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Our April OST Network meeting brought together creativity, connection, and purposeful planning as we began transitioning into summer programming. We kicked things off with a layered drink station to ground ourselves in the theme of “layers.” Members crafted colorful drinks (think mango, lemon, ginger juice topped with gummy worms and fresh mint) while reflecting on the layers of summer already rising to the surface in our minds. It was a light, joyful way to spark conversation and acknowledge the complexity of this seasonal shift for our programs, our teams, and ourselves. A huge thank you to the Cambridge Community Center (CCC) for hosting us and sharing more about their work. CCC highlighted their community center offerings as well as their food pantry, and we want to help spread the word: The CCC Food Pantry is open to all: no questions asked, no documentation required. Hours: Tuesday–Friday, starting at 1:00 PM (open until food runs out) This is an incredible resource for families in our community, and we encourage everyone to share this information widely. We then shifted into focused network work. The Elementary School OST Network (ESON) led a conversation on caregiver engagement exploring strategies for building stronger connections with families and benefitting from seeking and leveraging their input. Together, we began developing thoughtful questions aimed at better understanding caregiver expectations, needs, and hopes as we design responsive summer programming. Here's a summary of the ideas we came up with in support of engaging parents as well as survey based on the questions we came up to ask parents and caregivers in support of our summer planning.
Meanwhile, the Middle School Network centered youth voice. Participants worked collaboratively to develop meaningful questions that we can ask middle schoolers to inform our program design and strategy. The group committed to taking one or a few of these questions into the field and capturing responses through video, audio recordings, or written reflections to bring back to our May meeting, helping ground our summer planning in the lived experiences and perspectives of young people. As always, this meeting reflected the strength of our network: thoughtful, creative, and deeply committed to the communities we serve. We look forward to continuing this momentum together.
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On Saturday, March 7, more than 400 Cambridge families came out to the 5th annual Rollin’ & Summer Resources event at the CSUS/King Open Community Complex. The event gave families a chance to connect with 40 different summer program providers, learn about their offerings, ask questions, and even register for programs on the spot.
When families weren’t chatting with program providers, there was plenty to do. Kids laced up their skates in the gym, tried their hand at parkour, and played life-sized board games. This year’s event also featured a special performance from well-known magician Bonaparte, who performed a spectacular magic show in the auditorium. Throughout the event, Multilingual Family Liaisons and Community Engagement Team Outreach Workers were on hand to help with translation and interpretation, making sure families could access information and connect with providers. Feedback from families was overwhelmingly positive with 100% of post-event survey respondents saying the event was helpful and that they found the summer information they needed for their child, while getting their questions answered. Families also shared that they were able to apply for summer programming at the event or get onto a waitlist. Who attended the 2026 Rollin’ & Summer Resources event?
On March 4, the Middle School Network gathered for a dynamic meeting hosted at Cambridge Street Upper School (CSUS). We extend a sincere thank you to the CSUS team for warmly welcoming the network into their school and sharing valuable insight into their school community and practices. Opportunities like this help deepen understanding and collaboration between school-day staff and OST providers who are working toward the same goal of supporting young people.
Spotlight on the CSUS W.I.N. Block: One of the highlights of the meeting was learning about the W.I.N. Block at CSUS, which stands for “What I Need.” This dedicated time during the school day allows students to access additional academic support, enrichment opportunities, and personalized learning experiences. CSUS shared an exciting invitation with the network: OST programs with enrichment ideas are welcome to partner with the school by facilitating a workshop during a W.I.N. Block for a season. This opportunity could further strengthen connections between schools and community programs while giving students meaningful experiences during the school day. Programs interested in exploring this partnership are encouraged to reach out to the CSUS team using the contact information listed below. The second half of the meeting shifted toward community-wide planning and youth-centered city design. The network connected with representatives from the Cambridge Public Health Department and the Family Policy Council to explore what it would mean for Cambridge to become a Child-Friendly City. Cambridge is preparing to apply for the 2027 Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) through UNICEF, and the discussion focused on both ways Cambridge is already uplifting and supporting youth and ideas for how the city can continue growing as a place where young people thrive. Participants shared perspectives from their programs and experiences working with middle school youth, helping shape what a youth-centered Cambridge could look like in the future. If you’re interested in contributing to the planning process, you are invited to attend the next CFCI planning meeting: April 8 at 3:00 PM 119 Windsor Street Cambridge, MA 02139 2nd Floor Conference Room Thank you to everyone who joined us and contributed their ideas and energy. The Middle School Network continues to be a space where partnerships grow, information is shared, and our collective work supporting young people becomes stronger. We look forward to seeing you at the next Middle School Network meeting on April 1st at the Cambridge Community Center (CCC). Contact information for presenters:
Happy 100th Annual Black History Month!
Black History Month invites OST programs to do what we do best—create spaces where young people feel seen, valued, and empowered. Black history lives in conversations, art projects, music, laughter, and in the ways young people see themselves reflected and affirmed. This month is an opportunity to center joy, connection, and youth voice because joy has always been, and continues to be, a form of resistance. Link to video shared reminding us that children have the power to create change. February’s Middle School Network meeting also marked an exciting step forward in strengthening bonds between OST programs and schools for the betterment of programs and students. Our network was invited into the Putnam Avenue Upper School community, and we are incredibly grateful to the PAUS team (listed below) for welcoming us so openly. We gained insight into PAUS’ culture, including their high and consistent expectations for students, the strong sense of community among staff, and the open communication that supports collaboration across the school. We also learned about meaningful ways community members can connect with PAUS through school council meetings, newsletters, ongoing school events, and simply reaching out. One highlight was learning about PAUS’ Story of Self Day, a powerful practice where students share their personal narratives. This is a beautiful moment that also invites OST community members to join. You can learn more about this best practice by clicking this link. PAUS values strong OST partnerships and are open and ready to continue building together. Looking ahead, our March network meeting will take place at CSUS, where we’ll have the opportunity to connect with members of their team and continue building upon our partnerships. We look forward to seeing you there. Be sure to:
PAUS Team contact info 2/4 network meeting: Phanenca Babio-James, PhD Head of School [email protected] Michelle Calioro Assistant Head of School [email protected] Tashima Point du Jour General Ed. School Social Worker [email protected] Kunjal Shah Family & Community Liaison [email protected] On December 17, 2025, more than 130 K-12 Cambridge OST providers, CPS Family Liaisons and faculty, DHSP staff, community outreach workers, nonprofit organizations and many other partnering providers, gathered at The Foundry for the 3rd Annual School-Community Partnership Gathering. Hosted by the Agenda for Children Out-of-School Time’s Elementary and Middle School-OST Networks, DHSP's Reaching All Youth Network and the CPS Family Engagement Team, this annual event brings together Cambridge providers to strengthen our networks in support of Cambridge children, youth and families. Following introductions, including those by CPS Supt. David Murphy, and Michelle Farnum, Assistant Director for Children, Youth and Families at DHSP, the gathering kicked off with a panel discussion centered around how programs support students’ mental health and social-emotional well-being and the value and impact of successful program partnerships. Special thank you to our panel participants: Marsé Romero (East End House), Christina Ullman (Science Club for Girls), Katie Quizphe (Peabody Community School), Jordan Harvey (Tutoring Plus) for sharing your insights and experiences. Also, thanks to CEA President Chris Montero for attending on behalf of all CPS educators; and our collective efforts to partner on behalf of supporting the growth and success of thousands of CPS students. After the panel, participants had the opportunity to engage with each other through interactive breakout sessions, sharing stories of challenges, learning opportunities, program accessibility, partnering strategies, mental health resources and more. View the notes from each breakout group. We encourage participants to continue their conversations from the gathering and have created a meeting directory to facilitate reaching out to each other. Also, be sure to check out the community announcements from the meeting for program updates and upcoming events for the new year! Finally, check out the wordcloud created from attendees responses to the following prompt on the event feedback form (click on image for a closer look)!  This week’s network meeting offered a meaningful opportunity to reflect, analyze, and connect as we continue to explore our partnerships across schools and community organizations.
We began by reviewing summer student placement data, which helped us identify emerging trends and patterns across schools. These insights shed light on which schools may benefit from deeper engagement, additional recruitment efforts, and intentional relationship-building. Our discussion then shifted to current OST (Out-of-School Time) partnerships with both public and charter schools. Together, we explored what’s working well and where we have opportunities to grow. To close our session, we took a moment for personal reflection asking ourselves what role each of us can play in fostering a reciprocal partnership with schools. We challenged one another to consider not only what we can receive from our collaborations, but also what we can give as individuals and as a collective network to ensure our relationships with schools are mutually supportive and impactful. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who showed up with vulnerability, honesty, and openness. Your willingness to reflect and share truthfully contributes to our ongoing growth and the strength of our network. Click this link to find all the materials and links mentioned during the meeting : including homework resources for schools, the community partner portal, food resources, and more Building Intentional Space for Connection & Collaboration We officially launched our first middle school-specific network meeting of the year. This new structure allowed attendees to choose their path and focus more deeply on the unique needs of middle school youth.
In this kickoff MSN session, we laid the groundwork for the year ahead. Together, we co-created the feel of the space by asking:
Here’s what emerged from the group: 10/1/25 MSN notes Next Meeting Preview Please bring a data point from your own program about middle schoolers, any insight, big or small, is valuable. We’ll dig into our collective data on how many priority students were confirmed for Summer 2025, and begin dreaming up what an ideal OST-school district partnership could look like. Let’s keep building a space that is rooted in connection, driven by purpose, and brave enough to make a difference. Thanks to everyone who came out to the Network Kickoff event we co-hosted with RAY at the Moore Youth Center on 9/10/25. With over 70 people in the room (actually, on the basketball court), we had the chance to connect, reflect on the impact of our work with young people and families, and ground ourselves in the shared values of ESON, MSN, and RAY. The room was full of energy as longtime Network members and new faces came together. Through activities like Bingo and a life-size map of Cambridge, we learned more about each other and the many programs represented across the City. One of the more powerful moments was when participants tied their contact information to colorful strings, creating a visual of our interconnectedness as a Network. We were thrilled to see the buzz and excitement as we kicked off the school and after school year and are looking forward to continuing our conversations at our next meeting on 10/1 at the Frisoli Youth Center. In case you missed the meeting, check out the community announcements below: Community Announcements Tyrique Kittrell (Agenda for Children Out-of-School Time) - Bridge Scholars is a tutoring and mentoring program led by CRLS students in its third year of serving the community; providing high school scholars the opportunity to support younger students across Cambridge. We are currently seeking program sites interested in hosting CRLS tutors. Does your program include homework time or free play? Would your students benefit from one-on-one or small-group tutoring, paired with the guidance of a mentor? If so, Bridge Scholars may be the perfect fit. If you’re interested, please complete this Bridge Scholars request form. For any questions, feel free to contact [email protected] Tagesech Wabeto (Cambridge Immigrant Commision) - The Civic Unity Committee is hosting a Community Connections event on September 19th, 4-6:30 pm. Also Danehy Park Family Day is coming up on Saturday, September 20th, 11am-3pm at Danehy Park (Rain Date: Sept. 27), [email protected]
Vanessa Fisher (Agenda for Children Out-of-School Time) - Let the Agenda team know if you want to recruit for your programs at the upcoming CPS back-to-school events (or email us program flyers so we can have them at our table at the events!). Also, ESON/MSN meetings are on the first Wednesday of the month, [email protected], [email protected] Jean Devine (Biodiversity Builders) - Our pollinator garden in Cambridge is available to tour, contact Jean for more information, [email protected] Jordan Harvey (Tutoring Plus) - Tutoring Plus has created and compiled Family Educational Resources to help families/caregivers be informed about their child's educational journey. Resources include understanding Aspen and ParentSquare, joining Parent Councils and Organizations, navigating school transitions, and more, [email protected] Emily St. Germain (Cambridge Public Library) - Puppetry Studio happening on Thursdays at main Library. Also, the HIVE can come out to your space to host workshops! [email protected] Jack O’Hearn (Community Art Center) - Next weekend CAC is taking over 1175 Cambridge St. as part of Cambridge Open studios, come visit! Flyer coming soon, [email protected]  Latifah James (Cambridge Community Center) - CCC is hosting their “Roast in the Coast” block party on Saturday, September 20th at the CCC, including food, games, a DJ, and dancing! We are looking for volunteers if you are interested, [email protected]  Carole Urbano (MIT Museum) - Cambridge Science Carnival is happening on Sunday, September 21, 12 - 4 PM, [email protected]
Last week, over 400 rising 9th graders joined us for the 5th annual Bridge to CRLS event, a fun and informative kickoff to their high school journey! With a class of about 500 students, the event was a strong showing of enthusiasm and readiness for freshman year.
Participants picked up their Chromebooks, met their Dean of students, and had a chance to get answers to their schedule-related questions, helping calm first day nerves. They also toured the building, learned about extracurricular opportunities, and explored valuable out-of-school time resources like teen internships, drop-in spaces, and health and wellness support throughout Cambridge. According to our exit survey, 57% of students reported feeling more prepared to face the challenges ahead, positioning them for a strong start to a promising academic year. We’re excited to welcome the Class of 2029 and wish them a fantastic freshman year!
 Thanks for joining us for our final Network Meeting of the year, hosted by The Robo Hub. This month’s meeting focused on reimagining how we use technology with young learners. "Robo" Rick, Director of Education & Community at The Robo Hub, kicked things off with a fun activity, challenging us to identify which images were real or AI-generated. It was a great way to highlight the importance of AI and technology safety, especially for our young people. We then explored a few AI tools including creating animations, coloring books, and self portraits. When used responsibly, AI can be a powerful creative tool for program providers. Throughout the meeting the group rotated through four hands-on activities, including:
During a share-out at the end of the meeting, the group reflected on their key takeaways:
The Robo Hub team closed out with a helpful reminder: When prepping for STEAM activities, try the activities yourself first. This helps you step into the young person’s shoes while also helping you think about how to support them. Also, consider how we can create more opportunities for young people to have STEAM experiences outside of the school day. To learn more about The Robo Hub or to collaborate with them, reach out! They offer after school programs at schools, field trips to The Robo Hub, training opportunities, and they can even help you start your own robotics team!  Before wrapping our last meeting of the year, we were honored to present the East End House Middle School Partnership Program with the Annie Leavitt School-Out-of-School Time Partnership Award, recognizing their dedication to participating in every summer workshop at CPS Upper Schools and attending every AFCOST Network Meeting this year. Marsé Romero, EEH Middle School Program Director, proudly accepted the award on behalf of the program. Marsé has shown a deep commitment to both her community and the program, where she has worked for many years. Congratulations East End House! A big thank you to the Robo Hub team, our amazing community partners and program providers–including Kids in Tech who joined us for the first time! Community AnnouncementsDemi - Department of Human Service Programs (DHSP) Inclusion Initiative DHSP is hiring Inclusion Facilitators to work with students over the summer. The Inclusion Facilitator will provide direct support in adapting and modifying programs to meet the needs of a specific child or children enrolled in a DHSP After-School Programs. Interested? Click here to apply online or email Demi for more information, [email protected]  Emma - Cambridge Camping
Join Cambridge Camping for their upcoming NO COST Village Building Series events! Wednesday, May 28th, 5:15pm (Show at 7pm) A live theater performance of Jaja’s African Hair Braiding at the Speakeasy Stage. Meet at the Cambridge Camping office at 5:15pm for pizza, then travel to the 7pm show together. Ages Recommended 12+ (The show has some mature themes). CCA provides dinner, transportation to the show, and theater tickets. Saturday, June 21st, at 7pm A performance by the Asian American Ballet Project, at Arrow Arts Theater. Meet at the Cambridge Camping office at 5:15pm for a meal, then travel to the 7pm show together. All ages welcome. CCA provides dinner, transportation to the show, and tickets. Visit their website to learn more and register. Khari - Agenda for Children Out-of-School Time The last CPS Community Social of the school year is happening on May 15th. Programs are invited to come and host a table at the end of the year Cambridge Kicks off Summer (Prevent the Summer Slide & Celebrate the School Year) event. This event provides valuable opportunities for CPSD families to interact with various CPSD offices and partners. It's a chance for them to learn more about the wide range of services/resources available in the community and gain access to essential resources. May 15th, 2025, 5:30-7:30pm (kindly arrive between 5-5:15pm to set up) King Open/CSUS Cafeteria, 830 Cambridge Street Click here to register for a table. |
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