Inaugural Florida's Afterschool Stakeholder Summit a Success

On June 6th, the Florida Afterschool Network partnered with the Children's Services Council of Broward County and Broward College to host the inaugural Florida's Afterschool Stakeholder Summit: The Power of Afterschool.  The summit’s purpose was to promote the powerful impact of afterschool programs and establish the guiding principles to ensure that afterschool programs will be a part of the educational landscape in Florida’s future.

Nearly 90 participants, including stakeholders from throughout Florida, attended the event to discuss important topics related to afterschool programs, including best practices and the future of afterschool programs.  In addition to getting input from the state’s most well respected afterschool champions, there was a great youth perspective. What we learned from Breon Callins is that we need to listen and hear from kids more. We are not just giving lip service to seek their input – be assured as we move forward with other afterschool summits FAN will do just that

It was evident from the summit that there is a strong support for professional development for afterschool programs, as well as support for maintaining and increasing funding streams.  Additionally it was agreed that it is necessary to increase the visibility of afterschool programs at both the local and state levels.

Afterschool programs are imperative to the success of our students. We hope that these types of meetings happen more often to help promote discussion and build support.

The speakers and panelists included some of the biggest advocates for the Florida afterschool programs:

·        Linda Lanier, Chair, Board of Directors, Florida Afterschool Network

·        Cindy Arenberg Seltzer, President & CEO, Children’s Services Council of Broward County

·         Representative Gwyndolen Clarke-Reed r

·        Mike Lannon, Superintendent of Schools, St. Lucie County

·        Dean Aline Sarria, Broward College, Superintendent

·        Ken Scubbs, Genesis Center 21st CCLC Program

·        Todd Rosenbaum, CEO, YMCA of Florida

·        Michael Skolnick, President of Community After School

·        Donna Lavalle, Co-Director of Smith Community Mental Health

·        Cynthia Reynoso, Program Specialist at CSC of Broward County

·        Suzette Harvey, Executive Director, PrimeTime Palm Beach County Inc.

·        Anne McKenzie, CEO of Boys and Girls Club of Martin County

·        Greg Haile, Vice President, Governmental Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Broward College

·        Lesley Fletcher, Deputy Division Chief of Education, NASA

·        Sharon Carie, President, Afterschool Alliance,

·        James Griffin Principal, Lauderdale Lakes Middle School and Florida Principal of the Year

·        Student Breon Callins

·        Glenn Gilzean, Executive Director, Educate Today, and Pinellas County School Board member

·        Modesto Abety-Gutierrez, CEO, The Children’s Trust of Miami/Dade County

·        Art O’Hara Executive Director, R’Club Child Care Inc.

·        FAN CEO Larry Pintacuda and COO Joe Davis

Florida’s Afterschool Stakeholder Summit - June 6

Today the Florida Afterschool Network, Children's Services Council of Broward County and Broward College will host the Florida's Afterschool Stakeholder Summit: The Power of Afterschool at Broward College.

The purpose of the summit is to promote the powerful impact that expanded learning and afterschool programs are having in accelerating student achievement and establish the guiding principles to ensure that afterschool programs will be a part of the educational landscape in Florida’s future.

Topics include a National conversation relating to afterschool and expanding learning to increase student achievement; What’s Working Panel Discussion highlighting best practices in afterschool programs from 21^st CCLC, Children’s Services Councils and Community-based and Faith-based programs; What Role Will Afterschool Play in Florida’s Future?; Panel Discussion on student’s needs and obstacles; and Florida’s Afterschool Roadmap.

The speakers will include some of the biggest advocates for the Florida afterschool programs, include FAN CEO Larry Pintacuda and COO Joe Davis; Linda Lanier, Chair, Board of Directors, Florida Afterschool Network; Cindy Arenberg Seltzer, President & CEO, Children’s Services Council of Broward County; Dean Aline Sarria, Broward College, Superintendent; Representative Gwyndolen Clarke-Reed; Daniel Lyons, President and CEO, Florida Boys and Girls Clubs; Ken Scubbs, Genesis Center 21^st CCLC Program, Todd Rosenbaum, CEO, YMCA of Florida; Michael Skolnick, President of Community After School; Donna Lavalle, Co-Director of Smith Community Mental Health; Cynthia Reynoso, Program Specialist at CSC of Broward County; Suzette Harvey, Executive Director, PrimeTime Palm Beach County Inc.; Greg Haile, Vice President, Governmental Policy and Regulatory Affairs, Broward College; Lesley Fletcher, Deputy Division Chief of Education, NASA; Sharon Carie, President, Afterschool Alliance,; James Griffin Principal, Lauderdale Lakes Middle School and Florida Principal of the Year; Aline Sarria, Dean, Teacher Education programs, Broward College; Glenn Gilzean, Executive Director, Educate Today, and Pinellas County School Board member; Mike Lannon, Superintendent of Schools, St. Lucie County; Modesto Abety-Gutierrez, CEO, The Children’s Trust of Miami/Dade County; Art O’Hara Executive Director, R’Club Child Care Inc.

A full report of the summit will follow.

Board Member Spotlight: Modesto E. Abety-Gutierrez

Modesto E. Abety-Gutierrez was appointed president and CEO of The Children's Trust in 2003. He served as director of the Miami-Dade County Children's Services Council (CSC) for 12 years before joining The Children's Trust.

During the course of more than 30 years of public service, Mr. Abety-Gutierrez has also served as executive assistant to the Director of the County's Community Action Agency and Head Start Program, director of Social Services for the County's Public Housing Authority; Special Project's Officer on Community Development, Housing and Homelessness at the United States Conference of Mayors, and as a community organizer and social worker with a variety of organizations and agencies serving the poor, aged and distressed families.

He serves on the boards of the Juvenile Justice Board, the Policy Group for Florida's Children and Families and The Florida Children's Services Council.

Mr. Abety-Gutierrez holds a Master in Public Administration from Bernard M. Baruch College/City University of New York and his Bachelor Degree in Sociology from Florida State University.

June 21 is National Summer Learning Day

June 21, 2012 is the Sixth Annual National Summer Learning Day. Summer Learning Day is a time for communities to celebrate the importance of high-quality summer learning opportunities in the lives of young people and their families. A wide array of public agencies, non-profit organizations, schools, universities, museums, libraries, and summer camps across the country will celebrate the sixth annual Summer Learning Day on June 21st.

As in past years, we hope that many of Florida’s Afterschool programs will host events that showcase summer programs and raise awareness about how these programs. These programs send young people back to school ready to learn, support working families and keep kids safe and productive.

Each year, Florida is one of the leaders nationwide in the number of summer learning day events. Let’s continue that tradition. For more information, please visit www.summerlearning.org.

No Time to Rest

On Friday April 20^th, Florida Governor Rick Scott vetoed HB 5103.  In terms of children in afterschool programs, this means the current eligibility criteria for school readiness remain as is. This is a great relief.

However, some version of HB 5103 will be brought up next legislative session. Because of that, we must begin now with our education efforts to legislators and legislative candidates of the importance of quality afterschool programs, particularly as these programs impact academic achievement.

We need to take immediately as we head full steam into the 2012 election season. Now is not the time to sit back and relax. Now is the time for us to get moving so we can avoid what almost happened this year. It is critical that legislators hear from you directly on this important issue that will negatively impact so many children and families throughout Florida.

Please visit www.myfan.org for important data and facts you can use. If you need additional information from FAN, all you have to do is ask.

We thank you for your support!

Larry Pintacuda

Chief Executive Officer

Florida Afterschool Network

www.myfan.org

Davant Named Florida Afterschool Champion of the Year

Florida Afterschool Network (FAN) board member Claudia Davant has been named the Florida Afterschool Champion of the Year. She will be honored at the National Afterschool All Challenge Conference in Washington D.C. on May 8-9, 2012.

“Claudia is being honored because of her unwavering work, support and dedication  for quality afterschool  opportunities  for all Florida’s youth, “ said Larry Pintacuda, FAN Chief Executive Officer. “I can think of no more deserving person than Claudia to be selected.”

Davant is the former Managing Partner of NSI, Florida where she led the national firm’s Florida practice for almost four years. While with NSI she built a broad multi-client practice that included local government, telecommunications, transportation, gaming, appropriations, healthcare, aging, education, and environmental issues. She has extensive experience in government and private sectors.

In addition to her corporate experience, Davant has worked in government on both the state and federal levels.  She served as U.S. Senator Strom Thurmond’s Legislative Aide in Washington, D.C. for three years providing legislative analysis, constituent service and external communications.

Besides her work with FAN, she serves on the Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) IT Council, Florida TaxWatch Board’s Executive Steering Committee and the Take Stock in Children Board.

The Florida Afterschool Network (FAN) is a non-profit organization that strives to provide unified leadership to advocate for the development, enhancement and sustainability of innovative, high quality afterschool programs and policies statewide.  The organization’s original funding was provided by the Mott Foundation in 2005.

“We are thrilled that the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation has decided to continue its relationship with the Florida Afterschool Network,” said FAN Executive Director Larry Pintacuda. “We are encouraged that the Foundation has confidence in our organization to deliver quality afterschool program initiatives to children throughout the state of Florida.

The mission of FAN is to provide unified leadership to advocate for the development, enhancement and sustainability of innovative, high quality afterschool programs and policies statewide.  FAN believes that every child should have high quality afterschool programs available that are accessible, affordable, accountable and inclusive.

FAN’s stakeholders include a diverse group of organizations whose common thread it the desire for all children to receive high quality afterschool case. For more information, please visit www.myfan.org.

New Partnership Allows for Training Session for Afterschool Providers

We have some exciting news! The Electric Company, WFSU and the Florida Afterschool Network (FAN) are partnering to deliver  training sessions for afterschool providers on  summer learning and extended learning.

Kim Kelling Engstrom, Director of Educational Services, WFSU and FAN Champion has been coordinating among the three entities to bring the workshop(s) to fruition.

The Electric Company is an educational children’s television series produced by Sesame Workshop for PBS in America. WFSU is the PBS public television station in Tallahassee licensed through Florida State University.

The Electric Company’s Summer Learning and Extended Learning programs”bring math and literacy to life through engaging videos, hands on activities, online games, and dynamic activity pages.”  The content is designed to “bridge the gap” in out of school time learning for children in 1^st – 3^rd grade. Besides offering quality resources to afterschool providers, much of the content is free to providers.

The live training session(s) will be held May 15^th.  We will advise you as soon as the actual time is set. The training will be provided to about 50 practitioners from the Tallahassee area. We are also trying to work out the logistics to have the training provided via satellite to other parts of the state.

 This is a tremendous opportunity for afterschool providers and practitioners in Tallahassee and the surrounding areas, and hopefully throughout the state.  We hope this is the first of a long partnership among the Electric Company, WFSU.