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- New ACT Now Team Members!
- Teen Cafe Science Fellows
- NASA Grant Opportunity!
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The Illinois Department of Human Services's (IDHS) Office of Firearm Violence Prevention (OFVP) is seeking to fund youth development organizations in specific community areas across Illinois, as designated in the Reimagine Public Safety Act (RPSA), to provide structured and unstructured programming to community youth. Programs will provide afterschool and summer learning opportunities to high-risk youth, ages 11-21, utilizing evidence-based and/or evidence-informed programming to improve youth outcomes and decrease risk factors associated with firearm violence. Programming may include civic engagement and leadership development, life skills development, and activities that promote positive educational outcomes, build social-emotional persistence and intelligence, develop non-academic interests, and reduce involvement in the justice system. Funding is for one year. Applications are due by noon on Wednesday, August 7, 2024. Access the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for further information.
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New ACT Now Team Members!
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ACT Now would like to formally welcome our newest colleagues!
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Federal Updates
Take Action for Afterschool!
Last week, we shared that the House of Representatives Labor, Health and Human Services, Education (LHHS-ED) and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee marked up its FY 2025 spending bill and proposed devastating cuts to afterschool and summer learning programs. Making your voice heard this month is especially important as the bills being discussed now will likely be a foundation for future negotiations later this year. Now is the time for friends of afterschool to weigh in with their members of Congress about the importance of funding afterschool and summer learning programs and the potential impact of devastating program freezes, eliminations, and cuts that would be felt in communities nationwide!
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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 Coordination in a New Era
During the pandemic, out-of-school-time intermediaries helped support OST programs to address the increased needs of children and their families. This brief from the Wallace Foundation discusses an expanded role these organizations could play in the future.
Keys to Supporting a Thriving Afterschool
The Afterschool Alliance and the National AfterSchool Association (NAA) announced a partnership on a new project intended to foster a skilled and stable workforce within the afterschool and summer field.
Youth Development
Helping Young People Find Their Power
This article written by the Wallace Foundation explores how three organizations are removing barriers to learning opportunities and uplifting young people's voices.
STEAM Newsletter
The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) releases a monthly newsletter focused on resource sharing and providing opportunities for youth and families to engage in STEM learning opportunities. This volume hosts information on activities providers can facilitate over the summer and upcoming events across the state!
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Administration
Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation (PIE): Outputs & Outcomes Training
This in-person workshop highlights the differences between outputs and outcomes in program evaluation, and how to use both to tell a story of impact. Participants will practice using outputs and outcomes to tailor stories of impact to various audiences. We will also spend time tying together different learnings from our professional development series on evaluation and celebrate the knowledge we've exchanged. This event will occur on July 25, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at 11560 S Kedzie Ave, 2nd Floor Merrionette Park, IL 60803.
Engagement level: high
Audience: afterschool professionals or educators
If you are not a member of ANCAL please register to access this training. Once you have created an account you can search for the training in the course catalog. Register for ANCAL OR Register for TRAINING. |
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ACT Now STEM Clubs!
Responding to the growing enthusiasm among young people and afterschool programs, ACT Now is launching a FREE Coding Club for the Fall of 2024 beginning in October. Participants will engage in activities designed to cultivate technical skills in computer programming and essential interpersonal abilities. The club's Implementation Plan features resources from Scratch, a complimentary online platform, and ensures accessibility for all. Designed for coding novices in grades third to eighth, each session lasts about an hour, with optional extensions for those seeking further challenges. Interest forms are due by August 7, 2024. Apply here!
Teen Science Cafe Fellows- 2024-2025 Apply Now
The Teen Science Cafe (TSC) Fellows initiative is a ten-month training program designed to help informal educators implement Teen Science Cafes in their community. Teen Science Cafe Fellows receive one-on-one support from TSC Guides to launch a cafe program and host three cafe events during the year. Fellows receive a $2,500 stipend to support their work! Apply Here by August 1, 2024!
Youth Development
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National Summer Learning Week Toolkit!
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National Summer Learning Week 2024 is quickly upon us! This year, we are celebrating from July 15th to July 19th! National Summer Learning Week is hosted annually by the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA). During this time, we bring awareness to providing youth and families across the United States with safe, high-quality, engaging, and healthy summer learning opportunities! This is a great time to contact your elected officials and advocate for summer programs!
Send Our Action Alert!
To help program providers spread awareness and share more about their programming ACT Now has created our Summer 2024 Learning Toolkit. Inside you will find:
- Summer Learning Week 2024 Themes
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Advocacy Tools and Strategies for Interacting with Policymakers!
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Social Media Content Samples and Images
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Resources for Summer 2024 Programming
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| ACT Now wants to highlight different summer programs throughout the week to showcase the amazing work being done to engage the youth! If there is interest we would love to hear more about your program and highlight you on ACT Now's social media pages! SUBMIT HERE! |
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My CHI. My Future. Mondays Lollapalooza Sweepstakes
Youths ages 14 to 22 can win a 4-day pass to Lollapalooza for themselves and a friend just by using the My CHI. app! Winners will be announced each week until July 22, 2024. Download the app to fill out the entry form by end of day Monday to qualify for that week's sweepstakes!
2025 Chicago Budget Round Table for Youth
The Office of Mayor Brandon Johnson and Chicago's Office of Budget and Management invite Chicago youth to help shape Chicago's 2025 Budget through a series of community engagement roundtables scheduled during July. This roundtable will take place on July 30, 2024, from 4:45 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Harold Washington - Winter Garden (400 South State Street, Chicago IL, 60605). This event is designed to get input from Chicago's youth between the ages of 13-24. Adults 25+ will be able to attend but not participate.
Topic Areas may include:
- Affordable Housing/Homelessness
- Public Health/Mental Health
- Community Safety
- Neighborhood/Community Development and Arts/Culture
- Environmental Justice/Infrastructure
- Immigration
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Apply Now for Grants through NASA's Universe of Learning Informal Learning Network
The Informal Learning Network (ILN) is a partnership of museums, science centers, and other informal education institutions united in their mission to foster scientific curiosity and discovery. The Informal Learning Network is now offering a round of competitive funding to informal learning institutions. This RFP offers two funding tiers, Launchpad and Voyager, to fit the specific needs of both new and returning participants. Applications are due August 1, 2024.
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