|
Join the Office of Out of School Time Grants and Youth Outcomes (OST Office) as we welcome Dr. Howard Hope to the team! Dr. Hope grew up in Hanover, Virginia West to the City of Richmond and has spent a large part of his career in Atlanta, Georgia. He has since relocated to the DMV to continue supporting education for all youth. Read his doctoral dissertation here.
Welcome to the team Dr. Hope!
The Commission on Out of School Time Grants and Youth Outcomes (OST Commission) is seeking stakeholders input and feedback related to the draft 2023-2026 OST Strategic Plan. Feedback must be received no later than Wednesday, August 16, 2023 at 5:00 pm to be considered. Submit feedback here.
There will be a dedicated meeting of the OST Commission on Thursday, July 20, 2023, at 6:00 pm. The purpose of this meeting is to engage in discussions regarding the Strategic Plan. Subsequently, on Thursday, August 24, 2023, at 6:00 pm, the OST Commission will convene another meeting, during which there is a possibility of conducting a vote on the Strategic Plan. Any individuals and representatives of organizations who wish to comment at this meeting should notify the OST Office in advance by email at learn24@dc.gov. Individuals should furnish their names, addresses, telephone numbers, and organizational affiliation, if any, and if available, submit one electronic copy of their testimony two business days prior to the meeting.
The OST Office is seeking community-based organizations and government agencies to exhibit at Afterschool in the City 2023. Selected organizations will have the chance to share directly with families about the types of offerings available to school-aged youth after the traditional school day ends for students during the school year. Organizations interested in participating should complete this form no later than Friday, July 21, 2023 to be considered.
Please note: Summer in the City had more than 50 organizations sign up to exhibit. Limited exhibit space is available.
More information on date, location, and registration for families will be distributed soon.
Programs and organizations in the District of Columbia are encouraged to list their upcoming one-day educational and enrichment activities available for youth on the Learn24 event calendar. District of Columbia families are searching for new opportunities that help school-aged youth in the District learn, grow, develop, and play beyond school hours. List your event today by completing this brief form.
Dance Institute of Washington (DIW) is the leading minority-led, pre-professional dance equity organization in Washington, DC. DIW supports students from underserved communities, balancing artistic excellence at the highest level while building life-long skills and confidence through compassion, empowerment, academic discipline, emotional support and nutritional guidance. Through our innovative DIW Barnes Method, the industry’s proven model, our efforts impact and inspire racial and economic equity in dance locally, nationally and across the globe.
View this video highlighting DIW's expanded mission here.
 Offering an Interactive Environment
 In the previous “Promising Practices” edition, the Supportive Environment domain was presented. In this month’s issue, the Interactive Environment domain is featured.
The components of the Interactive Environment and some strategies to apply to programming are described below.
-
Experience Belonging- Youth have the opportunity to foster a sense of belonging. This includes opportunities for youth to get to know each other, promoting the development of inclusive relationships, youth identifying with the program, and public acknowledgement of achievements.
-
Be in Small Groups- Programs provides youth the opportunity to collaborate and work cooperatively with others. Being in small groups includes opportunities to work cooperatively, having interdependent roles, and shared goals.
-
Lead and Mentor- Youth have the opportunity to facilitate for the group and mentor other youth. Through leadership, youth can practice group process skills, have mentoring opportunities, and giving all youth the opportunity to lead the group.
-
Partner with Adults- The ability for youth to partner with adults is important. Staff should share control with youth and expectations should be explained. In addition to giving expectations, staff should provide an explanation as to why parameters are set.
Once programming has all the components, it is considered to have a strong Interactive Environment. An interactive environment is essential to help youth feel welcome and included. Youth that are safe and supported will be able to interact in the program.
Explore additional resources about the David P. Weikart Youth Program Quality model for Program Quality at this link.
Join the Metropolitan Police Department this summer for a traveling Community Festival. Community members of all ages enjoy musical performances from local bands and artists, as well as a street festival-like environment with local vendors and literature distributed by local social service agencies. This is an opportunity for members of the community to experience the lighter side of the police department while enjoying dancing, free food and fun.
View the 2023 Beat the Streets Calendar here.
National Summer Learning Week is a celebration dedicated to elevating the importance of keeping kids learning, safe, and healthy every summer, and ensuring they return to school ready to succeed in the year. The National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) has transformed their annual national awareness day into a week-long celebration of the awesome power of summer learning through five unique themes. Families are encouraged to participate by visiting DiscoverSummer.org where they can can discover summer programs and new summer learning resources. This year's themes include:
- Love of Literacy & Learning
- Amazing Arts
- Wonders of Wellness, Health & Sports
- STEM
- Community & Leadership
Learn more about National Summer Learning Week 2023 here.
The OST Youth Scholarship Program is a new program, managed by the Greater Washington Community Foundation, with the goal of increasing access to OST programs for students with specific needs. Specifically, the program will support students who may be identified as at-risk. Examples of programs that the scholarship may support include, but are not limited to, programs designed specifically for students with disabilities, advanced learners, and English Language Learners. Individuals not considered at-risk may also be eligible to receive a scholarship based on need and availability of funding. Scholarships of up to $10,000 are available for individual students for use in approved OST activities in calendar year 2023.
Learn more here.
DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) announced that applications are also now being accepted for DPR’s Rec for ALL Community Grants to support programs, activities, and events for young District residents. These grants will empower community-based organizations to engage youth ages 6-18 through recreation with an emphasis on those with barriers to access. The $3 million investment is expected to support at least 250 grants that will reach over 10,000 DC youth. Rec for ALL Grants include:
-
Support Grants – Up to $5,000 that can be used to purchase equipment, supplies, or materials for existing programs.
-
Engagement Grants – Up to $10,000 to support field trips and other enrichment activities.
-
Event and Travel Grants – Up to $10,000 to provide travel to athletic competitions for youth groups.
-
Programming Grants – Up to $150,000 in funding geared toward established organizations to fund the expansion of new or existing recurring programs.
Applications will be accepted on an on-going rolling basis until Monday, July 30, 2023 or until funds are exhausted. Learn more about this opportunity here.
The Office of the State Superintendent for Education's (OSSE) Division of Systems and Supports, K-12 invites applications for the 21st Century Community Learning Center (CCLC) competitive grant program. The purpose of the 21st CCLC grant program is to provide opportunities for communities to establish or expand activities in community learning centers that enhance the students’ regular academic program, and to engage adult family members through educational and personal development opportunities. All applications must be submitted in the Enterprise Grants Management System (EGMS) by 12:00 pm on Friday, August 11, 2023. Approximately $6,000,000 in grant funds will be awarded on a competitive process.
Please see key dates regarding the 21st CCLC competition below:
- Application release date: Wednesday, June 28, 2023
- Pre-application technical assistance webinar (strongly encouraged):
-
Thursday, July 6, 2023, at 10:00 am EST. Click here to join the meeting
-
Thursday, July 13, 2023, at 2:00 pm EST. Click here to join the meeting
- Application Submission Deadline: Friday, August 11, 2023 by 12:00 pm EST
For more information, click here.
Road Runners Club of America will award grants up to $1,000 to support youth running programs across the United States. All applicants must be an official 501(c)(3), school, parent booster club, PTA, or a similar entity. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, August 1, 2023. For more information regarding criteria, guidelines, and past awardees, please click here.
The DC chapter of the Awesome Foundation is offering $1,000 grants to nonprofit organizations that make DC more awesome. DC residents interested in improving the District of Columbia through arts, culture, and/or community experiences are encouraged to apply. The deadline to submit an application is Sunday, August 13, 2023. The full application can be found here.
The Venable Foundation is offering grants to nonprofit organizations in the Washington, DC area for projects that benefit underrepresented communities and low-income areas. Funding priorities include the environment, health, arts and culture, workforce development, education, youth impact, human services, and legal services. The average grant size is $10,000. Applications must be submitted no later than Friday, September 1, 2023 to be considered. For more information, please click here.
Weekly newsletter of funding opportunities.
 For resources and additional information on the District of Columbia Government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19), please visit coronavirus.dc.gov.
|
