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- ACT Now Awarded $94 Million for Community Schools!
- ACT Now Spring Internship!
- Computer Science Week!
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It's Computer Science Week!
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Computer Science Week is December 4 to 10! TO help you celebrate, we have some computer science resources below!
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Calling all youth! ACT Now is launching our first-ever Youth Afterschool Ambassadors program! Afterschool Youth Ambassadors will learn how to effectively communicate about their afterschool experiences with elected officials and how to use their afterschool stories to advocate for change. Youth participating in the council will receive a stipend of $500 for their time. Participants must be high school students in an afterschool program. Priority will be given to youth who are in a 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC) program. Selected youth council members will participate virtually for an hour and a half at four meetings as well as attend ACT Now’s in-person Advocacy Day in April. Any youth that is interested must apply by December 15, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. CST. For questions, please reach out to Tiffany Ellison at Ellisont@actnowillinois.org.
If you are a program provider, please share this flyer with the youth in your organization!
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State Updates
ACT Now Awarded $94 Million for Community Schools!
We are thrilled to share that on November 28, 2023, the United States Department of Education announced that ACT Now was awarded two federal grants to support the initiation and expansion of Full-Service Community Schools in Illinois. Our Network received two five-year state scaling grants with an annual award for each grant of up to $9,420,400. This will total $94,204,000 for Illinois schools over five years. For the full press release, click here.
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To register for all upcoming ACT Now trainings and events please sign up for ACT Now Center for Afterschool Learning (ANCAL). ANCAL (hosted through Collabornation) is an online learning and training platform that is FREE for all Illinois afterschool and OST professionals.
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Administration
“Out Of School Time” Programs Offer K-12 Families Limitless Possibilities
This article from Forbes, discusses the importance of OST opportunities and their significant benefits to children, families, and communities.
Youth Development
Equity and Inclusion in Computer Science
The Alliance for Identity Inclusive Computing Education’s "DEI Bytes" lesson series on YouTube focuses on developing equitable teaching skills for Computer Science education, including topics on ableism, unconscious bias, and computing access.
Teach Computer Science & Coding to Kids
CS First supports educators as they engage youth in coding activities. It’s free and no computer science experience is required. The lessons are video based and cover a variety of subjects.
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Administration
It's Computer Science Week!
CSEdWeek, has compiled resources to help programs celebrate Computer Science Education Week! Show how you are celebrating in your classroom, school, or community by sharing photos or videos on social media. Use hashtags: #ImpactsofComputing and #CSEdWeek
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Youth Development
ACT Now Policy and Communications Spring Internship
ACT Now is seeking a driven intern with a dedicated interest in positive youth development for our part-time internship during the Spring 2024 semester. The intern who fills this position will have the opportunity to assist in ACT Now’sfederal and state policy work and communications work. We are hosting an in-person internship with virtual opportunities. For more details on eligibility, please review our employment board.
Applications are due by Tuesday, December 31, 2023, at 5:00 p.m. CDT.
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Expanding Art Opportunities!
ArtsHERE supports organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to equity and have consistent engagement with underserved communities. ArtsHERE is offering grants for projects that will strengthen an organization’s capacity to sustain meaningful community engagement and increase arts participation for underserved communities. Grantees have access to peer-learning and technical assistance opportunities designed to share knowledge and build networks. Statements of Interest must be submitted by January 19, 2024.
17th Annual Create-A-Greeting Card Scholarship Contest
The Gallery Collection invites high school students to enter the Annual Create-A-Greeting Card $10,000 Scholarship Contest. Students can design a greeting card for the opportunity to win a $10,000 scholarship and $1,000 for their school. Learn more about the contest on the Gallery Collection website. Submissions are due March 1, 2024.
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