A Word from Our Executive Director, Megan Addison
We hope this message finds you well and enjoying the vibrant summer season! We’re thrilled to share the latest updates and exciting developments in our community with you in this month’s newsletter. Please read on to learn more about our second successful year with the Next Level Learning partnership with Omaha Public Schools, our 3rd Summer Fun Field trip program, CFY’s visit to Washington D.C. on behalf of Afterschool Alliance’s Afterschool for All Challenge and more!

Next Level Learning

Collective for Youth partnered with Omaha Public Schools again this summer to provide high quality summer learning for students at 25 Next Level Learning sites, reaching over 5,000 students. Collective for Youth lead agencies supported OPS teachers and staff in the classrooms and with important enrichment opportunities linking classroom learning to hands on and real-life experiences. Experiences included multiple field trip opportunities and program providers focused on athletic skills development and physical health, art, gardening and nutrition, STEM, and social emotional learning. Through this partnership, Omaha Public Schools expand the learning opportunities to additional students and bring in more engaging learning for them. Collective for Youth lead agencies can strengthen their relationships with schools, students, and families, and collectively, we can collaborate to maximize resources and give the most students high quality learning opportunities.

Summer Fun

Summer 2024 marked the 3rd summer Collective for Youth implemented the Summer Fun field trip program. The program is funded by the Peter Kiewit Foundation and started in 1991. Summer Fun provides field trip opportunities for youth in youth serving organizations throughout the Omaha area. In Summer 2024, CFY facilitated over 13,000 individual admissions to 30 different host sites. Field trip opportunities included Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium, Omaha Children’s Museum, Luminarium, Mahoney State Park, Arbor Day Farm, Lake Cunningham, Northstar Adventures, El Museo Latino, and Union Pacific Railroad Museum. We are forever grateful for the many partnerships we have that make this possible and for the generous community and organizations that invest in quality experiences for our youth.

Nebraska Delegation Advocates for Afterschool Programs in Washington, D.C.

A dedicated delegation of five individuals from Nebraska (three from Collective for Youth) recently traveled to Washington, D.C., to take part in the Afterschool Alliance‘s Afterschool for All Challenge. Over an intensive 48-hour period, the team engaged in thorough planning, practice sessions, and strategic preparation before diving into conversations with key congressional figures on Capitol Hill. The delegation met with Nebraska House Representative Adrian Smith of the 3rd District, had an in-depth discussion with a staff member of Senator Pete Ricketts, and engaged with Senator Deb Fischer and her team. Their primary focus was on addressing the stagnant funding for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) in Nebraska and advocating for increased funding not just within their state but nationwide. Throughout their meetings, the Nebraska team emphasized the profound benefits of afterschool programs, dispelling the misconception of these programs as mere babysitting services. They highlighted the continuous improvement process for quality programming, internships, training ground for future educators, and experiential learning opportunities that afterschool programs provide. The delegation illustrated how these programs help students improve school attendance, enhance academic performance, and build vital 21st-century skills applicable across various careers, thus benefiting Nebraska’s workforce. They also showcased the broad range of experiences these programs offer, including STEM, social-emotional learning, leadership, and entrepreneurship. In a lighter moment, the team humorously recounted getting lost in the Capitol building’s lower floors, managing to walk several additional thousands of steps before heading home.

CFY at Werner Park

As part of our partnership with Werner Park and the Summer Fun program, Collective for Youth was invited to be the nonprofit of the game at a Storm Chaser’s game and at a Union Omaha match this summer. Collective for Youth staff was able to speak on the field to start the Storm Chaser’s Game, have a table highlighting our work and our partners’ work, and one of our partners threw the first pitch.
Students from Completely KIDS were able to meet Union Omaha players and walk out on the field with them to start the match. Students were also able to get their pictures taken on the field and attend the match.

New Survey Released, Highlights Youth Voice and Thoughts on Afterschool Programs

The Powered by Youth Voice: Future Directions for Afterschool survey has been released! This survey was co-created by Informed Change, Hamai Consulting, and youth researchers with support from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and in partnership with Every Hour Counts and Youthprise. Participants included more than 1,000 young people from more than 300 afterschool programs across the country.
Find this report here. You will see that it is a testament to how much young people value their afterschool experiences and believe in its ability to be healing and transformative when they are engaged in designing programs.

Advancing Quality STEM Programming: Promising Findings

The latest data on PK STEM Grant providers indicates that quality STEM experiences are being delivered effectively, with an average overall score of 3.015 (Dimensions of Success benchmark is above a 3 with 4 being perfect). Importantly, the afterschool site staff members on the grant who led Session 5 of their programs, achieved an average score of 2.97. This negligible difference signifies that afterschool staff provided STEM activities at nearly the same level of quality as STEM experts in the 5th and final session of the 2023-2024 school year! While afterschool staff excelled in Engagement with STEM, STEM providers also performed better in STEM Content Learning.

Gomez Site Visit

Collective for Youth hosted a successful site visit to the Completely KIDS Gomez Elementary summer program. Attendees were able to converse with key figures such as the summer principal, Completely KIDS CEO Carla Rizzo, Site Director Anna Pitt, and parent Tracy Cassidy. The visit offered a glimpse into the program’s offerings, showcasing STEM activities, traditional Hawaiian dances, and engaging math skill development. Overall, it was a valuable experience that highlighted the importance of high-quality summer learning programs.

Get Connected Conference

Are you registered yet? The Get Connected 2024 Nebraska Afterschool Conference is being held in Kearney     on September 27, 2024. The conference provides an opportunity to learn more about planning and implementing a quality afterschool or summer program. Sessions offered throughout the day target a variety of audiences including program leaders, program staff, teachers, school administrators, community partners, and others interested in afterschool and summer learning opportunities for children and youth. Click here to know more and register. 

Lights On Afterschool: An Olympic Celebration for All Ages!

Join us at the UNO Sapp Fieldhouse on Saturday, October 12, from 10 am to 2 pm, for this year’s Lights On Afterschool event, organized by a committee of individuals across the Collective for Youth Network. With the Summer Olympics in Paris, France captivating the world, we’re bringing an exciting Olympic theme to our celebration. This family-friendly event offers something for everyone, with activities designed to engage and inspire all ages.

Originally launched in October 2000, Lights On Afterschool was created by the Afterschool Alliance and is the only nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and their vital role in the lives of children, families, and communities. This annual celebration highlights the many ways afterschool programs support students, offering them opportunities to learn new skills in science, community service, robotics, poetry, and more. Join us in sending a powerful message: millions more kids need access to quality afterschool programs. Don’t miss out on this remarkable event!

SAVE THE DATE!-

Monday, September 3, 9:30 a.m.- Social Emotional Learning Workshop – click here to register
Friday, September 6, 10 a.m.- STEM Facilitation PD – click here to register
Thursday, September 19, 10 a.m.- Third Thursday Training- Ask/Listen/Encourage – click here to register
Friday, September 27, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. – GetConnected Afterschool Conference – click here to register
Saturday, October 12, 10 am-2p.m. – Lights On Afterschool Celebration, UNO’s Sapp Fieldhouse