Subject: VPOST October 2021 News: 12th Annual Conference!

Register Now for Our 12th Annual Conference

Are We There Yet?!: Cultivating Joy on the Long and Winding Road

This year’s conference theme authentically speaks to the enduring journey we are all on. “Are We There Yet?!: Cultivating Joy on the Long and Winding Road”, is a humorous and honest nod to the collective fatigue from constant adaptation. Nevertheless, when you are in a place where the future seems unpredictable, the need to remain in the present moment, and find joy in every day becomes paramount in staying resilient while serving children and families.

New this year, VPOST is proud to be co-facilitating this conference with MENTOR Virginia!

Our speakers will be announced later this week on our conference website:

www.v-postconf21.org

Topics Include

● Activities and Environments for the Whole Child

● Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

● Social-Emotional Learning and Trauma-Informed Care

● Relationships, Connection, and Self-Care Strategies

● Policy, Advocacy, and Pandemic Relief Funding

Join us on November 9th and 10th in cultivating joy in the here and now!

View our conference website or register today!

New opinion piece in the Daily Press from VPOST Leadership: Invest in Afterschool Programs, Lifelines to Virginia Families

"The pandemic taught us that we need more places and opportunities for young people to learn, more adults who support learning, and more resources. We need to think boldly to help our youth recover from the challenges COVID-19 brought, such as lost in-person learning time and more pronounced inequities, and prepare them for the industries of tomorrow. Importantly, Virginia school leaders do not and should not have to do this work alone."

Dr. Daryle Rodgers, Coordinator of Out-of-School Time for Hampton City Schools and VPOST Leadership Advisory Council and Blaire U. Denson, executive director of VPOST, speak out on investing in OST in VA! Read it here.

Gubernatorial Candidate Terry McAuliffe includes OST in his Proposed Vision

In his “Virginia is for Vaccine Lovers: Keeping Virginians Safe, Schools Open and Our Economy Strong Through COVID-19 Safety and Vaccines” proposed vision, gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe advocates for expanded access to out-of-school activities. McAuliffe states he will allocate ARP funding to expand access to educational out-of-school programs, citing the America After 3PM report which indicates that for every child currently enrolled in an afterschool program, four are waiting to be served.

New Legislation for Afterschool Meals

Virginia House Bill 2135 states that public elementary or secondary schools that qualify for free and reduced-price meals at a minimum of 50% of the population and simultaneously offer educational or enrichment activities are required to participate in the Afterschool Meal Program. Programs can apply to the Department of Ed to participate in the Program for each such school and it will become effective on July 1, 2022.

Deanna Reed of Harrisonburg Selected as a White-Riley-Peterson Policy Fellow

Congratulations to Deanna Reed of On the Road Collaborative in Harrisonburg for being selected as one of the White-Riley-Peterson Afterschool Policy Fellowships at Furman University. Deanna is both the Mayor of Harrisonburg and Director of Community and School Partnerships for On the Road Collaborative. This pairing of out-of-school time expertise and public leadership makes Deanna poised to do great things for our community in Virginia. More here.

VPOST is proud to be joining the Afterschool Alliance and thousands of out-of-school time programs in the largest nationwide showcase of afterschool programs during the 22nd annual Lights On Afterschool celebration on October 28th!

Check out the Lights On Afterschool homepage for event ideas & toolkits to help make this year the brightest Lights On celebration in Virginia yet!

Mizzen by Mott and the Pulitzer Center Team Up to Bring The 1619 Project to Afterschool Programs Nationwide

Mizzen by Mott and The Pulitzer Center, a nonprofit journalism and education organization that raises awareness of underreported global issues, have teamed up to bring new content to the Mizzen App based on the award-winning 1619 Project. The content examines the history and the legacy of slavery in America and celebrates the contributions of Black Americans to the fabric of our country. Students are called to engage using creativity, teamwork, critical thinking, and media literacy skills.

During the fall, Mizzen and the Pulitzer Center will offer orientation webinars and trainings, as well as facilitation resources on the new materials, to the field. Download Mizzen through the Apple App Store or on Google Play or sign up for Mizzen via the desktop app.

Free Webinar with Free Print Materials for Northern Virginia STEM Programs

VPOST invites you to join us with The Children’s Science Center (Northern Virginia Science Center Foundation) and the National Girls Collaborative to learn how you can leverage the IF/THEN® Collection in your informal STEM learning program. This free resource collection is the largest of its kind dedicated to increasing access to authentic and relatable images of real women in STEM.

This webinar is open exclusively to informal STEM programs in the Northern Virginia region, as all participants will receive packs of women in STEM trading cards for immediate use in their program. Register here.

The NAA22 Convention call for presenters is now open, and the deadline for submissions is October 29.

This year’s convention, NAA22, brings together the nation’s afterschool professionals in UNITY and commUNITY. Now is the opportunity to share what you love with people who love to learn! The Convention Team is seeking a diversity of content and presenters for the following formats:

Workshop (60 minutes)
Spark (30 minutes)
Salon (60 mins)
Leadership Intensive (2 hours)
General Session Community Showcase (8 mins or less)

More here.

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Subject: VPOST October 2021 News: 12th Annual Conference!

New opinion piece in the Daily Press from VPOST Leadership: Invest in Afterschool Programs, Lifelines to Virginia Families

Mizzen by Mott and the Pulitzer Center Team Up to Bring The 1619 Project to Afterschool Programs Nationwide