A Note from Megan Addison, CFY Executive Director

It is hard to believe that it is December, and we are wrapping up 2024. I am so grateful for the CFY team and their dedication to high quality experiences for youth who need it the most. We have doubled downed on training by using video examples to learn together what makes a high-quality program. We are busting out of the seams in our space and have been diligently looking for one that fits our needs as a youth development hub and what that looks like.
With less than one month of program before 2025 begins we are grateful all our partners who change youths’ lives every day. As you plan for any year end gifts, we hope that you consider Collective for Youth or one of our partners.

Collective for Youth Lights Up Afterschool with a Successful Lights On Olympiad (photo credit Deb Kaplan)

Collective for Youth hosted a successful Lights On Afterschool Olympiad at the University of Nebraska Omaha on Saturday, October 12th. The event, which aims to highlight the importance of quality after-school programs, drew a crowd of 876 students, parents, and staff from 42 locations across the Collective for Youth network.
The Olympiad featured a diverse range of engaging activities, including outdoor and indoor games, an AR/VR experience, spray-on tattoos, a 360-degree photo booth, an obstacle course, a bounce house, and archery. Twenty-six volunteers ensured the safety and enjoyment of all participants.

Prior to the Olympiad, a pre-event stakeholder meeting was held at the Community Engagement Center at UNO . This meeting brought together board members, university officials, stakeholders, and student ambassadors to discuss the value of after-school programs. Student testimonials from Lewis and Clark’s Afterschool Academy highlighted the positive impact of these programs on young people.

Dr. Derrick Nero, a volunteer at the event said, “The Lights On event was great! The students were eager to participate in the vast number of activities that were available. One charming aspect of it all was the parents being led by their children to various activities as the parents followed with pleasure and contentment on their faces because of the how much fun their children were having. Parents were dancing, getting spray-on tattoos, along with their children, and were competing with their children in different activities. Parents and the youth were happy to be there and genuinely enjoyed themselves.”

How to Build a STEM Library by Nik Stevenson, M.S.

Nik Stevenson is the STEM Partnerships Manager at Collective for Youth. His most recent article in the December issue of STEM Connect Magazine on how to build a STEM library. “A STEM library is not just for students-it supports facilitators and educators by offering tools that align with both formal education and out-of-school time (OST) activities. The flexibility of such a library ensures that learning is continuous and accessible, regardless of where it takes place.” Click here for full article.

Collective for Youth Hosts Two Fall Site Visits

This fall, Collective for Youth facilitated two impactful site visits showcasing quality afterschool programs. The first visit was to Gilder Elementary, where Kids Can Community Center runs a vibrant afterschool program. The second visit took place at Lewis and Clark Middle School, where Civic Nebraska offers engaging afterschool opportunities. These visits provided funders, policymakers, board members, and stakeholders with a firsthand look at the diverse programming in action.

Site visits are essential for out-of-school time programs, as they provide a unique opportunity to observe how these programs operate and serve young people. These visits empower afterschool programs to demonstrate their quality, impact, and the services they offer to the community.

If you’re interested in hosting a site visit in the spring or summer, please contact Nicole Everingham at neveringham@collectiveforyouth.org

Samantha Weiss and CFY Partners Attend the National Summer Learning Conference in DC

Education Commissioner Outlines Priorities

The Nebraska Commissioner of Education has outlined several key priorities for the state’s education system. Among them are improving literacy rates, addressing teacher shortages, and reducing student absenteeism. These priorities are closely linked to the importance of out-of-school time programs. Read more in The Nebraska Examiner here.

At Collective for Youth, we firmly believe that Omaha’s out-of-school-time programs are essential in supporting student literacy development. These programs provide valuable opportunities for students to engage in reading and writing practice beyond the traditional classroom setting. We recognize the many enrichment programs that focus on making literacy skills accessible and enjoyable, incorporating fun, hands-on activities that inspire learning every day. Moreover, these programs play a key role in reducing student absenteeism by offering engaging, enriching experiences that motivate students to attend school regularly.

Upcoming Conferences and CFY Training Opportunities–

Beyond School Hours 2025 -This conference will take place in Orlando, Florida on February 13-16, 2025.

National Afterschool Association (NAA) 2025 Convention – This conference will take place from March 9–12, 2025 at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee. 

BOOST 2025 Conference – This conference will take place from April 29–May 2, 2025 in Palm Springs, CA. 

Nebraska Afterschool 2025 Conference – This conference will take place on September 26, 2025.

Save the Date for these High-Quality Trainings Offered by CFY

STEM Community of Practice
December 11 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am 

SEL Methods: Promoting Responsibility & Leadership 
January 7, 2025 @ 9:30 am – 11:30 am 

Building Reflection and Relevancy into STEM Programming 
January 9, 2025 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am 

SEL Methods: Promoting Responsibility & Leadership 
February 4, 2025 @ 9:30 am – 11:30 am