After-School Bulletin | October 9, 2019
Register your 'Lights On Afterschool' Event; Gov. Whitmer Issues Proclamation
Shine the light on what your Michigan-based afterschool program is doing for ''Lights On Afterschool" this year. Make sure you've registered with the Afterschool Alliance to ensure all our advocacy efforts are being counted! It's simple and just takes a couple of minutes. Register here .

This year's celebration in Michigan has been recognized by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in a proclamation that acknowledges all the positive benefits that afterschool programs offer kids, families and Michigan communities. Among them, "that afterschool programs provide safe, challenging, and engaging learning experiences that help children develop social, emotional, physical, and academic skills." Read the proclamation here!
Q&A
Trevor Davies,
one of 15 Afterschool Ambassadors in the Nation

Who is Trevor Davies? He is a senior manager in Technical Assistance and Coaching Support Systems at the David P. Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality in Ypsilanti. In his role, Davies leads a team working with 21 st Century Community Learning Centers (21 st CCLC) throughout Michigan, providing coaching, training, and consulting services to help improve the quality of programs that kids experience. Davies resides in Wyoming in Kent County.
 
What turned Davies on to afterschool? As a Western Michigan University undergrad, Davies intended to major in music, having been in seven different music groups from a Ska Band to Pep Band in high school. But when an interest test revealed he would make a great professional athlete, firefighter or camp director, Davies signed up for an ''Introduction to Leisure Studies'' course and was hooked. As an intern for the Wyoming Parks and Recreation Department, he wrote an aquatics manual for “Grandparents Raising Grandchildren” and later was hired as a project director for a 21 st CCLC program there.

What Davies likes most about his work?   “The people I get to work with are often the only ones in their community doing what they do. It feels like they’re on an island at times. To have someone available to talk to and work through things is important to them. I really enjoy these relationships. The reality is, forming relationships is what allows us to do that good work.”

What does Davies say about quality programming? " Just having a safe space for kids to be in isn't enough. What you're doing in that space and how you're doing it matters. Whether it's a single-purpose program like soccer or school-based learning in STEM and Robotics, there has to be an intentional effort made to encourage social-emotional skill development - a sense of belonging to a team, empathy, problem-solving. These are skills that transfer into the classroom and outside of the afterschool setting. We're uniquely positioned in the out-of-school-time space to focus on social-emotional learning and balancing concrete and abstract ideas. It's not a continuation of the school day, it's supplementing it and providing truly enriching experiences."

What does Davies want to accomplish as an Ambassador? Davies is excited to spend more time in an advocacy role for afterschool. As a direct service provider, he viewed advocating before elected officials as intimidating. Opportunities to do just that over time changed his mind. He now says, “If you don’t tell your story, someone else will.”
 
What's Davies philosophy on afterschool?" In my 16 years working in the field, I’ve seen time and again the extraordinary difference that quality 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. I look forward to building support for the out-of-school-time opportunities all students need.”
 
The national Afterschool Alliance named two Michigan Afterschool Ambassadors for the 2019 school year. Last week we profiled Ambassador Willie Buford of Flint. View that interview here .
There's Lots to Experience at this Year's
MAC Conference - Register Today!

You don't want to miss out on tons of great professional development opportunities at this year's MAC Leadership Institute and Conference on Thursday, November 7 and Friday, November 8 in East Lansing. Get in before the deadline and register today!

The conference is sponsored by t he Michigan After-School Partnership , the Michigan Department of Education, and Michigan Afterschool Association, in collaboration with local and state agencies, organizations and programs.

This year's keynote address will be delivered by Matthew Emerzian, founder and chief inspiration officer of "Every Monday Matters," a not-for-profit organization committed to helping people and organizations understand how much and why they matter.

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.
Investing in Youth for a Skilled Workforce
In late September, plans to introduce the bipartisan, bicameral Youth Workforce Readiness Act were announced in the House and Senate by Sen. Smith (D-Minn.) and Rep .Josh Harder (D-Calif.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.). The legislation would provide funding for hands-on skills education at afterschool programs for students starting in elementary school and progressing through middle school to high school.

Forty-one percent of students express concerns about whether they will have the skills they need to find a job upon graduation. The Youth Workforce Readiness Act complements in-school support by ensuring that students are exposed to a wide array of technical education offerings at afterschool programs starting at age six. The legislation was formally announced at an event on Capitol Hill on September 25, hosted by the Boys and Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.) Read more about it in this Afterschool Snack article.
Your Afterschool Resources
Study
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