Cambridge OST Coalition Updates

Cambridge OST Coalition news & updates

August 2022 | Summer Issue

Greetings,

We hope that you are having a fun, joyful, safe, and rewarding summer!

As one of AFCOST's Shared Beliefs conveys, "All people have the capacity for change and growth", and it was so great to see so many of you and for us to have the opportunity to grow together. This June was our first, in-person, OST Coalition Meeting since February 2020.

We reconnected with peers, freedom dreamed and explored OST leaders' questions and thinking about: data collection and sharing, partnering with the schools and the district, professional development for OST staff, and OST Program and System Expansion.

If you could not join us or would like to review the content we discussed, here is a link to the slides with notes and photos of the meeting.

Best wishes,

Khari and Susan, Co-Directors

OST Data Collection & Sharing

As we think strategically about the work of the OST Coalition in 2022-23, many members have expressed interest in how we increase equity and access to high quality OST Programs through data sharing and partnership between programs, schools, and families.

To this end, we are seeking a better understanding of the data organizations are collecting and issues related to collection and use.

If you weren't able to attend the Coalition Meeting, click the button below and please tell us more about what data you collect, and which systems and tools you are using. We'll be sharing the results soon!

OST Data Use Poll

Save the Date for the next Cambridge OST Coalition Meeting

September 14, 2022.

Cambridge OST Capacity and Expansion Study

Thank you for submitting your 2022 OST Program Profile Data

In May, we sent out an updated version of the OST Organizational Program Profile data request to collect data about your OST Program during Summer 2021, School year 2021-22, and Summer 2022. This data helps us share the story of our OST ecosystem and our collective capacity to provide high quality out-of-school time programs for the children and youth of Cambridge.

Thank you to the organizations which have submitted their data. This data provides valuable information about youth served, and our OST workforce. It will be helpful to compare with our baseline data from 2020. This data will be used in the first phase of our Cambridge OST Capacity and Expansion Study.

It's not too late to submit your data. If you have not yet submitted your data yet, we will be reaching out.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact:

Susan (susan@agendaforchildrenost.org) or

Mercedes (mercedes@agendaforchildrenost.org).

We're excited to share initial findings and next steps with you in September.

Submit your OST Program Data

Appreciations

Appreciating Mo Barbosa After 18 years on Our AFCOST Team

We cannot express with words the level of gratitude and appreciation we have for

Mo Barbosa, who has contributed his wisdom, knowledge and leadership to our team and the OST Community for more than 18 years.

Mo has impacted the youth work and leadership development of hundreds of Cambridge OST staff. In the early years, Mo was as a trainer for Leading for Quality. Over the years, he has facilitated Youth Worker and Staff Leader Communities of Practice.

Photo: Susan and Mo at the June 2022 COP

He has artfully facilitated a space for reflective practice and created opportunities for valuable peer exchange to help program leaders support their staff to grow and better serve our youth.

Mo has officially passed on the torch for Staff Leaders COP to Melinda Barbosa, who will continue his legacy beginning this fall. Please be sure that we have staff contact information so we can invite them to Communities of Practice.

Photo: Chaylin and Ashley at the June 2022 COP

Appreciating Chaylin Johnson

In June, Chaylin Johnson, Agenda for Children OST Learning Institute Coordinator, announced her plans to leave the team with her family's decision to relocate out of state.

We are grateful for Chaylin's contributions to our community and wish her and her family the best in the future.

If you have questions about professional development, please contact Susan (susan@agendaforchildrenost.org) or Ashley (ashley@agendaforchildrenost.org).

Exciting Opportunities to Join the AFCOST Team!

We are hiring: an Out-of-School Time Learning Institute Coordinator, a Youth Connector, and a Storytelling and Communications Associate. We seek team members who have the ability to see the big picture, to build community, innovate and approach this work thoughtfully and intentionally. We value collaborative and facilitative leaders who demonstrate an understanding of how children and youth are affected by social inequities and how to address these impacts.

Please click here to see the full and part time positions AFCOST recently posted. Help us spread the word!

If you have questions, please feel free to contact:

Khari Milner (khari@agendaforchildrenost.org) and/or

Susan Richards (susan@agendaforchildrenost.org).

Some Reading & Resource Recommendations for You

Engage Every Student Initiative Launches

Building, Sustaining and Improving: Using Federal Funds for Summer Learning and Afterschool

Building a Thriving Out-of-School Time Workforce: What Would it Look Like if We Nailed It?

Refocusing on the Power of Relationships: Overcoming Practitioner and Teacher Burnout

Summer Learning Program Quality Intervention: Implications for Policy and Practice

New Report on Anti-Bigotry Convening from the BU Center for Anti-racism

Save the Date for the next Cambridge OST Coalition Meeting

September 14, 2022