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The Commission on Out of School Time Grants and Youth Outcomes (OST Commission) will hold a public meeting on Thursday, March 24, 2022 from 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm. The OST Commission will hear updates from the Office of Out of School Time Grants and Youth Outcomes and the OST Commission Committees.
Individuals interested in providing public comment should email learn24@dc.gov by the close of business on Tuesday, March 22nd at 5:00 pm for consideration.
Register here to attend.
The Institute for Youth Development encourages youth development professionals in the District to participate in one of the upcoming workshops to learn new strategies that foster supportive environments for youth.
Register now! Space is limited.
Improve staff competencies by hosting a training through The Institute for Youth Development (The Institute). The Institute offers free virtual on-demand workshops to youth development professionals serving District of Columbia youth. A minimum commitment of 10 participants is required to host the workshop; request a training here. Email questions to learn24@dc.gov.
View the Institute for Youth Development Catalog of Workshops here.
Please note: Requests should be scheduled at least six weeks in advance.
 In the first newsletter of each month, The Institute for Youth Development will highlight a specific indicator from the Weikart Center's Youth Program Quality Assessment (PQA) on promising practices in the field.
Building community is vital in programming and one way this can be done is through group games. There are various types of group games that can be used based on the program setting.
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Icebreakers - games designed to help participants feel more comfortable in a group setting
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Team Builders - activities that include building trust, getting to know each other, communication, and bonding
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Name Games - an activity aimed for participants to learn each other’s name
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Energizers - a game designed to raise the energy level of a group
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Type of Game
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Name of Game
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How to Play
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Icebreaker
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"Betcha Never"
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1. Ask participants to come up with one thing that is true of them that they think no one else in the room can claim to be true.
2. Give each person a chance to state their name and the one “betcha never” fact about themselves.
3. If someone else can claim the fact, the individual must come up with another “betcha never” until each person has stated one unique fact.
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Team Builder
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Bubble Names
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1. Give each person a large sheet of paper.
2. Ask participants to draw the letters of their names using large open-spaced bubble letters.
3. Inside the letters, ask participants to draw facts about themselves (e.g., favorite foods, hobbies, birthplace, etc.).
4. When everyone has finished, depending on group size, you can have participants present in small groups.
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Name Game
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Name and Motion Game
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1. Ask everyone to stand in a circle.
2. Demonstrate how the game works by saying your name and a motion to go with it.
3. Have everyone say your name and do your motion.
4. Now ask everyone to think about a motion to go with their name. Starting with the person to your right or left, ask them to say their name and do their motion, then everyone repeats their name and motion, followed by repeating your name and motion.
5. This continues around the circle, so every time a name is added, the series of names and motions to remember gets longer.
6. After the last person says their name and motion, everyone tries to perform everyone’s name and motion in order around the circle.
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Energizer
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Move Like a…
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1. Decide on the number of groups you need and the number of youth per group.
2. Create cards based on certain categories.
3. Distribute the cards to participants.
4. Give everyone an opportunity to think about their category.
5. Instruct participants to wander around the room representing what is on their card with their movements. Noises are ok, but no words should be spoken.
*Check to make sure groups were formed correctly, and then proceed with the activity.
6. After a minute or so, instruct participants to find peers who are acting out the same category.
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Learn about other group games here.
A recent article published by the National Afterschool Association discusses how addressing learning loss due to the pandemic is an important task where afterschool and out-of-school time programs can make a significant impact. The key for afterschool professionals, particularly when planning for summer programs, is finding content that aligns with those funding requirements but that is also easy to use, effective, and fun for students. Read the complete article here.
On behalf of Learn24 Coordinating Entities that will be announced in March, the OST Office is accepting applications from high-quality subcontractors (vendors) to provide educational, social, emotional, and/or physical health opportunities and activities for children at DC Housing Authority and DC Department of Human Services short-term family housing sites. The deadline to apply is Monday, April 18, 2022 at 5:00 pm.
There will be two information sessions for potential applicants to discuss the current RFA, ask questions, and learn more about the application process. No need to register, just click the link(s) below:
View the complete RFA here. Complete the application here.
Visit Learn24.dc.gov for more information.
The Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) is releasing up to $20 million in funding to support existing successful evidence-based tutoring programs to scale; support experienced evidence-based tutoring programs that can demonstrate the ability to deliver a new tutoring program to serve students in grades pre-K-12; and provide funding to organizations delivering strategic program supports and program evaluation services for high-impact tutoring. The deadline to submit an application will be Thursday, March 10, 2022 at 3:00 pm. Detailed information regarding award types, eligibility, and the full RFA can be found here.
The Junior League of Washington (JLW) established the Community Assistance Fund (CAF) in 2020 to support nonprofit organizations in the greater Washington, DC area experiencing urgent need as they provide community support as a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency. Grants will be awarded in amounts up to $5,000. The deadline to apply is Monday, March 14, 2022. Learn more here.
The Sparkplug Foundation is currently accepting applications from start-up organizations and new projects of established organizations in music, education, and community organizing. Past grants ranged from $1,000 to $20,000. For consideration, preliminary questions must be received by Friday, April 22, 2022 at 11:59 pm ET. For more information on deadlines and criteria, click here.
The David Bradt Nonprofit Education Fund awards selected nonprofit leaders in the Greater Washington region up to $15,000 to attend an intensive executive training program. This professional development program will enhance the attendees leadership, creative thinking, strategy, and management skills. The deadline to submit a letter of interest is Friday, April 22, 2022. Learn more about focus areas, eligibility criteria, deadlines, and past awardees by clicking here.
Weekly newsletter of funding opportunities.
 For resources and additional information on the District of Columbia Government’s response to coronavirus (COVID-19), please visit coronavirus.dc.gov.
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