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The Making After-School Cool Podcast is an essential part of the CASE for Kids push to increase the awareness of resources that improve quality in the after-school and out-of-school time field. Join Mike Wilson and field experts as they discuss best practices, the growth mindset, project-based learning, social emotional learning, restorative practices and student engagement all with after-school providers in mind. Brought to you by Case4Kids
Episodes
Tuesday Jul 05, 2022
Tuesday Jul 05, 2022
In honor of the historic work they do, today’s episode of the Making After School Cool podcast highlights the Houston Area Urban League. As they celebrate 54 years of existence, the Houston Area Urban League advocates for and provides social services to disadvantaged people of all races, gender, age groups, and/or disabilities.
During this podcast you will learn:
- The types of services provided by the Houston Area Urban League
- The Houston Area Urban league summer initiatives designed for youth
- Challenges and rewarding moments faced by Houston Area Urban League
- Information regarding any workshops and trainings
Guest
John Robinson, is a career educator, spokesperson, and trainer for Scholastics and currently the Director of Education and Youth Development Family Support Service for the Houston Area Urban League
Resources
John Robinson
Houston Area Urban League
Mike Wilson
mwilson@hcde-texas.org
Harris County Department of Education
https://hcde-texas.org
CASE for Kids
https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone
Monday Jun 27, 2022
Monday Jun 27, 2022
This preview of episode 94 of the Making After School Cool podcast honor of the historic work of the Houston Area Urban League. As they celebrate 54 years of existence, the Houston Area Urban League advocates for and provides social services to disadvantaged people of all races, gender, age groups, and/or disabilities. To speak on services being provided by the Houston Area Urban League is today’s guest is John Robinson, Director of Education and Youth Development Family support service
Thursday Jun 16, 2022
Thursday Jun 16, 2022
There are numerous problems negatively influencing communities across the country. However, developing a strategy to address these concerns can be complex and overwhelming. Community advocacy is when a person or organization brings to light civic issues to policymakers, politicians, and the local citizenry to create change. Therefore, today’s episode of the making after school cool podcast highlights community advocacy and features the work of the Collective Agency for Youth.
During this podcast you will learn the following:
- A definition of community advocacy?
- The goals of the Collective Agency for Youth the target audience e and the type of services the agency provides
- The importance for having community advocacy resources
- Examples of challenges and rewards regarding conducting youth advocacy work
Guest
Tiffany Echevarria, Tiffany is currently the Executive Director of the Collective Action for Youth. Her background includes implementation, evaluation, and continuous quality improvement for youth programming. Tiffany is an experienced facilitator who regularly brings people together to dialogue around race and diversity. In this role, she is eager to work shoulder to shoulder with youth to create better solutions for the community.
Resources
Collective Action for Youth
Tiffany Echevarria
tiffany.echevarria@ca4y.org
Mike Wilson
mwilson@hcde-texas.org
Harris County Department of Education
https://hcde-texas.org
CASE for Kids
Tuesday Jun 14, 2022
Tuesday Jun 14, 2022
Today we are previewing Ep 93 which focuses on community advocacy and highlights the Collective Agency for Youth. There are numerous problems negatively influencing communities across the country. Community advocacy requires the collaboration of a wide range of people focused on solving social issues. In the Houston area anorganzation doing such work is the Collective Agency for Youth. To speak on community advocacy, as well as the work of the Collective Action for Youth is my guest Tiffany Echevarria, the Executive Director of the Collective Action for Youth.
Tuesday Jun 07, 2022
Tuesday Jun 07, 2022
The topic for this week’s episode focuses on the importance of building your networking skills. Building a network is important because it helps you locate individuals who can assist you with connecting and developing potential opportunities for success. Regarding school based after school programs, School administration, faculty members, custodians, bus drivers, local community members and parents are key targets for after school staff to network with.
During this podcast you will learn the following:
- A definition of networking and why is it an important skill to master?
- How introverted and extroverted people can take advantage of their strengths when it comes to networking?
- How to identify the best people to be in your network?
- How does a person’s body language influence networking opportunities?
- How should after school staff approach networking with campus staff, parents, businesses, and neighborhood residents in the area?
Guest
Sonya Ware is the Chief Executive Officer & President at Blue Beagle Consulting based in Houston, Texas. With twenty years of professional experience, as a regional Fortune 500 leader and entrepreneur, Sonya serves as a strategic thinking and accountability partner; Prior to Blue Beagle Consulting, she worked in oil and gas technology and was a five-time award-recipient for creating the ‘right work environment’. She has coached individuals working in companies such as Royal Dutch Shell, British Petroleum, UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, United Way of Greater Houston, Pfizer, Farmers Insurance, Morgan Stanley, and Universities.
Resources
Sonya Ware
sonyaware.com
Mike Wilson
mwilson@hcde-texas.org
Harris County Department of Education
https://hcde-texas.org
CASE for Kids
Monday Jun 06, 2022
Monday Jun 06, 2022
This is a preview of EP 92 which will focus on the importance of building networking skills. Building a network is important because it helps you locate individuals who can assist you with connecting and developing potential opportunities for success. In regards to school based after school programs, administrators, faculty members, custodians, bus drivers, local community members and parents are key targets for after school staff to network with.
To discuss the importance of networking is my guest, Ms. Sonya Ware. Ms. Ware is the Chief Executive Officer & President at Blue Beagle Consulting based in Houston, Texas.
Wednesday Jun 01, 2022
Wednesday Jun 01, 2022
The topic for this week’s episode of the Making After School Cool Podcast is the Influence School Connectedness has on students’ performance. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, students who feel connected to their schools are more likely to have better academic achievement, have better attendance, and are less likely to engage in behavior that may remove them from the classroom setting. So, it should not be a surprise that there has emerged an increased awareness of how student’s feeling regarding their educational setting influence youth engagement with their schools. To discuss this issue is my guest, Helen Spencer.
During this podcast you will learn about the following:
- A working definition of Student Connectedness
- Why is Student Connectedness Important?
- How the campus environment and climate influence how students feel about their school?
- How can schools promote activities to increase student connectedness?
Guest
Helen is currently a doctoral student and research assistant at the University of Houston’s Graduate College of Social Work. Her study includes researching contextual factors such as school support that promote adolescent wellbeing in complex families. She is a former journalist, who previously served as HCDE’s Chief Information Officer, supporting Technology and Communications. In this role, she became familiar with Out of School Time field including providing support for the mission of CASE for Kids to increase equitable access to youth services.
Helen received her Master of Social Work from the University of Houston, and has a daughter, who is also a student at the University of Houston, a stepdaughter, and two stepsons. She and her partner currently live in Houston TX
Resources
Helen Spencer
Mike Wilson
mwilson@hcde-texas.org
Harris County Department of Education
https://hcde-texas.org
CASE for Kids
Friday May 27, 2022
Friday May 27, 2022
This is a preview of Episode 91 of the Making After School podcast. The topic for this upcoming episode focuses on the Influence School Connectedness has on students’ performance. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, students who feel connected to their schools are more likely to have better academic achievement, have better attendance, and are less likely to engage in behavior that may remove them from the classroom setting.
To discuss this issue is my guest, Helen Spencer.
Helen is currently a doctoral student and research assistant at the University of Houston’s Graduate College of Social Work. Her study includes researching contextual factors such as school support that promote adolescent wellbeing in complex families.
Monday May 23, 2022
Monday May 23, 2022
Today’s episode of the Making Afterschool Cool podcast focuses on how the growth of after school programs have altered the way numerous students spends their out of school time. For example, not only do many after school programs hire fulltime staff, there’s also supplementary support staff which enhances afterschool program’s service delivery. In many cases this involves a collaboration between after school programs and independent service providers. To speak on how CASE for Kids is providing opportunities for service providers and community organizations to positive influence the quality of out of school time services is by guest, LaTerika "Teri" Wilson, the CASE for Kids Program Coordinator of Resources.
During this podcast you will learn the following:
- A description of the CASE for Kids City Connections project
- A description of the Youth Services for Afterschool and Summer project.
- Tips for writing a successful proposal
- How can service providers access information regarding the Afterschool and Summer program RFP?
Guest
Teri Wilson is a native Houstonian who attended the University of Texas at Austin for her bachelor’s and earned her Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from Concordia University—Portland. She has over 11 years of experience working with afterschool programs holding such titles as Tutorial Teacher, Enrichment Leader, and Curriculum Specialist. Her work experience ranges from charter schools to school districts and Boys & Girls Club in suburban, urban, and rural areas. Her last 8 years were spent as an Afterschool Site Coordinator before she moved back to Houston to join the CASE for Kids family.
Resources
LaTerika "Teri" Wilson, MEd
LaTerika.Wilson@hcde-texas.org
Mike Wilson
mwilson@hcde-texas.org
Harris County Department of Education
https://hcde-texas.org
CASE for Kids
https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone
Friday May 20, 2022
Friday May 20, 2022
Today we are previewing episode 90 which highlights the collaboration among after school programs, independent services providers, and community organizations. During the last four decades there has been tremendous growth in the Out of school time industry. Likewise, there has also been an increase in the number of job opportunities in the field.
Consequently, the need for collaboration between after school program sites, independent service providers has also increased. To speak on how CASE for Kids is providing opportunities for service providers and community organizations to work with after school programs is by guest, Teri Wilson, the CASE for Kids Program Coordinator of Resources.