. This forum will discuss the results of the Beacons Young Adolescent Initiative's recently released 3rd year evaluation report, examine Youth Development Institute's capacity building strategies and their impact, and provide policy recommendations.

Mar 13: Youth Leadership Network (YLN) Session. The United Way of Southeastern PA's Center for Youth Development invites you to the first session of YLN, a new resource and support network to connect and enhance the work of existing youth leaders or youth organizing groups. From12:30 to 3pm. Location: United Way, 7 Ben Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia. RSVP: Katharine Wilson

Mar 16: Foundations 101. See listing for Mar 2

Mar 17: Proposal Writing Seminar. In this Regional Foundation Center workshop Expert instructors will teach you to craft a comprehensive, compelling proposal package step by step. You'll hear what grant makers have to say about proposals, and gain valuable insight into the review process. From 9am to 4pm. Location: United Way, 7 Ben Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia.

Mar 18: Brand Development, Redevelopment & Management... in Tough Times. In this interactive session, participants will learn the strategies and tools to effectively manage the brand to powerfully support mission and business goals. From 1 to 3pm. Location: 260 South Broad Street, 17th floor Philadelphia.

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Mar 19: Lunch & Learn. The Pennsylvania School Boards Association presents this opportunity to discuss how school districts can partner in providing accessible, sustainable, quality afterschool and summer programs. Starting at 12pm. 

Mar 23: Collaborating & Partnering for Better Youth Outcomes - Peer Networking Meeting. Meet OST staff, share challenges and victories, exchange resources, and develop new relationships in an informal environment. This month will feature speed networking! Presented by the Out-of-School Time Resource Center. Free dinner included. From 5:30 to 7:30pm. Location: United Way, 7 Ben Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia. Contact: OSTRC, 215-898-0640.

Mar 24: Advocating for PD. Attendees for this offering from the National Staff Development Council's Wednesday Webinar series also receive permanent access to the Learning Exchange public forums.

Mar 24: BUSTED! Kick Butts Day.  The youth anti-tobacco program at the Council of Spanish Speaking Organizations (Concilio) is hosting their annual event from 5 to 8 pm. They are looking for youth groups to perform anti-tobacco pieces for their "Awards Show" night. Contact: Denisse Rojas, 215.627.3100 x256

Mar 24: Facility Projects - Planning, Funding, and Financing Strategies. This Nonprofit Finance Fund workshop will explain the various fundraising and financing strategies available to pay for a facility project. Study the impact acquisition and/or renovation can have on your organization's mission, programs, structure, operations, fundraising and financial health. From 9am to 4pm.

Mar 24: Show Me the Franklins! Remembering the Ancestors, Slavery, and Benjamin Franklin. Theatre for Transformation is presenting this play about slavery and Benjamin Franklin. Appropriate for ages 8 and up.  From 1 to 2pm. Location: Arch Street Meeting House. Contact Amanda Kemp

Mar 24: Youth Outcomes Workgroup. Attend this United Way of Southeastern PA's Center for Youth Development convening to discuss, and give input into, and review proposed outcomes value-chains. The goal is to establish a framework that can help local programs identify how their specific program goals connect to longer-term community-level youth outcomes. RSVP: Denise Benson

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Mar 24-27: National Service Learning Conference. This event celebrates service-learning as a force that spans cultural and national boundaries, builds communities, and strengthens young people. Location: San Jose, CA.

Mar 25: Philadelphia Foundation Open House. This Philadelphia Foundation open-house event allows local organizations to meet with the foundation's community impact staff to assist with organizational issues, needs, and challenges.  Space is limited. RSVP: Libby Walsh

Mar 25: Using Out-of-School Time Programs for Older Youth to Improve College Access and Workforce Development.This audio conference from the National League of Cities' Institute for Youth, Education, and Families features interactive discussions between national experts, city officials who have developed innovative local programs, YEF staff, and listeners. From 2:30 to 3:30 pm.

Mar 25-26: Media Literacy Conference. This is Drug Free Pennsylvania's 3^rd annual conference and will focus on media literacy and its impact on substance abuse. Location: Harrisburg, PA.

April and Beyond

Apr 7-9: Community Schools National Forum 2010. This year's forum, "Building Innovative Partnerships for Student Success: The Key to America's Future," is co-hosted by the Coalition for Community Schools and the Netter Center for Community Partnerships at the University of Pennsylvania.

Apr 8: Emerging Leaders: Core Concepts for Successful Summer Programs. To help you gear up for a high-quality summer, the National Summer Learning Association is offering this pre-conference institute before the From Access to Success: Best Practices for Student Achievement  Conference sponsored by the National Partnership for Educational Access. Location: Baltimore.

Apr 11: Legs Against Arms. As an outgrowth of their commitment to eliminate the epidemic of youth violence in Philadelphia, Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) is hosting this 5K Run/Walk, to strengthen legs while opposing illegal handguns in our city. Location: St. Joseph's University

Apr 19-21: The National Afterschool Association's 22nd Convention. Online Registration is now open. Location: Washington, DC.

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Apr 20: 6th Annual Technical Assistance Day - Focus on Annual Giving. This presentation from the Regional Foundation Center will address ways to engage employees in cultivating, asking and thanking donors. From 9am to 12:30pm.

Apr 28 - May 1: Best of Out-of-School Time Conference. Location: Palm Springs Convention Center, Palm Springs, CA.

Jul 12-15: National Institute on Out-of-School Time Summer Seminars. Sign-up this year and uncover innovative ways to strengthen your advising and leadership skills, attract quality staff, maintain and improve professional competence, understand how to cultivate and strengthenyour OST programs and meet funder demands. Location: Boston, MA.

Advancing STEM Learning across the Educational Pipeline: Statewide Efforts in Ohio. This American Youth Policy Forum issue brief is focused on state efforts to improve education in science, technology, engineering, and math - collectively known as the "STEM" disciplines. The brief is largely based on a March 2009 AYPF field trip to Columbus and Dayton, Ohio, and describes Ohio's success in advancing STEM education across the state.

Better Federal Policies Leading to Better Schools. These materials outline the Center on Education Policy's recommendations for the reauthorization of the Elementary & Secondary Education Act. One recommendation is to implement a complementary learning approach to education. This includes establishing strong connections between K-12 education, early childhood education, and out-of-school learning.

Enhancing Cultural Competence in Out-of-School Time Programs. This Child Trends brief discusses the elements of cultural competence and its significance for out-of-school time programs. It also provides suggestions for developing cultural competence and incorporating culturally competent activities into programs in order to benefit youth from a wide range of backgrounds.

Evaluation in Philanthropy: Perspectives from the Field. Released by Grant makers for Effective Organizations (GEO) and the Council on Foundations, this new publication explores how evaluation can help grant makers learn and improve practices.

Evidence of Program Quality and Youth Outcomes in the DYCD Out-of-School Time Initiative: Report on the Initiative's First Three Years. This final report documents a far-reaching effort with support from The Wallace Foundation to improve the quality of out-of-school time learning programs in New York City and make them more available, especially to children and youth who need them most.

Five Challenges Facing Nonprofit Boards. This article from GuideStar presents this article on avoiding pitfalls while supporting the complex and critical role of boards.

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Five Trends that Will Affect Online Fundraising in 2010. This article from GuideStar presents five trends identified by Network for Good.

Improving School Leadership: The Promise of Cohesive Leadership Systems. This report from the RAND Corporation finds that although cohesion is difficult to achieve, it can result in principals devoting more time to improving instruction. The study also details eight key strategies to build cohesion and describes factors that help or hinder it.

Moving English Language Learners to College- and Career-Readiness. This American Youth Policy Forum issue brief explores effective educational models for serving English Language Learners in ways that build upon these students' assets and prepare them for college and careers. The brief derives from an AYPF fact-finding trip to Texas's Rio Grande Valley region. 

Obama Budget Proposal for Afterschool Will Leave Millions of Youth At-Risk. This statement from the Afterschool Alliance conveys their concern over the potential of reduced funding for quality before-school, afterschool and summer learning programs.

Practices to Avoid in Out-of-School Time Programs. To improve outcomes for youth in out-of-school time programs, this new Child Trends briefs highlights 10 practices to avoid.

Practices to Foster in Out-of-School Time Programs. To improve outcomes for youth in out-of-school time programs, this new Child Trends briefs highlights 10 practices to foster.

Putting It All Together: Guiding Principles for Quality After-School Programs Serving Preteens. This online Resource Guide provides recent research and tools to help service providers strengthen their after-school programs, particularly those serving preteens.

Smarter Outsourcing for Grantmakers.This TCC Group briefing paper explores why grant makers choose to outsource, what functions are typically contracted out, and how a foundation can best manage its outsourcing arrangement.

Strategic Frame Analysis: Reframing America's Youth. This publication form the Center for Communications & Community proposes a new way of framing youth issues for the public.

Training in Out-of-School Time. This Child Trends brief presents findings on the role of frontline staff in the effective implementation of out-of-school time programs, as well as from other research about staff training, and links these findings to effective strategies for training frontline staff. The brief also describes these strategies.

Using Coaching to Provide Ongoing Support and Supervision to Out-of-School Time Staff. This Child Trends brief presents information about staff coaching and links their findings to effective strategies for staff coaching in out-of-school time programs.

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 Funding

TIP: In addition to the funding opportunities listed below, the OSTRC encourages you to explore The After-School Corporation's searchable Funding Opportunities Database. It provides the latest public and private funding information for all who work with young people.

Mar 25: Philadelphia Foundation Open House. This Philadelphia Foundation open-house event allows local organizations to meet with the foundation's community impact staff to assist with organizational issues, needs, and challenges.  Space is limited. RSVP: Libby Walsh

Investigator-Initiated Research on Youth Settings Grants. This funding from the William T. Grant Foundation supports high-quality research designed to enhance the understanding of how youth (age 8-25) settings work, how they affect youth development, and how they can be improved, as well as when, how, and under what conditions research evidence is used in policy and practice that affect youth and how its use can be improved. Applicants must be employed at a nonprofit institution or college or university. Deadline: Apr 6

KaBOOM! Playground Funding. Does your organization need a new play space? KaBOOM, a national nonprofit that envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in North America, is seeking nonprofit child-serving community organizations that are interested in receiving a new custom designed playground and would embrace the process of a community built play space partnership. Contact: Tiffany Jacob, 202-464-6170

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National Endowment for the Arts: Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth. The National Endowment for the Arts, Learning in the Arts for Children and Youth program funds projects that help children and youth acquire appreciation, knowledge, and understanding of skills in the arts. Projects must provide participatory learning and engagement of students with skilled artists, teachers, and excellent art, and ensure the application of national, state, or local arts education standards. School-based or community-based projects are eligible. Max Award: $150,000. Deadline: June 10, 2010.

OIC of America's Strengthening Communities Fund. OIC of America is looking for qualified non-profit organizations in specific areas of Philadelphia to provide one-to-one technical assistance to build internal and external capacity. Funding will also be provided to qualifying organizations for capacity-building activities. Contact: Jennifer Brower

Pennsylvania Afterschool Supper Program. Pennsylvania is one of eight states in the country with the Afterschool Supper Program. It is a part of the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and provides federal funds to afterschool programs to serve supper to children age 18 and under during the school year (including weekends and school breaks). Contact: Pennsylvania Department of Education, 1-800-331-0129

US Airways Community Foundation. The US Airways Community Foundation supports multi-year capital campaigns (bricks and mortar building projects only) for 501(c) (3) nonprofit organizations located in and providing services in Philadelphia. Deadline: Apr 1.

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 Potpourri

Bowl for Kids' Sake. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern Pennsylvania is sponsoring this annual benefit at lanes throughout the month of March to support over 8,000 mentors and their mentees in Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, and Philadelphia counties.

Coalition for Science After School - New Website! CSAS is thrilled to announce the completion and launch of its new home on the web. Check it out.

Free Membership - Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic Audio Library. Membership to the Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic Audio Library is now free to individuals. To be eligible for membership, a person must have a documented print disability, such as a learning disability, visual impairment or other physical disability

From Seed to Seed. This course provides core botanical information and activities and experiments that address K-8 national standards in various disciplines. It is for K-8 educators who already incorporate botany and gardening (indoors or out) into their science curriculum or those who would like to start. Presented by the National Gardening Association.

Great Science for Girls (GSG) Looking for Partners. To identify new partners, GSG developed a Request for Applications (RFA) and intermediaries, direct service providers operating multiple afterschool programs, school districts, and other organizations are encouraged to apply.  

National Afterschool Association - New Newsletter. Visit their website to sign up for this new resource.

NPower PA March Training Calendar. NPower's affordable trainings address topics such as Access, Drupal, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Word.

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Oobleck. Oobleck is a hands-on science activity that introduces kids to inquiry, observation and states of matter. This video from the After-School Corporation shows one after-school educator trying Oobleck for the first time with her kids.

Science Training for After-School Educators. Programs don't need science or math experts to lead activities. Well-trained after-school educators are in some ways better prepared to model the inquiry process, given that they discover the answers to science inquiries alongside kids. See the difference training can make in this video from the After-School Corporation.

Virtual Academy. SEDL's National Center for Quality Afterschool and Learning Sciences International offer this staff development tool that provides individual users three to fifteen hours of focusedonlinelearning experiences leading to the development of lessons or activities directed at the academic needs of your program attendees. 

Who Does Science? At the beginning of the After-School Science PLUS curriculum, after-school educators ask kids to draw pictures of scientists. After several months of science programming, the kids do the "Who Does Science?" activity again. In this video from the After-School Corporation the results are very different.

Why Do Science After School? Engaging in science after school is not a substitute for having kids acquire basic math/science skills and knowledge at school; it's a way to excite kids about acquiring that knowledge, to involve them in tactile, surprising real-world applications. See the telescope build by Harlem third graders in this video from the After-School Corporation.

Youth Action & Art Afterschool Class. This free Mural Arts youth program is still accepting applicants. Any Philadelphia high school student is eligible. It runs every Wednesday until June 9, 2010 from 3:30 to 6:30pm. Youth will explore existing youth media web-based content and learn to take a critical eye towards youth media. Students will then explore art in their own communities and create their own digital media. Open to any high school student in Philadelphia. Location: 1727 Mt. Vernon Street, Philadelphia.

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 Submit News

The OSTRC distributes the Newsletter the first business day of each month. To advertise a job opening, event, publication, or other staff resource, please send your items to Katie Derickson, OSTRC Communications Coordinator, at least 5 business days before the last day of the month.

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