After-School Bulletin | October 3, 2019
Afterschool Alliance Names Buford and Davies Ambassadors for Michigan;
Only State to Gain Two this Year
Washington, D.C . - The Afterschool Alliance has named two Afterschool Ambassadors for Michigan - Willie Buford of Flint and Trevor Davies of Wyoming - who join an exclusive group of just 15 ambassadors selected from across the country for 2019-20120.

B uford is the site manager at the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce's YouthQuest Program, and Davis is a senior manager for technical assistance and coaching support systems for the David P. Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality in Ypsilanti.

"This honor comes with great recognition for the important leadership both men have exhibited in their communities, in the Michigan After-School Partnership (MASP), and in their work to promote high-quality afterschool programming and improved experiences for children and families," said Mary Sutton, MASP's Executive Director. "We couldn't be more proud and pleased to have the Alliance pick two of our best and brightest!

The Afterschool Alliance's Afterschool Ambassador program identifies afterschool providers and advocates of special achievement and helps them raise their voices in support of afterschool. They are selected from some of most effective afterschool programs and advocacy organizations in the nation. Typically, 12-20 Ambassadors are selected each year, and they receive training, technical support, and modest funding for their Ambassadorial activities.

As Ambassadors, their responsibilities will include organizing a major event for "Lights On Afterschool" ; working in concert with other local providers, advocates and business and community leaders to promote afterschool; and reaching out to policy makers and the media on afterschool issues.

MASP is featuring interviews with both Ambassadors in its e-bulletin, beginning with Willie Buford (see below) and continuing with Trevor Davies next week.

Q&A
Willie Buford,
Newest Afterschool Ambassador


Who is Willie Buford? Buford is a site manager for the Flint & Genesee Chamber of Commerce YouthQuest afterschool initiative, serving nearly 1,500 K-12 students in Flint community school buildings and two programs at the International Academy of Flint. A leader in after-school education for the past eight years, Buford has focused on data-driven approaches to reaching diverse communities with innovative programs and opportunities for leadership.

He is also a National Geographic Society fellow, works as a trainer of trainers for the David P. Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality Assessment, and serves as a member of the Quality Committee for MASP.

Buford recently led and organized students and staff members to the MASP Afterschool at the State Capitol Day , where they advocated for the importance of after-school programs by presenting legislators data that support the benefits of out-of-school-time learning.

What turned Buford on to Afterschool? "Originally, my dream was to become a police officer and then a traditional classroom teacher. I changed my course to have an opportunity to guide student growth without having to grade them. Not all people learn in the same way; the Afterschool space allowed me the opportunity to serve the whole child."

Something you might now know about Ambassador Buford: He served three years in the U.S. ARMY as a mechanized Infantryman. His service was preceded with four years in the high school Navy Junior Officer Training Corps Program.

Who is Buford at home? "I have five children - four boys and a girl. I have a son, 19, a son, 17, a son, 14, a son and daughter (twins) who are 12. My children have opportunities that I didn’t receive from my parents. However because of other people in my community, I’ve had tremendous opportunities and it’s why I pay it forward. Servant Leadership is what I want to build in my children."

What Buford says about living in Flint : "I love Flint. Flint residents have a special pride in their city, despite the negative perceptions. There is an undying Spirit of resilience and excellence in this small town. What sometimes plagues our community is the lack of hope. I want to be a part of bringing Hope back to our families. 

What's Buford's philosophy on afterschool? "I've seen time and again the extraordinary difference that afterschool makes in the lives of young people in Michigan. These programs help students explore their interests, discover their passions, and learn to communicate with peers and adults while giving parents the security that comes from knowing their children are safe and supervised, with opportunities to learn and grow after the school day ends."

What does Buford want to accomplish as an Ambassador? "My goal this year as an Ambassador is three-fold: Bring more awareness to families, parents, teachers, and administrators about the benefits of OST (Out-of-School-Time) programs; assure that legislators and policy makers continue to appropriate the funding necessary for OST programs to maximize its reach; and work with my State (the Michigan After-School Partnership) and the National Alliance to advance the efforts in making OST a recognized and respected profession. 

The Michigan After-School Partnership
Time to Proclaim 'Lights on Afterschool'

Welcome to October - the month of "Lights On Afterschool" - when the nation celebrates afterschool programs for helping students reach their full potential, keeping kids safe, and supporting working families.

Our Governor will soon issue a statewide proclamation in support of afterschool in Michigan. Meanwhile, please reach out today to your local City Council, Township Board, County Commission, School Board and Civic and Community Group and request a similar proclamations this month.

Let's build support for afterschool in every part of Michigan this month. Proclamations are an easy way for your community to celebrate, and can be made by your mayor, local officials, or even by civic groups. Click here for a template from the Afterschool Alliance. Need additional help, contact Michigan After-School Partnership Communications Manager Teri Banas at teribanas03@gmail.com.
Deadline Approaches for MAC Leadership Institute and Conference on Nov. 7-8, 2019
The Michigan After-School Partnership, the Michigan Department of Education, and Michigan After-school Association, in collaboration with local and state agencies, organizations and programs, sponsor the 2018 MAC Leadership Institute and Conference on Thursday November 7 and Friday, November 8 in East Lansing.

The goal of both is to provide a format to discuss current information regarding leadership, research, team building, collaborative planning, strategies, and techniques to affirm the importance of establishing rich, supportive environments and high-quality services for school-age children and youth, and their families, in all types of out-of-school time programs.

Click here to learn more about the conference , and please visit the registration page to secure your spot before the October 25 deadline.
Congressional Conversations on Career and Technical Education Ramp Up
It’s been more than a year since the bipartisan passage of the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act of 2018 (Perkins V), which reauthorized and updated the federal Perkins CTE law in place since 2006.

Afterschool programs can be a great partner as states aim to meet the law’s updated requirements for areas like stakeholder engagement, supporting students in middle grades (starting in 5th), and developing employability skills, such as communication and problem solving.

All states have now written their one-year transition plans and given themselves the time to delve into the deep conversations of creating a four-year plan with broad stakeholder engagement. These conversations will also address the recommendation from the Department of Education that states use their plans to “Rethink CTE,” creatively considering the where and when of CTE delivery. Our answer: community partners and the hours after school are a great fit for this type of student-centered and outcomes-driven thinking!

The Perkins V plans due April 2020 are on-going now, with many states honing in on October as a key month to get things done. Read more about it here .
Your Afterschool Resources
Issues Brief

Grant Opportunities
  • Youth Service America Afterschool Grants / Charles Stewart Mott Foundation: Available for up to $500 per afterschool program that engage at least 50 students in service or service-learning programs. Application deadline: Friday, Oct. 4, 2019. Register here. Contact: Karen Daniel, Vice President of Programs, kdaniel@ysa.org.

Toolkits
The Michigan After-School Partnership is a statewide network developing a shared vision and influencing others to believe in the power of after-school programs to help all children and youth succeed .
Michigan After-School Partnership | Website