FAN's CEO Interviewed for "American Graduate: Let's Make it Happen"

On August 29, Florida Afterschool Chief Executive Officer Larry Pintacuda participated in “American Graduate: Let’s Make it Happen”, a national public initiative and television program. His topic was the positive impact on quality afterschool programming as it relates to improved academic performance of kids.

Armed with strong facts documenting the importance of afterschool programs, Larry represented all the FAN Champions and Board Members in expressing why these programs are crucial to the development of our children. The program is scheduled to be aired during the week of September 22nd, and Larry’s portion was 4-5 minutes.

FAN would like to thank Kim Kelling Engstrom, Director of Educational Services for WFSU TV and a FAN Champion, for her efforts in getting represented in this wonderful program.  This is not the first time Kim and WFSU TV has addressed and promoted the importance of quality
afterschool. It was her efforts that brought national television show “Electric Company” to Florida to provide training for afterschool practitioners.

 The exact date and time the program will be aired will be posted as soon as it is released.

There is still time to apply for LOA mini-grant

The Florida Afterschool Network (FAN) and Bright House Networks are pleased to announce the 7th Annual Lights On Afterschool (LOA) Mini Grants.  These mini-grants are offered to support local afterschool programs in helping off-set event costs. 

Programs are invited to submit a request for funds to assist in covering expenses that would help increase the profile of their event, or to help make the event more attractive to media and policymakers.  Funding is allocated through a competitive grant process open to all afterschool providers including school board operated and private provider operated sites. 

The total fund amount is $10,000 for LOA mini-grants. There are two levels of scholarship. $2,500 will be available for multiple program community collaborative events, and $1,000 for individual (school or agency events). All public or private organizations are eligible to apply. Examples of agencies and organizations include, but are not limited to “For profit” and “not for profit” agencies, City or county government agencies, individual schools and Faith-based organizations.

All LOA funded programs must meet at a minimum the Florida Standards for Quality Afterschool Programs developed by FAN. These standards focus on positive youth development principles with developmentally age appropriate activities, and have appropriate staff to student ratios. Programs must exhibit a high degree of coordination and involvement with schools and other community partners. The funded programs must provide deliverables to FAN.

FAN and Brighthouse are very excited to be offering these mini-grants. Groups interested in applying can view the requirements and submission information at www.myfan.org. There is still time to apply. The deadline is THIS Friday, August 17^th.

About FAN, Brighthouse and LOA

The mission of the Florida Afterschool Network is to provide unified leadership to advocate for the development, enhancement and sustainability of innovative, high quality afterschool programs and policies statewide.  The Florida Afterschool Network joined a national initiative dedicated to afterschool programs with funding in 2005 by the Charles S. Mott Foundation.

Bright House Networks has long been a supporter of organizations that provide services to children and families, and recognized as being a good corporate citizen. Bright House employees take great pride in working, mentoring and serving the needs of others in their communities. Bright House is privileged to partner with FAN in celebrating Lights on Afterschool.

Lights On Afterschool is a nationwide event that recognizes the critical importance of quality afterschool programs in the lives of children, their families and communities.  It is a project of the Afterschool Alliance, the only organization dedicated to raising awareness of the importance of afterschool programs and advocating for more afterschool investments.  The Afterschool Alliance works with the Administration, the U.S. Congress, governors, mayors and advocates across the country. Today the Afterschool Alliance boasts more than 25,000 afterschool program partners and their publications reach more than 65,000 interested individuals every month.  More information on the Alliance and Lights On Afterschool is available at www.afterschoolalliance.org.

Missed the Afterschool Stakeholder Summit? Watch it here!

The Florida Afterschool Network is very pleased to be able to share video highlights from the inaugural Afterschool Stakeholder Summit.  We would like to thank Broward College and specifically, Greg Haile, for arranging the Summit to be recorded and enabling us to share the valuable conversation and discussions with those who were unable to attend.  Additional thanks to Travis Jordan, also from Broward College, for being an outstanding videographer. Also, thanks again to the Children’s Services Council of Broward County (our co-host) and to everyone who was able to attend. 

Please click on the links below to access each segment of the Summit.

Opening Remarks Part 1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVquziU4zXs&feature=youtu.be

 

Opening Remarks Part 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I5cyoQywxc&feature=youtu.be

Panel 1 (What’s Working):

http://youtu.be/uX0PaclG_WE

Panel 2 (Role of Afterschool):

http://youtu.be/ykVq2Y5kwpI

Panel 3 (Roadmap discussion): 

http://youtu.be/dwgUc75zP_w

Wrap up with audience participation:

http://youtu.be/3YKmnM4eYQY

We would love to have your feedback, and we look forward to follow up events in the near future! Additionally, this information can be found on our FAN website at http://myfan.org/news.html.  Please feel free to share with other stakeholders and help to spread the word that afterschool is accelerating student achievement.

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.