Introducing…our newest AFCOST team member! 

Greg Green, Elementary School-OST Network  Coordinator

AFCOST is excited to announce that Greg Green is starting as our next Elementary School-OST Network Coordinator! Greg is well known to the Cambridge OST community, and has extensive experience working in Cambridge with all ages from preschoolers to teens. More specifically, he has worked for more than 19 years within the Cambridge Department of Human Services across various Youth Divisions including working at all of the Youth Centers as a youth worker, as a one-on-one Inclusion Specialist and as a teacher at the King Afterschool Program. 

For the past nine years, Greg has served as the Pre-Teen/Middle School Program Director at the Russell Youth Center where he effectively supported and developed his staff as well as countless young people. He also designed and facilitated enriching programming experiences; all while excelling at building meaningful relationships with parents, caregivers, school-based personnel and a wide range of other partners.

He has also been a long time participant across numerous AFCOST programs, and has contributed to our OST community as a trainer, facilitator and developer of tools, resources and curriculum.

Please help us to officially welcome Greg as begins on 4/22/24, as the newest member of the AFCOST family. We look forward to everyone working with him in his new role!

Did You Miss The Meeting on Middle Schoolers?

Check out our recap, including all the great responses from you all in our chat waterfalls and thoughts from Melinda Barbosa, former youth center director and PAUS staff, currently working for CPS Safety in all four CSP Upper Schools. 

Summer Plans Follow Up: Refer a Young Person You Know

Our workshops in middle school classrooms help us to get the word out to everyone in Upper Schools and get them excited for summer possibilities. It also kicks off our more individualized effort to connect young people to summer plans, particularly those who are designated as ‘priority’ by school staff (curious what that means? See this post from our last meeting on the topic).

Do you know a Cambridge young person that you think might need some individualized support in getting connected to a program or a job? Please let us know and we can add them to our lists! Email Annie and Tyrique at aleavitt@cpsd.us or tkittrell@cpsd.us

Bob Moses Legacy Conference Happening This Weekend

Please come join us this weekend for an amazing range of reflective, liberating, and empowering sessions. This is a virtual conference offered in the spirit of Bob Moses, to the world at no cost.

Register at bobmosesconference.com

[View the conference schedule here]

Free Event for Youth Programs

Join UNICEF USA during their school and youth organization complimentary days from May 28-30 for Heart Strings, an educational, impactful experience, where you’ll be transported through 8 moments that showcase stories of children around the world. UNICEF USA is offering schools and other youth organizations the opportunity to bring their students to Heart Strings at no cost.

If you are interested in attending, please visit the Heart Strings webpage to complete an application. Please only complete one application per group.

May 28th-30th, BCA Cyclorama (539 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02116)

2024-2025 DHSP Afterschool Programs Lottery Now Open!

Apply / Re-Enroll Here!

Applications will be accepted April 22 - May 17. Applications received after May 17 will be automatically added to the Waiting Pool.

Families can apply to Childcare Afterschool, Community Schools, King Open Extended Day, and Cambridge Youth Programs through the same lottery application. Families will be notified of their child's placement offer at an afterschool program or in the Waiting Pool in mid-June. 

Applicants must be Cambridge residents or children of City of Cambridge employees. Children must be entering Kindergarten through 8th grade in September 2024.

Tuition for DHSP Afterschool Programs is based on household size and income. Tuition rates are calculated based on the Department of Housing and Development (HUD) federal income guidelines. Tuition is free for 6-8th graders participating in CYP Pre-Teen / Middle School afterschool programs.  

6th-8th Grade Summer Slideshows

These grade-specific slideshows are being shown in schools as part of our classroom visits to CPS Upper Schools, to give young people an exciting peek into their options for summer. Do you know a family who is looking for summer programs and needs assistance? Have them fill out the form (on the last slide of each slideshow) and we can follow up with them!