Subject: $5 mil for VA Afterschool in budget, plus VPOST Conference info in your May 2024 news!

$5 Million for Virginia OST, Included in State Budget!

We are thrilled to share that the compromise budget included $5 million for out-of-school time programs! Thank you to everyone who reached out to their legislators and advocated for this important initiative. Since 2022, we have successfully advocated for $9 million toward these programs. This new funding is going to help expand access to out-of-school time programs and help existing programs continue. Thank you again for taking the time to respond to our action alerts and letting legislators know how important these programs are for our communities.

Join Us at VPOST Regional Conference, Paving the Way: Connecting OST Locally and Across the State

This year VPOST is taking our annual conference on the road! Rather than hosting one state-wide event, we are leaning into our goal of strengthening and establishing local OST networks, by hosting five mini-conferences. Our traveling conference, Paving the Way: Connecting Out-of-School Time Locally and Across Virginia, begins with its first stop in the Shenandoah Valley on May 30th!

Meet Our Shenandoah Valley Speakers!

Dr. Aundrea Smiley, Eastern Mennonite University

Presenting: From The Ground Up: Fostering Relationships, Trust, and Accountability using Restorative Justice in Education Practices

Dr. Vaughn Garland, Dr. Misti Muller, Virginia Commonwealth University

Presenting: Fostering Belonging and Resilience: The Evolution of the Mary and Frances Youth Center (MFYC) and RichmondYDN in Greater Richmond

Emily Muise, Old Dominion University

Presenting: Plan for Success: Behavior Supports and Strategies for Out-of-School Time Programs

In addition to these speakers we will have:

A panel discussion of local leaders
Guided networking
Door prizes and more!

These presentations and more await you. We hope you'll join us!

Learn more and register here!

Future Conference Stops

Registration and more information will be released after May 30th for Central and Hampton Roads.

VCU Announces Advanced Certificate in Youth Development Management

The VCU Advanced Certificate in Youth Development Management offers essential training in workforce and positive youth development. Designed for professionals across various sectors, this program addresses the unique needs of Richmond's youth population and establishes best practices for engaging with diverse communities across Virginia.

Details:

Duration: 80 hours over three semesters (Fall, Spring, Summer)
Commitment: Two hours per week, including weekly reflections
Delivery: Classes will take place at the VCU Mary and Frances Youth Center
Timeline: Applications accepted starting June 15th. Cohort Starts August 2024

Full info is available here. Questions and inquiries can be directed to Dr. Vaughn Whitney Garland at garlandvw@vcu.edu

$470K for Richmond Youth Development Programs!

NextUp RVA, Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, and city leaders gathered at the Boys and Girls Club of Metro Richmond to announce the city’s partnership with NextUp, ensuring that over $470,000 of the city’s Positive Youth Development Fund is allocated to 40 grassroots summer programs for area youth. Learn more here.

Unlocking Math Fun: The Impact and Importance of engaging Out-of-School Math Time for K-12 Students, May 16th at 3:00

Join us for a dynamic webinar as we explore the impact and significance of out-of-school time math programs for K-12 students. Discover how these programs foster a deeper understanding of mathematical concepts, promote critical thinking skills, and nurture a love for math that extends far beyond the classroom. Registration is here.

Applications Now Open for the Summer Food Service Program

The Summer Food Service Program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, allows organizations to combine a feeding program with another activity in communities where at least 50 percent of the children are eligible for free and reduced-price meals. Full program information is available here. Applications must be submitted 30 days before operation and by the federal deadline of June 15, 2024.

Community organizations seeking assistance with the process can email to Maggie Parker at Maggie.Parker@doe.virginia.gov

Those in the process can contact their CNP Regional Specialist.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month when we celebrate the culture and history of Americans of descent from the Asian continent and the Pacific Islands. Here are some resources to get your celebrations started:

Virginia.Gov : Here you'll see a listing of AAPI celebrations and events across the Commonwealth as well as profiles of famous Asian Pacific Americans of Virginia like Jenny Han, author of To All the Boys series, which became a hit movie.

The Library of Virginia has expansive resources on Asian Pacific Islander Desi Americans (APIDAs). This includes a thoughtful and nuanced guide to the diversity of identities and ethnicities encompassed under the APIDA umbrella, including East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander, as well as archival resources, literature, and more.

Making the Invisible Visible: Exploring and Teaching the AAPI Experience This on-demand webinar from Facinghistory.org explores the historical and contemporary manifestations of anti-Asian hate and its intersection with white supremacy, as well as the often-overlooked stories of resistance, perseverance, and pride within the Asian American Pacific Islander community.

New Funding to support FAFSA Application Process

US Department of Education (ED) announced a new program called the FAFSA Student Support Strategy to help school districts, states, nonprofit organizations, and other public and private organizations with efforts to boost Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) completion. The program will provide up to $50 million in grants to help CBOs do outreach on FAFSA completion. More information is here.

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Subject: $5 mil for VA Afterschool in budget, plus VPOST Conference info in your May 2024 news!

Presenting: From The Ground Up: Fostering Relationships, Trust, and Accountability using Restorative Justice in Education Practices

Presenting: Fostering Belonging and Resilience: The Evolution of the Mary and Frances Youth Center (MFYC) and RichmondYDN in Greater Richmond

Presenting: Plan for Success: Behavior Supports and Strategies for Out-of-School Time Programs

Unlocking Math Fun: The Impact and Importance of engaging Out-of-School Math Time for K-12 Students, May 16th at 3:00