TheConnector

TheCONNECTOR is Youth Community Connections’ (YCC) communication tool for sharing updates and for seeking action from its partners. TheCONNECTOR contains the following highlights:

RECENT NEWS AND EVENTS
Register Now: Rally for Youth Day at the State Capitol
Join Us on Facebook!
Host an AmeriCorps Promise Fellow
25th Anniversary of Martin Luther King Day Opportunities for Service
Survey to Assess STEM Focused Programming in Out-of-School Time Programs
National Summer Learning Association Accepting Learning Award Applications

NEW RESEARCH AND RESOURCES
Participation Over Time: Keeping youth Engaged from Middle School to High School
Expand Options, Expand Achievements: How Expanded Learning Options Can Reimagine Education
University of Minnesota - Human Rights Center Website
jumo.com
Youth Work Institute

POLICY AND ADVOCACY
Educate Your Elected Officials About the Benefits of Afterschool and Summer Learning Opportunities
Governor Mark Dayton Nominates New Commissioners
Youth Policy and Advoacy Committee to Meet February 11, 2011

FUTURE EVENTS
Child Nutritioin Reauthorization: "What You Need to Know About Afterschool Meals"
University of Minnesota and the African American Leadership Council Hosts Forum on Achievement Gap
Sundance Family Foundation Releases New Video About Youth Social Entrepreneurs
Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and The Sheltering Arms Foundation of Children's Issues Briefing
Minnesota Student Survey Training Opportunities
Compass Annual Meeting and Breakfast

Register Now: Rally for Youth Day at the State Capitol
The Rally for Youth Day at the Capitol will be on Thursday, March 3, 2011.  The highlight of the event will be the Rally for Youth in the Rotunda at 12:00 p.m and meetings with state legislators.  There will be capitol tours, committee hearings, and a few other events for youth to participate in throughout the afternoon. For more information, click here.

Organizations that would like to participate must apply in advance to attend, and must apply in groups of adults and youth.  Participating organizations will be asked to help prepare youth ahead of time for their involvement in the event, including helping youth prepare for meetings with their legislators.  Applications are available and will be due January 21, 2011. 

If you have questions or need more information, please contact Matt Steele at 612-627-0157 or matt@youthcommunityconnections.org.

Join Us on Facebook!
Check out YCC’s new facebook page! You will find up to date news alerts regarding out of school time in Minnesota and learn about YCC events. Don’t forget to tell your friends and colleagues to check us out! Click here to join us! 

Host an AmeriCorps Promise Fellow
Minnesota Alliance With Youth has released its letter of intent to host a Promise Fellow for the 2011-2012 school year. AmeriCorps Promise Fellows serve for one year with schools and community organizations across Minnesota to mobilize volunteers, create new after-school programs, build mentoring and tutoring initiatives, build organizational capacity, and engage youth in service-learning.

If you are interested in hosting a Promise Fellow, it is strongly encouraged that potential host sites submit a letter stating their interest in applying to be a host site in 2011-2012. The information provided will assist sites in planning for the full application. The Request for Letters of Intent is available on the Alliance’s website, http://mnyouth.net/promise-fellows/host/. If you have any questions regarding the Promise Fellow program, please contact Melissa Burwell at mburwell@mnyouth.net or 651-528-8561.

25th Anniversary of Martin Luther King Day Opportunities for Service
This year marks the 25th Anniversary of Martin Luther King Day - make it count by volunteering or participating in the following events across the state and encourage your youth to come with you!

"Make it a day on, not a day off"  Please click here to see highlights of programs and events that day. For other events around your area, visit http://mlkday.gov.

Survey to Assess STEM Focused Programming in Out-of-School Time Programs
The Afterschool Alliance and the National AfterSchool Association are conducting a series of surveys to assess the state of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) in afterschool and summer programs around the country. The data obtained through these surveys will be vital to helping us better describe and promote the STEM learning that occurs in afterschool and summer learning settings. Your responses to these surveys will be critical in shaping policy and promoting funding in support of STEM education in afterschool. 

Please take a moment to fill out the first survey in the series by going to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/STEMinAfterschool. 

National Summer Learning Association Accepting Learning Award Applications!
The National Summer Learning Association is now accepting applications for the Excellence in Summer Learning Award. The Excellence in Summer Learning Award recognizes outstanding summer programs that demonstrate excellence in accelerating academic achievement and promoting healthy development for young people between pre-kindergarten and twelfth grade.  The applications are available online now, and due February 11, 2011. The benefits for winners include national media exposure as well as a showcase at their national conference. This year, in addition to recognizing Excellence in Summer Learning Award winners, the Association will be highlighting models of excellence in school-community partnership programs, transition programs and STEM programs among applicants.  To learn more about the award and to apply, click here.

NEW RESEARCH AND RESOURCES

Check out some of the latest research on after school, youth engagement and quality improvement on YCC’s website under latest research.

Participation Over Time: Keeping Youth Engaged from Middle School to High School
This article appears in the Fall 2010 issue of Afterschool Matters, and draws on data collected for Engaging Older Youth--a recent study from Harvard Family Research Project and Public/Private Ventures, commissioned by the Wallace Foundation--of out-of-school time programs that successfully engage older youth and the strategies they use to maintain high participation rates. 

The article sheds light on how a set of school- and community-based programs with high rates of participation address adolescents' developmental needs and how these programs change their strategies to support adolescents over time. Click here to learn more.

Expand Options, Expand Achievements: How Expanded Learning Options Can Reimagine Education
The Institute for a Competitive Workforce at the United States Chamber of Commerce recently published a report outlining how out of school time or expanded learning opportunities can help result in higher achievement marks among students.  To view the full report, click here.

University of Minnesota - Human Rights Center Website
Check out this website for tool-kits, resources and action plans to help bolster your existing service learning projects or give you ideas for future endeavors.  Also a great opportunity to find and form partnerships with organizations around your area.
Check it out here.

jumo.com
Jumo is a social network connecting individuals and organizations who want to change the world. Leveraging connection technologies, including Facebook, Jumo enables people to find, follow and support those working toward solutions on the ground in their community and in regions across the globe.

Jumo makes it easy to: find the issues and organization you care about, follow the latest news and updates, and support their work with your time, money and skills. Try it out at www.jumo.com.

Youth Work Institute
Check out this site for a variety of training opportunities and best practices offered through the University of Minnesota Extension Center for Youth Development.  Visit this site for more information.

POLICY AND ADVOCACY UPDATES

Educate Your Elected Officials About the Benefits of Afterschool and Summer Learning Opportunities
YCC encourages you to get involved in your community to help raise awareness about the value and benefits of high-quality afterschool, summer and community learning opportunities.  It is important to contact your elected officials to introduce yourself as someone who either lives or works within the district that has knowledge about issues related to youth and afterschool, summer and community learning opportunities. YCC has prepared a policy brief outlining the benefits of afterschool and summer learning opportunities and we encourage you to use this when talking to elected officials.  You can find your congressional representatives here. 

Governor Dayton Nominates New Commissioners
Newly sworn in Governor Mark Dayton has nominated the following commissioners since entering into office:

• Commissioner of the Department of Revenue- Myron Frans
• Commissioner of the Department of Commerce- Michael Rothman
• Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture- David Frederickson
• Commissioner of the Department of Education- Brenda Cassellius
• Commissioner of the Department of Health- Edward Ehlinger
• Commissioner of the Department of Labor and Industry- Ken Peterson
• Commissioner of the Department of Minnesota Management & Budget- Jim Schowalter
• Commissioner of the Pollution Control Agency- Paul Aasen
• Commissioner of the Department of Transportation- Tom Sorel
• Commissioner of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board- Tony Sertich 
• Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources- Tom Landwehr
• Commissioner of the Department of Human Services- Lucinda Jesson
• Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety – Ramona Dohman

For more information regarding the appointments, visit Governor Dayton’s new website by clicking here.

YCC Policy and Advocacy Committee to Meet February 11, 2011
Youth Community Connections’ Policy and Advocacy Committee will meet on February 11, 2011 from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. at the Oxford Community Center in St. Paul.  Join us as we share the latest legislative news impacting youth programming, share updates about the youth rally day at the capitol, and hear from partners about their own policy initiatives during the 2011 legislative session.    

To RSVP please contact Matt Steele at matt@youthcommunityconnections.org or 612-627-0157. 

FUTURE EVENTS

Child Nutrition Reauthorization: "What You Need to Know About Afterschool Meals"
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
11 – 1 p.m. Central Time
Click here to register: https://frac.peachnewmedia.com/store/seminar/seminar.php?seminar=6842 

Last month the President signed the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act into law, expanding the Afterschool Meal Program nationwide. The Afterschool Meal Program is an important new funding source for afterschool programs and is available to afterschool program providers, but not to family child care homes. Speakers will explain the new program and discuss how implementation of the program will proceed. The Webinar is being sponsored by the Afterschool Alliance, the Food Research and Action Center, the National Recreation and Park Association, and the YMCA of the USA. 

University of Minnesota and the African American Leadership Council Hosts Forum on Achievement Gap
The University of Minnesota and the African American Leadership Council encourage you to participate in an upcoming forum to learn about the “Strive Partnership,” a data-driven strategy through which Cincinnati and a growing number of other metropolitan areas across the country are bringing together educators, business people, government officials, funders, community leaders and others to help all students get and stay on track to success from cradle to career. On February 7, 2011, from 10:00-11:30 AM at the Coffman Memorial Union Theater on the University of Minnesota’s east bank campus, Dr. Nancy Zimpher, Chancellor of the sixty-four campus State University of New York system and former president of the University of Cincinnati, and Jeff Edmondson, the Executive Director ofStrive, will describe the process through which the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky metropolitan area has produced improved outcomes on 40 of 54 key indicators of educational success regarding the achievement gap. 

The goal of the meeting is to provide Twin Cities area leaders with an opportunity to consider the merits of adopting Strive or a similar model for our region.  The event is open to all and there is no cost for participation. More information is available on the attached PDF.  To register, go to the following site: http://www.saa.umn.edu/saa/signup/close-the-gap.

Sundance Family Foundation Releases New Video About Youth Social Entrepreneurs
Sundance Family Foundation is proud to announce the showing of a new video, ”Change makers, Teens who earn and learn”, about Youth Social Entrepreneurs, their stories, successes and the new opportunities they are creating for themselves. TPT will show this new video highlighting local youth (and the organizations that support them) who are engaged in changing lives and communities on January 16th at 8 pm on the Minnesota channel.  Youth Social Entrepreneurship is a powerful new youth development tool and is making a significant impact in our community.  Sundance Family Foundation, Emergence Pictures and TPT worked together to make this broadcast a reality.  The Foundation is excited to learn from these youth and organizations, and is proud to be associated with such an important approach for working with youth.

 Please join in viewing!

Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and The Sheltering Arms Foundation Children's Issues Briefing
Attend the annual Children’s Issues Briefing, co-sponsored by the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and The Sheltering Arms Foundation, to discuss the changed political landscape in Minnesota and what it will mean for children and families. The Minnesota Budget Project's Christina Wessel will address the Minnesota budget situation, and participants will hear from other speakers about new decision-makers in the legislative and executive branches and what Minnesota advocates will be championing in the new year.

Friday, February 4
8:30 - 9 a.m. coffee and networking
9 a.m. - noon program
Wellstone Center at Neighborhood House
179 Robie Street East, Saint Paul, MN

Minnesota Student Survey Training Opportunities
The Minnesota Department of Education in collaboration with the Minnesota Institute of Public Health (MIPH) will be sponsoring several training opportunities throughout the state focusing on the results of the Minnesota Student Survey.  These presentations will not only include the most recent findings, but also how to best learn from your local results and ways to present your local data.  Pre-Registration is required.

For more information and registration regarding, go to the Minnesota Prevention Resource Center's website (www.emprc.org) or contact Lynne Gosselin at (763) 427-5310 ext. 155.  

Check for the training nearest you!

Location: Fergus Falls   
Westridge Mall Community Room        
Date:  February 10, 2011 

Location: St. Cloud     
Radisson Suite Hotel        
Date:  February 15, 2011 

Location: Rochester            
Ramada Hotel & Conference Center 
Date:  February 17, 2011 

Location: Redwood Falls 
Redwood Falls Community Center         
Date:  February 23, 2011 

Location: Roseville, MN 
Minnesota Department of Education 
Date:  February 24, 2011 

Location: Apple Valley 
Dakota County Western Service Center 
Date:  March 2, 2011 

Location: Grand Rapids         
Timberlake Lodge 
Date:  March 8, 2011 

Location: Thief River Falls         
Best Western Inn 
Date:  March 9, 2011 

Compass Annual Meeting and Breakfast
Join The Wilder Foundation’s Compass Annual meeting and breakfast! The event takes place on January 26, 2011 from 8:00 AM to 10:30 AM at the Wilder Center.  The annual meeting features Carolyn Roby from Wells Fargo Foundation Minnesota providing a keynote on workforce trends and issues, Paul Mattessich from Wilder Research discussing trends of the decade, Chris Ganzlin from the McKnight Foundation introducing the new Children & Youth section on Compass, and Andi Egbert from Wilder Research presenting new data on children and youth.  The event is free, however, space is limited.  To get more information and to register, click here. 

Youth Community Connections
200 Oak Street SE, Suite 270B ~ Minneapolis, MN 55455
PH: 612.627.0160
WEB: www.youthcommunityconnections.org