BOOST Nation: Town Hall
BOOST NATION: Town Hall meetings are informal public meetings scheduled throughout the conference with national leaders. Everybody in the out-of-school time community is invited to attend, voice their opinions, share issues and challenges, share promising practices, and hear responses from public figures and elected officials about shared subjects of interest in your community.
WEDNESDAY, May 1
10:30AM - 12:15PM
Expanding Student Success: The State of Expanded Learning in California
Michael Funk, Expanded Learning Division Director, California Department of Education (CDE), Sacramento, CA; Heather Williams, Director, Policy & Outreach, California AfterSchool Network, Sacramento, CA
California has the largest collection of OST programs in the nation, consisting of federal, state, local, city, community, and fee-based programs. Each system has its own unique networks, standards, and practices. Expanded Learning programs are a subset of OST programs in California that receive funding administered by the California Department of Education’s Expanded Learning Division. California's Expanded Learning programs are an integral part of young people's education, engaging them in year-round learning opportunities that prepare them for college, career, and life. Join the California Department of Education and the California AfterSchool Network for a conversation about Expanded Learning, including the Expanded Learning Opportunities Program (ELO-P).
PK, E, M, H, HE, ULA, MLA, DS, CB
Strand: BOOST Nation Town Hall; Program Design, Development & Quality; CA Focus
2:45PM - 4:45PM
Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth in the Current Political Crisis
Ted Lewis, M. Ed., Director of Youth Well-Being, Human Rights Campaign Foundation, Washington, DC
LGBTQ+ youth are under attack and that is having a devastating impact on their mental health and well-being. Over 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills were introduced across the country in 2023 alone and the majority of that legislation targeted transgender youth. This workshop will provide an overview of the current political landscape for the LGBTQ+ community, share data from HRC’s 2023 Youth Report, and share key strategies youth-serving professionals can use to support LGBTQ+ youth in this moment.
PK, E, M, H, HE, ULA, MLA, DS, CB
Strand: BOOST Nation Town Hall; Program Design, Development & Quality, Staff Leadership
THURSDAY, May 2
10:00AM - 12:00PM
#AfterschoolWorks: Crafting Your Afterschool Message & Lights On Afterschool Events
Tiyana Glenn, Project Manager; Shaun Gray, Sr. Manager, Production and Office Operations, Afterschool Alliance, Washington, DC
Do you ever feel that your words don’t have the impact you think they should have when you talk to others about afterschool? This interactive Town Hall will discuss what works and what doesn’t when communicating about afterschool, how to tailor your message for key audiences, and how to leverage this information and build support for your program. You will also learn about our national event, Lights On Afterschool, and how to plan a Lights On Afterschool event for your program.
PK, E, M, H, HE, ULA, MLA, DS, CB
Strand: BOOST Nation Town Hall; Program Design, Development & Quality, Staff Leadership
1:15PM - 2:30PM
Addressing Hunger During the Out-of-School Time Hours
Kelsey Boone, Senior Child Nutrition Policy Analyst, Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), Washington, DC
The out-of-school hours can be the hungriest time for the millions of children living in food-insecure households. While the federally-funded Summer and Afterschool Nutrition Programs exist to fill those nutrition gaps, they are still not reaching all of the children who need them. This Town Hall will feature national and local anti-hunger advocates as they share why addressing hunger is essential to supporting families, engaging students, and strengthening summer and afterschool programs.
M, H, ULA, MLA, DS, CB
Strand: BOOST Nation Town Hall; Program Design, Development & Quality, Partnerships & Building Relationships
3:45PM - 5:15PM
Work-Based Learning Opportunities- A Win for OST & Community Partners
Moderator: Siddhartha Vivek, President & CEO, Junior Achievement, San Diego, CA
Panelists: Dr. David Miyashiro, Superintendent, Cajon Valley Union School District, El Cajon, CA
Learn data-driven outcomes from practitioners in the field who continue to apply classroom and out-of-school-time lessons/requirements to empower students with tangible workforce skills and access to work-based learning opportunities. Hear the corporate, NGO, and governmental perspectives on why workforce development is the biggest opportunity for out-of-school time programming.
M, H, HE, ULA, MLA, DS, CB
Strand: BOOST Nation Town Hall; Program Design, Development & Quality, Partnerships & Building Relationships
FRIDAY, MAY 3
9:15AM - 11:15AM
Don’t Leave Money on the Table: Strategizing About Accessing Potential Remaining Federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) Funds
Moderators: Terry K. Peterson, Ph.D., "Godfather of Afterschool" and Senior Advisor, Mott Foundation, Charleston, SC; Tiffany Gipson, Director, Equity and Quality, California AfterSchool Network, Sacramento, CA
Panel Members: Robin Berlinsky, CEO, Engaging Creative Minds, Charleston, SC; Amy Keely, Director, South Carolina Afterschool Leaders Empowered, The Riley Institute at Furman University, Greenville, SC; Ana Zandarin, Director, Summer Arts for Learning Academy, Arts for Learning Maryland, Baltimore, MD
Some school districts have significant unused federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds for learning recovery and they need to spend them by January 2025 or contract them and use them by March 2026…or lose them! Learn strategies from current rural and urban programs on how you can tap into and leverage unused ARP funds to enhance your programs.
PK, E, M, H, ULA, MLA, CB
Strand: BOOST Nation Town Hall; Program Development & Design; Sustainability
BOOST Nation: Town hall Contact
Have any questions or suggestions for a BOOST Nation: Town Hall meeting?
Please note: Name badges are required to attend all BOOST Conference events including all meals and all workshops.
