Cambridge Agenda for Children Out-of-School Time
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  • Our Work
    • Cambridge OST Coalition
    • OST Learning Institute
    • Elementary School OST Network
    • Middle School Network
    • Quality Improvement System
  • News & Events
    • OST Expansion Project Updates
    • OST Learning Institute Updates
    • ESON Updates
    • MSN Updates
    • Newsletter Archive
    • Events Calendar
  • Stories of Family Partnership
    • The Importance of Meaningful Connections
    • Talking with Kids About Race
    • Committing to Racial Equity
    • Common Ground
    • Parent Voices
    • Showing Them that They Matter
    • Showing us What they Know
    • Empathizing with Parents
    • Building Dialogue
    • Creating a Welcoming Culture
    • Celebrating Families
  • Resources
    • Publications
    • Blog
    • How to Write a Blog Post for AFCOST
    • Professional Development Reports
    • Find It Cambridge
    • Cambridge STEAM Initiative
    • History of Afterschool Documentary
  • About Us
    • Mission and Beliefs
    • Our Ways of Being
    • History
    • Organizational Structure
    • Who we are
    • Contact Us
    • Work with us

​

School-Community Partnerships Gathering

12/16/2024

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On Tuesday, December 10th, more than 150 colleagues, including family liaisons, community outreach workers, school educators and counselors, and all types of Out-of-School Time (OST) and community program leaders came together for the second annual School-Community Partnership Gathering, which took place at The Foundry in Cambridge. 
This event, hosted by the Agenda for Children's Elementary School Out-of-School Time Network and Middle School Network, DHSP's Reaching All Youth Network and the CPS Family Engagement Team, centered on fostering collaboration between the elementary, middle, and high school providers, addressing shared obstacles while building sustainable solutions, and sharing tools and best practices to strengthen networks and connection. Interim Supt. David Murphy also came through to welcome folks, and affirm everyone’s essential support of our shared students and families.

After breakfast and networking, attendees joined grade-specific breakout groups. A big highlight of the event was the zipper activity where participants raised and lowered their arms to simulate a zipper as someone (such as the incomparable Ms. G, from the Cambridge Community Center!) ran through. The event concluded with topic-based breakout groups on subjects including Creating Community Culture, Getting the Word Out, Language Barriers, Let's Talk Timelines, Career-Connected Learning Opportunities, Mental Health and Wellness, Community Partners Portal & Demographic Dashboards, and All Things AI.

The energy was electric as new connections were formed, knowledge was shared, and plans were made, all in support of our Cambridge youth.

We asked folks to share something they took away from this gathering (If you haven’t had a chance to share your feedback yet, fill out the form here).

Here is what they had to say: 
  • I didn't know Harvard had a department dedicated to connecting with CPS
  • How the city has many resources but aren't shared on how to use them or who to connect with. It's all a sub-separate division serving the same kids.
  • I learned how many organizations we have available to us
  • Learned about different organizations that are in Cambridge
  • Career pathways stuff happening in the schools.
  • The interim superintendent talked about outcomes! We should also focus on outcomes.
  • A lot of us struggle to reach families
  • Immigrant community (esp caregivers) we serve - anxiety / difficulty obtaining solid info about upcoming immigration policy changes
  • A bit about the work other people are doing. The second round of breakout groups where we joined them based on specific topics with prompts was also very good. Our timeline group shared a lot of collective knowledge I was unaware of and that gave insight into the ways each organization is reacting/responding to the same issue.
  • The zipper line and the analogy that we hold the community tight by zipping up and working together.
  • The most beneficial piece was hearing about different organizations and the work they do.
  • The zipper game. Reminder of the dynamic people who serve young people in this city
  • We are all closer and more connected than we think
  • When we take the time to think together creatively, more options exist than we realize.
  • More conversations across programs/partners/school staff about how we are supporting individual students would be of great value!
  • How poppin’ it is in Cambridge and neighboring communities to ensure youth are supported based on their developmental and salient needs
  • This gathering helps me continue to develop my overall awareness of all the systems and organizations that support young people and families in Cambridge. My wonderings are how to connect with some of these organizations and people in a way that will create a feedback loop that informs and strengthens our approaches to student learning across the school district.
  • That we don't work with youth in isolation -- we are part of a big network! There are many partners for collaborating on challenges and problem-solving.

We encourage you all to stay in touch with each other and have created a directory of those in attendance. Please reach out! To learn more about the breakout group conversations, you can access the notes. Take a look at this slideshow to view the community announcements.

And finally, our Winter Break slideshow is now available! Please share this with your families and youth who may be looking for fun programs and activities to do over December break.

We are excited to continue this work together!

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ESON and MSN: November Meeting Recap

11/15/2024

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What is a second home and what does it mean for our young people? This question was the focus of our November Network Meeting hosted by the Cambridge Community Center (Thanks, Latifah!).

​We started by asking everyone what they think makes an after school space safe or unsafe for young people. Here are some of the responses:

Safe
Unsafe
Dietary consideration
Being on your phone while with kids
Lots of staff around
Truth or dare
Knowing young people by name
Staff turnover
Talking about strengths, goals, and values
Walking around while eating
Connecting with parents
Letting students cross street alone
Daily staff and student check-ins
Using cellphones with no instructor
Asking, "You okay?"
Social media ​
Energize positive behaviors
Play wrestling
We then encouraged folks to get up and moving by asking them to position themselves on a physical safety spectrum based on their comfort level regarding certain topics, including AI and dodgeball. After a lively discussion, we asked: what are the key elements of a safe after school environment in your program?

A few key themes came up:

Celebration 
  • Having a beginning, middle, and end allows you to build towards something 
  • There is a satisfaction in completion
  • Even quick celebrations can prevent burnout

Cleanliness & Organization
  • Being able to find things in your space shows that you care about those in that space
  • Being mindful of the space you’re in, be respectful and keep it clean
  • Treat this space like your home

Names
  • Knowing every kid’s name
  • Only using nicknames that kids approve of

Trust & Openness 
  • Sharing your background and history to inspire others and encourage them to strive for their goals
  • Having one adult in your program that kids can speak with and trust
  • Being transparent
  • Meet them where they are so they can trust you
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Participants then visualized their version of a safe after school space by creating dioramas:
Other participants had the opportunity to create sample support plans that promote a welcoming environment.
Thank you to our network members for joining us! We hope this meeting inspired ideas on how to create safe environments for young people and how to implement these key elements in your after school programs.
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Community Update: Support for Youth and Families

10/23/2024

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Hi Cambridge OST Providers,

We are reaching out to share some messages, information and resources affiliated with the recent and tragic loss of an 8th grade CPS student.  Please be aware that all CSUS students as well as others may be aware and impacted by what has happened, now and into the future.  We hope that our programs can serve as the sources of support, love and healing that we always strive for -- especially during this difficult time.


The following is being reposted from communications that have gone out from Cambridge Public Schools, and includes information about an upcoming webinar happening on the evening of 10/23/24, as well as additional resources. This message is primarily for programs serving upper school students, but also for those with elementary and/or high school students who might have older or younger siblings and/or heard about what happened.

Dear CPS Community:

The last few days have been extremely difficult for our school district. On Friday the Cambridge Street Upper School suffered an unimaginable loss when we learned of the unexpected passing of an 8th grade student. Our team has been in contact with the student’s family as well as officials from the Cambridge Health Alliance to ensure coordinated supports are in place to assist CSUS as well as the extended CPS community during this painful period of time. Our thoughts and prayers are and will continue to be with the student’s family and friends.

We know that a loss like this may evoke various emotions, concerns, and questions among our students. Please note that our schools are staffed with counselors, psychologists, and other caring adults who are fully committed to the well-being of all students. 

In lieu of our normal collection of newsletter resources, please see below for details related to a virtual information session that will be convened on Wednesday evening focusing on grief, loss and supporting children during times of crisis. This program has been recommended by experts in the field of grief counseling and crisis management. We are providing this resource to the community at-large because we know the impact of a tragedy like this can be both widespread and dangerously silent. CPS will continue to work to identify any resources we can leverage on behalf of our school communities and make them available to all who need support. 

To the staff, students and families of the Cambridge Street Upper School, I want to offer both my deepest sympathy for the grief you are experiencing and gratitude for the steadfast grace you have demonstrated in recent days. The professionalism and dedication being exhibited by the teachers and staff at CSUS in support of their students is inspiring, and on behalf of the community I extend my most heartfelt thanks. 

There will be additional resources deployed to CSUS and elsewhere in the days ahead. If your child is in need of mental health support of any kind, please contact your school’s main office or the district’s crisis coordinator, Kim Huffer, at [email protected]. 

Thank you.

Sincerely,

David Murphy
Interim Superintendent​​

Webinar Information & Additional Resources

Virtual Webinar: How to Discuss Suicide and Support Youth Through Loss
Riverside Trauma Center will host a virtual webinar in partnership with school administrators focusing on how caregivers can support youth in navigating conversations about suicide as well as how support youth through feelings of grief. 

When: This Wednesday, October 23 | 7 - 8:15PM 
Where: Virtually on Zoom 
Access the webinar here.
 
Attendees will learn: 
  • Ways to start and have discussions with your child about death and other related issues, in a safe and supportive manner. 
  • Common reactions to death in adolescence. 
  • How to reduce and manage stress. 
  • How to recognize signs of struggle and seek support for your child when needed.
  • Participants will have the opportunity to ask questions.

Finally, I am also re-sharing some information that may be helpful to you in discussing suicide with your child:
  • Talking to Children About Suicide
  • Supporting Children After the Suicide of A Classmate
  • Supporting Your Teen After the Suicide of a Friend

Note that children who are already vulnerable may be at greater risk due to exposure to the suicide of a peer. If you or your child needs help right away, call 911 or take your child to the nearest crisis center or emergency department. 

Additional options for support include:
  • Contact the Cambridge Health Alliance Access and Crisis Line at 833-222-2030. 
  • Access the Cambridge Health Alliance walk-in Behavioral Health Access/Urgent Care Service at Cambridge Hospital,1493 Cambridge Street, Cambridge. This service is open every day (Monday - Friday 8AM - 8PM, Saturday/Sunday 9AM - 5PM), except for major holidays. 
  • Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
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ESON and MSN: October Meeting Recap

10/16/2024

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During this month’s Network Meeting, we focused on the meaning of quality staff and its importance for our programs and the communities we serve. Breaking out into four groups, we asked each group what key attributes they believe define a high-quality youth worker.

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The groups also had the chance to discuss: 
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  • How do you assess whether a staff member is truly connecting with the youth they work with?
  • How do you measure the impact of a staff member’s work on the overall success of youth programs?
  • How do you ensure that staff members are up-to-date with best practices and evolving trends in youth work?
  • How does a staff member’s ability to work collaboratively with colleagues influence their overall quality?

Based on these colorful conversations, network members had the opportunity to create a visual representation of their quality team members. From stethoscopes to duckfeet, the drawings represented each group's unique vision of a quality team member. Check out the drawings below!
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Finally, we reviewed a few antiracism scenarios and discussed the key attributes that would help our quality team members respond effectively and appropriately to the situation.

Community Announcements

Connor Epsteinkraus - The Cambridge Public Health Department and Family Policy Council are forming a Youth Wellness Working Group to develop policy and program recommendations and a plan to ensure every young person in our community has the skills, supports, and opportunities they need to thrive. All the details are in this proposal and slideshow. They are hoping to get a diverse group of people with multiple perspectives to join us. If you or anyone you know might be interested, fill out this Google form: https://forms.gle/dXgZuDsqrmiCyGTy9
Puja Kranz-Howe - The YWCA’s GOLD and GEY programs for 12-18 year olds are starting at the end of October at CRLS. The programs run once a week until May. Drop-ins are okay! See the flyers for more information. Participants can receive a $100 stipend or community service hours.
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Jordan Harvey - Tutoring Plus has put together a monthly math digest for grades 4-8 to illustrate what’s happening in math classrooms. Contact Jordan for more information: [email protected]​
Carol Urbano - Welcome Carol! Carol is new to the Network having recently been hired at the MIT Museum as the Teen Programs Coordinator. Feel free to reach out to Carol: [email protected]
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ESON and MSN September Kick Off Meeting

9/12/2024

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Thank you all for attending the ESON and MSN September Kick Off Meeting! Your presence and active participation made the event a great success. We truly appreciate the time and energy you dedicated to engaging with one another, sharing your insights, and contributing to the discussions. It’s your commitment to this network that helps us create meaningful connections and foster impactful change within our communities.

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We started with an AFCOST Ways of Being BINGO activity, where folks introduced themselves to each other and shared a story related to the Ways of Being on the bingo card. 

​That was followed by the “Stand up, Sit down” activity led by Greg and Tyrique that helped attendees get to know each other through personal stories. Khari then discussed the broader purposes and objectives of the Networks, its programs, shared information and updates about the OST Expansion Study, and recognized programs supporting this initiative.​

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In small groups, attendees created skits addressing community issues, such as school phone policies, changes in school schedules, and supporting new families and mental health needs. 

The meeting wrapped up with a readout of impact statements in response to the following prompt: What impact does your work have on your young people?  

After announcements were shared, and before leaving, attendees were invited to complete a feedback form which included questions about attendees' expectations and suggestions for future meetings (Please complete the feedback form  if you didn't have a chance at the meeting!)
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We hope this meeting fostered engagement and reflection and set a collaborative tone for the upcoming year! We look forward to seeing you all again on Wednesday, 10/2/24, 10am-12pm, location (to be announced!) See full schedule here: MSN/ESON Meeting Schedule 24-25.

See below for community announcements, a schedule of upcoming meetings, as well as some resources for you, youth, and families.

-Greg, Tyrique, Zeena, and Khari

Community Announcements

DeeDee Cetoute - Cambridge Camping: Cambridge Camping's Saturday Camp is starting Saturday, Sept. 21st. Camp is for ages 6-13 and there are spots open! Contact DeeDee for more info: [email protected]

Matt Meyersohn - Cambridge Basketball Lab: Basketball Lab is happening at PAUS this school year. Open to middle and high school students. It's 4x per week and starts Tuesday, Sept. 24th. No cost! Contact Matt for more info: [email protected]

Sarah Lincoln -  Cambridge Public Health Department: CPHD is looking for middle and high schoolers to develop campaigns around substance abuse. This is a paid, remote position for about 3-4 hrs per week. Reach out to Sarah for more info: [email protected]

Skye Edwards - The Robo Hub: The Robo Hub is offering after school programming for K-8th graders. Parents are welcome to attend programming, as well! Financial aid is available for students. The Robo Hub can also offer workshops at program sites or can host students on a field trip. Reach out to Skye for more info: [email protected]

Tagesech Wabeto - Commission on Immigrant Rights & Citizenship: Danehy Park Family Day is happening on Saturday, Sept. 21st, 11am-3pm.

Upcoming Opportunities & Resources For You

AFCOST is seeking a new Middle School Network Coordinator!
The MSN Coordinator Position - posted by the Cambridge Public Schools as an "Out-of-School Time Partnerships Assistant Manager" - coordinates, convenes and builds a network of Cambridge out-of-school time providers, schools, community partners and others who work together to provide and ensure equitable access to quality learning experiences beyond the school day and school year for 6th-8th grade children and youth living throughout our city. Check out this job posting  for many more details.

Looking to attend Back-to-School Events?
​Check out this schedule for all Cambridge Public Schools Back-to-School Events.


"e" inc.: Introducing STEAM to Your After School Program
Looking to bring STEAM into your after school program? “e” inc. can come to your after school site once-a-week to lead students through science and action lessons that help students better understand our planet and work to protect it. After school science is parsed into three trimesters. Sites can choose whether to offer the program, as one science program to 3 sets of students across the year or three different programs to three distinct age groups. Typically, after school is every day and the “e” inc. science program occurs once-a-week. There are many topics sites can choose, from Backyard Habitats to Our Changing Climate, with many more also available. This program will be paid for by the City of Cambridge as long as your program resides in Cambridge! Interested? Contact Greg Green at [email protected] or Tyrique Kittrell at [email protected] to learn more.

Bridge Scholars is Looking For Program Sites
Bridge Scholars is a tutoring program, started and run by CRLS scholars, that gives high school students the opportunity to tutor and play with young kids around Cambridge! Bridge Scholars is looking for program sites to send CRLS students to:
  • Do you have homework time at your site?
  • Would you like a chance for students to have a 1-on-1 or group tutor to help out with homework support while also gaining a mentor?
  • Need extra support for activities? 
Click here to sign up! Questions? Email Tyrique Kittrell at [email protected]

Upcoming Opportunities & Resources for Youth and Families

The Back to School Basketball Tournament for middle schoolers is happening on Sunday, Sept. 15th, 10am-2pm at Donnelly Field.

Are you a parent or caregiver of an elementary school-aged child? Learn how to support positive youth development and explore Cambridge resources at the Building the Foundation for Youth Wellbeing  event on Monday, Sept. 30th, 6:30-8pm at the King Open School.

​Mass Audubon's  Nature in the City Festival is happening on Saturday, Sept. 21st, 12-5pm at 668 Memorial Drive.
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ESON, MSN, & RAY End of Year Celebration

6/17/2024

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On a sunny June afternoon, the ESON, MSN, and RAY communities gathered at the Moore Youth Center to celebrate the end of the school year. Amidst the lively music, laughter, and the delicious BBQ (thanks, Tyrique!), there was a strong sense of joy and camaraderie among the out-of-school time community.
During our second annual Network Love and Impact Awards, several OST colleagues were recognized for their dedication to the youth in their programs and for supporting each other. Awardees included:
Latifah James, Sarah Lincoln, George Hinds, Alex Frank, Raul Zaorski, Gavilán Rivas-Chavez, Larry Thompson, Katie Quizhpe, Jack O’Hearn, Yvonne Gittens, and Bo Lembo. Check out the awards ceremony here!
We also honored Annie Leavitt, MSN Coordinator, for her work in advocating for children and families and facilitating partnerships between systems, schools, and programs. To honor her contributions, we introduced the inaugural Annie Leavitt School-Out-of-School Time Partnership Award to recognize members of the OST community who embody Annie's commitment.
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The community had the opportunity to share their feedback on what they would like to see more of in upcoming ESON and MSN meetings, which we plan on incorporating in the new school year. If you haven’t shared your feedback yet, you can still do so by filling out a brief questionnaire here. 

From ESON, MSN, and RAY, we are grateful to be a part of this community and look forward to the upcoming summer programs! Have a great summer!

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ESON and MSN: March Meeting Recap

4/18/2024

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Our network meeting in March 2024, focused on our middle schoolers (6th-8th graders) - particularly the older rising 7th and 8th graders that are often hardest to recruit and maintain in summer programs, yet are also critically important to have in programming. Our big question for the meeting was: What does it take to engage middle schoolers in the summer? 

Because only so much can be covered in any 90 minute meeting, we focused on two elements: what trends we are seeing among the 6-8th grade post-COVID (in schools and programs), and what we are naming “the culture challenge”: how do you create a pathway so that 5th graders want to stay enrolled and eventually become the 8th graders in your program? 

Check out the slide deck from the meeting here: What Does It Take to Engage Middle Schoolers in Summer? ​

We did a number of ‘chat waterfalls’ during this meeting, where we asked the 30+ participants a question, had them type their answer in the chat but not press send until everyone did it together - thus creating a ‘waterfall’ of responses all at the same time. It was a great way to see all the input and perspectives and expertise from across the network. The first of those was just about what trends we are seeing in middle schoolers: 

What are we seeing? (Chat waterfall responses)
  • Six graders are engaged, but 7th and 8th graders are a little bit distracted.
  • Behavioral changes based on what’s cool (i.e. showing up late, being on phone)
  • A lot of self-confidence in middle school girls!! Also phones… :/
  • A lot of energy; need to shorten duration of certain activities; joy, device distraction
  • More engagement in younger ages (5-6) than older (7-8)
  • Older middle school kids more likely to play sports at school but less likely to go to after school programming outside the building
  • Struggling to connect with adults, esp teachers
  • Students committing to a program and then not showing up
  • Differences within grades
  • High energy students  & disengagement with curriculum
  • Saying they want to participate but not showing up or following through on that commitment
  • Initially very hesitant to put themselves out there and shy (our programs involve kids from lots of different schools meeting in person for the first time), but over the course of our 1-2 weeks together, they really come out of their shells.
  • In upper schools, school based clubs are having a positive impact on school culture and teacher/student relationships.
  • Young people are spending more time interacting away from screens.
  • Trying to adjust to structure and change
  • Wandering, drama, groups, structure, sleepy, bathroom breaks (a lot) bathroom art
  • Last summer, our program for middle schoolers (which is free) had a lot of students who registered but who did not end up attending - for this summer we are thinking about ways to reduce this and incentivize attendance
  • Six graders are engaged, but 7th and 8th graders are a little bit distracted.
  • Seeing students socializing better with other students but not necessarily adults
  • Youth to adults relationships.
  • It's hard to find out what will engage middle schoolers, both to get to them to the library and get them engaged in a structured activity.
  • More engagement with girls than boys

Then, we asked folks to share their own questions about the situation:
What questions do we have about what is going on? (Chat waterfall responses)
  • How do we get them engaged so they are consistent and reliable?
  • What is really going on? What are families seeing on their end and are they doing anything about it? If so, what? Are we sending similar messages to children, and is that helpful or countering?
  • Where is the fun in school buildings? Why can’t we get afterschool staff in school spaces
  • Are we seeing new things or is it a return to normal? How are things presenting differently?
  • Why do my middle schoolers hate their teachers and school administration?
  • Which middle schoolers are not in programs? Why? has the new enrollment process with deadlines left the most vulnerable behind?
  • How do we motivate students to think outside the box? How to keep them away from phones and social media?
  • What options are best for rising 8th graders in summertime? They often feel ‘too old’ for camps/centers
  • Do the 7th and 8th graders are allowed to work during the summer?
  • How can we increase efficiency of engagement without overworking ourselves / going over our resource capacity?
  • What is relationship building with teachers looking like at upper schools?
  • Is the assumption that these kids are "digital natives" who have virtual school experience preventing schools from teaching them about computer usage? It's harder to teach kids things like coding when they are used to only apps/ipads/chromebooks…..
  • Is it possible to have OST staff facilitate training for teachers based on youth to adult relationship building?

These responses set the table for a really rich discussion about what we’d like to see in middle school programming. We heard from Melinda Rosado, who has deep history with the Middle School Network and our schools - she was a former youth worker and program director at Gately Youth Center, worked in student support at Putnam Ave Upper School and is currently working across all four Upper Schools as a Safety Specialist for the Safety Dept of Cambridge Public Schools. As someone who spends time in each of the school buildings, and someone who knows both the OST and the school perspective well, she had a lot to say on this topic (which is why we brought her here - her expertise and advice about young people has always been spot on). 

Some of Melinda’s insights on middle schoolers right now: 
  • They are just being middle schoolers - doing many of the same things they always have, testing boundaries, trying on different identities and being themselves!​
PictureMelinda’s 3Ps and a V from Gately Middle School Programming when she was a program director
We spent the rest of the meeting talking about where we would like to be with our middle school programs - thinking and sharing “what it looks like when it works” - and we got some great examples from folks in the meeting. Some highlights: 

What does it look like when it works?:
  • Offer incentives for older students, like 8th graders, who guide the younger ones. This way, younger students can see what they can achieve if they stay in the program. (It's like showing them a sneak peek of what's ahead!) They may think,  “Wow, I want to be like them when I’m in 8th grade.” Also, by finding out what 8th graders like and adding it to your program, you make it more fun for them so they don't get bored.​
  • Set expectations as a whole community: everyone is there for one another. Asking “what does it look like to be a champion” or “to give to the community.” Give youth a chance to reflect on their actions. Take suggestions from younger kids so they see they are heard and programming is made for them. Allow them to share their ideas (i.e schedule adjustments, not just workshop ideas!). Set the tone from the beginning that we SEE you. Build solid relationships.
  • Have high schoolers be in a teaching role for middle schoolers is huge! Students really like having a peer in a leadership position. (Plus, paying junior mentors is a big incentives).
  • Allow group interactions that don’t involve programming. Allow them space to be kids and just hang out!

As always, here were the community announcements: 
Emily Meyer (CPL): The Cambridge Public Library has a few fun and exciting events coming up! On March 14th, there is a Nintendo Switch program for ages 7-9. On March 28th, there will be a shadow puppet story telling event. For the April 8th solar eclipse, the library is giving away free glasses to watch the eclipse and is hosting eclipse-related activities. To view a list of upcoming events and programs, click here. 
Emily Shield (Women’s Commission): Hosting Consent Camp this summer! During this summer program campers will learn about consent education and activism. Campers will be mentored by high school peer leaders. By the end of camp, they will receive a certificate in Peer Education. To register, 7th-9th graders: click here, 4th-6th graders: click here.
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2024 Rollin’ & Summer Resources

4/8/2024

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More than 650 Cambridge parents and caregivers attended the third Annual Rollin’ & Summer Resources event, where they learned about how to sign up their children for summer programs. The event took place on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at the Cambridge Street Upper School/King Open Community Complex. More than 50 summer camp and other service providers attended. Families enjoyed plenty of pizza, samosas, wraps, snacks, drinks, popcorn and snow-cones! Children roller skated, made art projects, tried parkour, played life-sized board games, built basketball skills, and more. 
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Families throughout the city accessed school bus transportation to and from the event. They received support to explore program options from: Summer program staff, members of the Cambridge Public Schools (CPS) Family Engagement Team, Cambridge Agenda for Children Out of School Time staff, and CPS parents and caregivers from The Village.  Multilingual Family Liaisons and Community Engagement Team Outreach Workers provided translation and interpretation for families -- including many migrant families who have recently arrived to our city and district.

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Providers shared that they enrolled more than one hundred new families into their summer programs.  Many more providers continue registering and/or making decisions based on what they learned at the event.

​Who attended the 2024 Rollin’ & Summer Resources Event? 
  • 47% ​of families' children have never participated in Cambridge summer programs before. 
  • 54% ​of families' children are not currently participating in afterschool programs.
  • Families represented 23 native languages.  

This event was made possible by support from CPS and the Department of Human Services Programs (DHSP) and the Cambridge Out-of-School Time Community.  

Together we can make sure that young people connect to high quality summer program experiences!

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ESON and MSN: Feb Meeting Recap

2/27/2024

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At our February Network Meeting, we focused on equity and access in out-of-school (OST) opportunities in Cambridge. Our main goal, as always, is to ensure that all young people and families have fair access to these opportunities. We wanted to spend time being explicit with our networks in talking about WHAT that looks like, HOW we do it (and you do it, within your contexts) and WHO we are talking about when we reference ‘priority families’ in Cambridge. 

During the meeting, we discussed the changing demographics of Cambridge, specifically income inequality over the past four decades, and shared snapshots from some recent reports (like the Cambridge Community Foundations’ "Equity & Innovation Cities: The Case of Cambridge" report) that paint a picture of the city that is surprising even to folks who’ve been in Cambridge a long time. 

In the connection groups, participants had meaningful conversations about what this income inequality and changing demographics looks like in their K-5 and 6-8 programs. This helped us understand how this issue affects our community and our own spheres of influence. 
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We also heard stories from families and students, and shared demographic data and examples from our summer follow-up initiative, where we work with schools and community members to assemble a list of priority young people and work individually with them to get them registered for summer programs. These highlighted the HOW: how we try to ensure equal access (and overcome the barriers involved) to high-quality out-of-school opportunities for everyone, from our team’s vantage point in the schools and across community programs. ​
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Weren’t able to make the meeting? Check out the rest of the slides here!
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Please get in touch with us if you have questions and want to talk more - as always, we want and need everyone across our networks to be part of the effort to challenge inequity, and all have roles and actions (large and small) that can be part of the solution. Feel free to use the data shared here (the demographic data and the Cambridge OST data) with sources cited (see slides) as we continue the long term work of overcoming barriers that affect the future of young people. ​

​Community Announcements

Shilpa (Cambridge Camping): Summer camp registration for Adventure Day Camp and Daybreak Day Camp is now open. There is also a low cost cooking program available! Cambridge Camping offers payment plans. To learn more visit their website. ​
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Puja (Cambridge YWCA): There are two YWCA summer programs happening this year:

CampOUT at The Farm School: August 19th-23rd Overnight/Sleepaway Camp
The Farm School is an educational farm that hosts weekly programs for youth from many different schools nationwide. Learn more about The Farm School at farmschool.org. The CampOUT week is a sleepaway camp for trans, non-binary, and queer teens who are 9-14 years old. (Teens 15-19 are welcome to apply to be counselors-in-training!) And young people from queer families. For questions, please email Emmy at [email protected]. Learn more and register online​.

Consent Camp
Consent Camp is a NO-COST summer program for Cambridge students entering grades 7th-9th and 4th-6th. Camp participants will learn about consent education and activism. Campers will be mentored by trained high school peer leaders and supervised by expert adult educators. Participants will receive a Peer Education certificate by the end of camp. Learn more and register here for 7th-9th and here for 4th-6th.
Shameka (New School of Music): New School of Music is hosting a Chorus Open House on February 10th. It’s free and open to the public!

Emily Meyer (Cambridge Public Library): Cambridge Public Library is hosting February Vacation Week programs. Check their calendar here to see what’s available!
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Nina (Office of Workforce Development): MSYEP Worksite applications are now available! MSYEP offers Cambridge teens the opportunity to work with non-profits or government agencies for 6 weeks during the summer. Teens work 20 hours per week from July 1-August 9. There are two ways of providing opportunities for youth to work with your organization: 
 
Traditional Worksites: MSYEP provides all youth wages and an MSYEP Liaison who will monitor youths’ experience and provide support to the teens and to you. If you would like to host one or more young people at your workplace as a traditional worksite, please complete only the MSYEP Worksite Application.
 
Summer Work and Learning Sites: Expand the scope of MSYEP by including an educational enrichment component. SWL programs are an opportunity for you to design and manage an educational, work-based learning project specific to your organization’s mission and needs. Funds are available to cover personnel costs related to the program and supplies. As with traditional worksites, MSYEP pays the wages for all teens assigned and provides the support of an MSYEP Liaison. If you’d like to apply as an SWL site, please complete the MSYEP Worksite Application AND the RFP Proposal Form.
Both forms are due on Wednesday, March 20, 2024. Questions? Contact George Hinds, 617-349-6268 or [email protected]

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ESON, MSN, and RAY: Dec Meeting Recap

12/20/2023

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Thank you to the many of you who joined our School Partnerships Gathering! We had over 100 people in the room and the energy was palpable. Thank you again to the Foundry for hosting (please reach out to them about booking space – they have so many amazing resources available!) 

After our meeting, we had a chance to connect with folks and asked them, “What's something you learned today?" Here are some of the responses we received:
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  • Title 6 concerning federal funding and language equity
  • Opportunity fatigue is a thing!
  • That a citywide ost timeline would be helpful to families, programs providers, and program directors (planning)
  • Who people are at the district
  • There’s a Basketball Lab!
  • About the existence of RAY!
  • How the portal works
  • That CPS has a new SEL tool they are integrating into schools as an evaluation metric, and that there is a portal for information sharing across programs!
  • Learned about different teen programs at Russell
  • New people in New positions
  • So many community groups
  • Many providers concerned about engagement levels of youth
  • new summer
  • The social emotional questionnaire our students take
  • There is a lot of support for high-school students.
  • Learned about new resources, new connections
  • After school program timeline
  • I learned about the ways we are connecting afterschool programs to best share information together.
  • I think it is really valuable to get all 3 networks together. Maybe there should be 1, and then have "subcommittee" networks for the different ages.
  • There are SO many resources Cambridge offers, it’s tough to get them all together. But this was perfect
  • I didn't know schools had SST's (Student Support Teams)
  • A new help line has launched to help our multi lingual families.
  • All the different resources around the city and point persons.
  • I learned the difference between CET and CDD
  • I learned that there's a lot of information that my community does not know about within Cambridge

To facilitate ongoing learning and networking, we've created a directory of all the meeting attendees, which you can view here.

Below are announcements - and some amazing language related resources from Crystal Rosa (thank you!)

Also, be sure to check out the upcoming 2024 ESON/MSN Network and 2024 RAY meeting dates/topics!

With gratitude for all that you each do,
Nadia & Annie

​Breakout Group Notes & Participants

Many of you asked if we could specifically share the notes from each of our breakout groups with names and emails - here they are!

We encourage you all to reach out to each other to continue these conversations - or start new ones! We will also be reviewing notes to see what we can continue to work on in our networks and across organizations.

Check out the Breakout Group Notes & Participants below:
  • Social Emotional Tools Breakout Group
  • Career Connected Learning Opportunities 
  • All Things Space
  • Ways to Circle Up about a Child/Family
  • Let’s Talk Timelines
  • Who Participates Where
  • Getting the Word Out
  • All Things High School​​

​Community Announcements

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Space Available at The Foundry (Applications Due 12/29/23)
Would your program like to use The Foundry's amazing facilities to offer weekly classes for young people? Weekly programs are selected on a quarterly basis for up to 12 weeks of programming per season. For this season, applications open on November 10. Applications are due on Friday, December 29. The spring season runs between March and May.

Any programs that meet their community guidelines and make positive use of the space are welcome at The Foundry!  For more information about how they will select which programs are accepted each season, you can review their Program Rubric.

This application should take around 10-20 minutes to fill out and you can view the full application here. Questions about the application or this process can be directed to [email protected]. To see the rooms available at The Foundry, visit their website. To see the hourly cost of each room, see their sliding scale.

Multilingual Help Line is Live!
Free Interpretation is available for anyone to use! Call: 617-865-2273. Check out the English version of the multilingual helpline card. Here’s a video recording of the full training (1hr.37mins) that happened a couple of weeks ago. (A link to the Directory that is referenced in the training). Also check out the I Speak Card, designed by the Federal Government, which helps community members identify their language to employees if in person.

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Questions? Contact Crystal Rosa, [email protected]
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Language Resources
From the Language Barriers breakout group a few things emerged. Here are resources on those needs:

The need for teachers to use plain language in their communications to families:
  • The next plain language workshop is scheduled for Thursday, December 14 from 10 am to 11:30 am. Anyone can register using the link.
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Although an organization may have bilingual staff available, their skill is not at a level for helping native speakers adequately. Interpretation services should be available to bilingual staff too:
  • This slideshow details the federal law requirements regarding interpreter and bilingual staff use. It lists the civil rights laws that require students and families to have language access in schools and other activities managed by recipients of federal funding.
  • I encourage everyone to cite Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act when advocating for language access resources in their institutions.
  • For bilingual staff who feel their skill level can help broker the help families need, there may be bilingual incentive pay available if they belong to a union. Testing is usually required to get that additional pay.
  • I’m hoping to recreate this model for nonunion employees . . . TBD on those developments.

​Please inform the event participants that they can always Schedule a Meeting or Submit a Request for Assistance to discuss how to get their work translated or have interpretation at a community meeting.
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Tell all 8th-12th Graders: Come to the MIT Museum Teen Science Cafe!
Designed by teens for teens, Teen Science Cafes bring together scientists and students, grades 8-12 to explore new research and discuss what inspires and influences people to pursue careers in STEM.
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Join local researchers and other teens for a night exploring the field of psychology. Hear from experts on behavioral psychology and language, and engage in fun and interactive learning centered on interpersonal relationships and brain games. 

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Upcoming Event: Psych Night, Sat, Dec 16th, 6-8 pm

Registration Link. Questions? Contact Melisa Rojas, [email protected]

MFNH Toy and Coat Drive and a Winter Festival!
Margaret Fuller Neighborhood House is hosting a toy drive and coat drive and is looking for donations! Drop off items at 71 Cherry Street until Monday, Dec 18th.

They are also hosting their Winter Festival on Thurs, Dec. 21st from 4-7PM at 71 Cherry St, Cambridge!

Make a craft, take photos with Santa, and enjoy light refreshments!

Open to the Cambridge community! Please share the information and fliers with families! Questions? Contact, Gigi Laurent [email protected]
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ESON Coordinator Position is Posted!​
The Agenda for Children OST is looking to hire a new Elementary School-Out-of-School Time Network (ESON) Coordinator (Shawn Proctor’s former position)!  ESON is a coordinated and committed coalition of Cambridge out-of-school time providers, schools, families, and community partners who work together to provide equitable access to quality learning experiences beyond the school day and school year for JK-5 children. 

Interested? Click here to apply or share the link with someone who would be a great fit! If you have questions, please feel free to contact Khari Milner, [email protected]

CRLS Youth Equity Summit
CRLS Youth Equity Summit is on January 24th from 12:30 - 3:00-ish! Table at the Actionable Advocacy Fair with opportunities for teens to get involved in your programs.  Reach out to Sam Musher to get involved: [email protected]
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Free Drop-In Tutoring at The Library
The Teen Room at the Cambridge Public Library Main Branch has free Drop-In Tutoring for ages 12 – 18 on Mondays & Wednesdays 5:00 – 6:00pm Questions? Contact Paul Trunnell: [email protected]
Breakthrough Application is Live
For current 6th graders, find out more at here.
Let it Snow! Engineering and Making event at the Hive
All are invited to the Hive on Weds, Dec. 27th for snow-y engineering design challenges! Design a speedy miniature sled, "snow" shelter, snow globe and more. There will be space for children and families, and a space for high schoolers and middle schoolers. No registration is necessary. Learn more here! Questions? Contact Em St. Germain, [email protected]
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Friday Night Hype & Rollin’ N Summer Resources
Friday Night Hype is hosting a Winter Dance! Students from around the district will come together for a winter celebration at the Friday Night Hype Winter Dance. All middle school students are welcome!

Friday, Dec. 15th, 2023 at the Community Art Center Gym, 119 Windsor St., Cambridge
Grades 6 & 7: Dance is from 7:00 - 8:30 PM
Grades 8 & 9: Dance is from 8:30 - 10:00 PM
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There is no cost (permission slip is required).

Rollin' N Summer Resources is happening on March 2nd! RSVP and save the date!
Questions? Contact
Debbie Bonilla, [email protected]

CPS District / School Climate Survey for CPS Families
Please encourage CPS parents and caregivers to use this link to take the survey. (Deadline 12/22/23). Questions? Contact: Ray Porch: [email protected], Khari Milner: [email protected]
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