Making After-School Cool Podcast

EP 40: Celebrating Lights on Afterschool Youth Voice

This week the Making Afterschool Cool podcast is celebrating Lights On Afterschool. Introduced in October of 2000, Lights On Afterschool is the only nationwide event celebrating afterschool programs and the importance these programs play in the lives of children, families and communities. Now celebrating 20 years of highlighting afterschool programs activities, Lights On Afterschool has become a symbol of the afterschool movement and each year produces media coverage emphasizing afterschool activities across the country each year. The theme for the 2020 celebration is Youth Voice. To put a spotlight on Youth Voice, this episode of the Making Afterschool Cool podcast features the opinions of outstanding out-of-school time (OST) professionals regarding their perceptions of youth voice.

This episode, you will learn more about the:

• Importance of youth expressing their thoughts through voice, dance music, and other forms of self-expression
• Benefits of youth voice to the community, OST programs, and the youth themselves
• Methods to create a setting where youth can have a voice to help adults understand what students think, want, and hope

Guest

My guests for today are Charmette Jones, the founder and Executive Director of Shamelessly Saved Productions; Andrew Karnavas, founder of Yawp Records; Toni Candis with CASE for Kids, CASE Debates; Brandon Denton, Assistant Director, Education for the Mayor's Office - City of Houston; and Curtis Lemieux, Executive Director of Summer Programs for the YMCA of Greater Houston.

Resources

Lights On Afterschool

http://www.afterschoolalliance.org/loa.cfm

Harris County Department of Education

https://hcde-texas.org

CASE for Kids

https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone

 

 

EP 39: Having Conversations with Youth regarding Diversity, Equity and Social Justice

The topic of this episode of the Making Afterschool Cool podcast is how to facilitate difficult conversations with youth regarding diversity, equity and social justice. Joining this conversation is Rann Miller, Sr., who will share some best practices for working with youth during times of uncertainty. 

 

This podcast discusses:

1. Strategies afterschool practitioners can implement to facilitate discussions regarding diversity and social injustice
2. Importance of educators and afterschool directors evaluating their classroom/program culture, behavior management and casual interaction with students for bias with the new lens of anti-racism
3. Differences between program culture that is student-centric and administrator-, program-, or outcome-centric
4. Importance of afterschool programs and service providers utilizing students’ culture and community as the foundation for the learning environment
5. Steps for afterschool programs interested in starting anti-racism dialogue or programs and how to include families

Guest

Rann Miller, Sr. is the Founder & Lead Writer for the Urban Education Mixtape. He has served as afterschool director for a 21st Century Community Learning Center program, a social studies teacher, mentor for first-year teachers, curricula writer, facilitator, and literary author and contributor. Most importantly Rann is a devoted husband and father.

Resources

Urban Education Mixtape

https://urbanedmixtape.com/

An Antiracist Roadmap for Discussing Tough Topics in Class

https://www.edutopia.org/article/antiracist-roadmap-discussing-tough-topics-class

Harris County Department of Education

https://hcde-texas.org

CASE for Kids

https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone

 

 

Ep 38 Embracing a Multicultural Sensitive Environment Part 2

This episode of the Making Afterschool Cool podcast is the second installation in the two-part series focusing on the impact of Texas’ rapidly changing demographic. With the recent attention on social justice and equity, there has been a greater need to emphasize racial and cultural sensitivity and awareness. This episode, Roberto Germán will join us to discuss embracing multiculturalism in an evolving community.

During this podcast, you will learn about:

1. The importance of being in proximatity of others to build heality relationships
2. Activities afterschool programs can provide to help youth understand they have a voice in social and racial injustice conversations
3. Suggestions for creating youth inclusive spaces for dialogue between community members and police officers
4. Strategies afterschool programs can use with English-language learners

Guest

Roberto is an educational leader who strives to shape school culture by reinforcing the core values of citizenship, scholarship, and collaboration. He is the co-founder of the Multicultural Classroom, an endeavor to address the national issue of effectively teaching in multicultural and multilingual classrooms and communities.  He and his wife Lorena are activists, educators, writers, speakers, trainers, and parents. Throughout the years, they have impacted the lives of many with their passionate leadership and creative talents to create and inspire cultural diversity in communities across the state.

 

Resources

The Multicultural Classroom

https://www.multiculturalclassroomconsulting.com/

 

Harris County Department of Education

https://hcde-texas.org

 

CASE for Kids

https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone

EP 37: Embracing Multicultural Sensitive Environment

This episode of the Making After-school Cool podcast is the first installation in the two-part series focusing on the impact of Texas’ rapidly changing demographic. Within the last twenty years Texas has shifted to a majority-minority state. With the recent attention on social justice and equity, there has been a greater need for emphasis on racial and cultural sensitivity and awareness.  This episode, Roberto German will join us to discuss embracing multiculturalism in an evolving community.

During this podcast you will learn about:

1. Tips youth serving intuitions can use to create a welcoming space for students from a variety of backgrounds
2. Training after-school staff to address social justice, diversity, and multiculturalism
3. Best practices for afterschool programs to involve families in these discussions
4. Activities afterschool programs can provide to help youth understand they have a voice in social and racial injustice conversations
5. Suggestions for creating youth inclusive spaces for dialogue between community members and police officers
6. Strategies afterschool programs can use with English-language learners

Guest

Roberto is an educational leader who strives to shape school culture by reinforcing the core values of citizenship, scholarship, and collaboration.  He is the co-founder of the Multicultural Classroom; an endeavor aimed to address the national issue of effectively teaching in multicultural and multilingual classrooms and communities.  He and his wife Lorena are activists, educators, writers, speakers, trainers, and parents. Throughout the years, they have made an impact in the lives of many with their passionate leadership and creative talents to create and inspire cultural diversity in communities across the state.

 

Resources

The Multicultural Classroom

https://www.multiculturalclassroomconsulting.com/

 

Harris County Department of Education

https://hcde-texas.org

 

CASE for Kids

https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone

Ep 36 Jerry LeVias Overcoming Racism

This episode of Making After-School Cool Podcast features Mr. Jerry Levias who became a civil right pioneer in 1965 as the  first African American scholarship athlete to play football at for Southern Methodist.

Guest

My guest today  Mr. Jerry LeVias, retried professional players, civil rights pioneers,  a youth advocate and a living hero among us.

During this podcast you will learn more about the:

1. Experience of being one of the first African Americans to play football at a major college in Texas
2. Importance of a mentor or a support system during a difficult time
3. Impact of professional athletes speaking out about social inequalities
4. Decision educators must make on whether they should discuss racism, discrimination and injustice towards oppressed people with students
5. Activities beyond reading that out-of-school practitioners can involve students in to learn about social justice issues

Resources

 

Harris County Department of Education

https://hcde-texas.org

 

CASE for Kids

https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone

 

 

Ep 35 Teaching Diversity through Language Arts

This episode of the Making Afterschool Cool Podcast focuses on strategies for creating effective dialogue with youth regarding race relations and social injustice? My guest today is Andrew Simmons, who is a high school teacher who shares strategies for using literature to guide discussions about race with students who would rather avoid the topic.

 

Guest

Andrew Simmons is a high school English teacher, and a contributing writer for The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Beli, San Francisco Chronicle, Slate, and other publications. His forthcoming book for educators, Love Hurts, Lit Helps (Rowman & Littlefield publishing), addresses how English class literature can help improve the relationships of high school students.

 

During this podcast you will learn:

1. An educator’s opinion regarding returning to school during Covid19
2. His motivation for writing the article entitled “Engaging White Students in Conversations About Race” published in Edutopia
3. Why it is important to introduce students to curriculum which present racism, discrimination and social injustice of oppressed people
4. How can youth serving organizations facilitate conversations regarding race with youth
5. works of literature would you recommend youth read to better understand how significant race is in this country’s history
6. Beyond just having students read books dealing with social inequalities what other types of activities can out of school practitioners involve students with to learn about these issues

 

Resources

Andrew Simmons

http://www.adlsimmons.com/

 

Engaging White Students in Conversations About Race

https://www.edutopia.org/article/engaging-white-students-conversations-about-race

 

Harris County Department of Education

https://hcde-texas.org

 

CASE for Kids

https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone

Ep 34 Understanding Special Education Services For OST providers

This episode of the Making Afterschool Cool podcast explores the start-up of the 2020-2021 school year. Many are wondering what will the new year look like. This is particularly true for families with students in special education who need additional support. To speak on this topic is guest Sharaya Hill. Sharaya is a certified special education educator and the host of the podcast Sped Street. 

 

During this podcast you will learn about:

1. The purpose for creating the Sped street podcast 
2. How to combat negative stereotypes about special education 
3. How to reduce parental anxiety about having a studenteligible for special education services 
4. The controversy surrounding the number of children of color diagnosed as in need of special education services 
5. The information parents and school staff should provide afterschool staff regarding their students’ special education needs
6. How out-of-school time programs assist in providing services for special education

 

Guest

Sharaya Hill is a special education teacher hailing from Houston, Texas.  After graduating from Howard University with a Bachelor's in Psychology, she ventured to Spain where she taught impoverished children for a year. Upon her return the United States she was a behavior therapists for children with autism before stepping into her current role as a early childhood special education teacher. In May, Sharaya  graduated from the University of North Texas with her Master's in Special Education. She is the host of the Sped Street podcast where she celebrates those who are differently abled and gives others tools and resources to bridge the gap between neurotypical and atypical persons. Sped Street can be found on all major podcasting platforms.

 

Resources 

Sped Street podcast

‎Sped Street on Apple Podcasts

 A space for families of persons with special needs

 
Harris County Department of Education

https://hcde-texas.org

 

CASE for Kids

https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone

Ep 33 Children’s Museum Summer Services during Covid19

In this episode of the Making Afterschool Cool podcast, we continue our series of interviews exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the out-of-school time field. Today our guests share information on the available summer services at the Children’s Museum of Houston.

  

During this episode you will learn about:

 1.  Safety procedures for the facility and staff

2.  Steps the Children’s Museum of Houston is taking to minimize the probability of youth being exposed to COVID-19

3.  Procedures for OST providers and parents who want to visit the museum 

4.   Steps the Children's Museum of Houston is taking in the event someone get sick while visiting

5.    Adjustments the museum made to practice social distancing while allowing youth to participate in fun activities

Guest

 Dr. Armando X. Orduña has served in formal and informal K—12 education for over 20 years. He currently serves as the Director of Outreach Programs for Children’s Museum Houston where he has filled various roles in its Education Dept. for the last 12 years. In 2012, nominated by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Orduña was honored as a White House Champion of Change for his classroom service for urban Hispanic youth.   

Tiffany Espinosa  

 

Tiffany Espinosa, Manager of Community Partnerships at Children’s Museum Houston, has a Bachelor of Art in Spanish and History from Stephen F. Austin State University. Tiffany has 15 years of experience in bilingual education and community outreach. Her work at Children’s Museum Houston includes 9 years of experience managing the Museum’s Para los Niños program and serving as Educator for the Parent Stars program, both of which provide bilingual, hands-on workshops and events for families throughout Houston. Currently, she manages the Open Doors program, maintaining partnerships with over 1,091 organizations and providing free admission to families who would otherwise not be able to visit the Museum.

Ep: 32 YMCA Summer Services during Covid19

This episode of the Making Afterschool Cool podcast explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the OST field. Featured is an interview with Curtis Lemieux, Executive Director of Youth Development for the YMCA of Greater Houston.

During this interview you will learn:

1. Preparedness of the YMCA management to address providing services for essential workers at the beginning of the pandemic
2.  Safety procedures established by the YMCA for staff and the facility as well
3. Steps the YMCA took to minimize the probability of student exposure to COVID-19
4. Procedures the YMCA put in place for drop-off and pick-up as well as daily interactions on the facility
5. Procedures established by the YMCA in the event a student gets sick while attending programming
6. Adjustments the YMCA made to practice social distancing while allowing students to participate in activities
7. Advice for other OST programs regarding providing services during this new normal 

Guest

Curtis Lemieux has worked with the YMCA for 20 years serving in multiple capacities. For the last 10 years he has worked with the YMCA of Greater Houston. He is currently the Executive Director of Youth Development working with a team of individuals who plan and implement the afterschool and summer day camps throughout the city of Houston.

Resources

YMCA of Greater Houston

https://www.ymcahouston.org/SeeYouSoon

 Harris County Department of Education

https://hcde-texas.org

CASE for Kids

https://hcde-texas.org/afterschool-zone

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ep 31: The COVID19 Academic Slide Impact on Students’ Achievement

This episode of the Making Afterschool Cool podcast focuses on what educators describe as the COVID-19 Slide. This year, most students have been out of their classroom setting since early March. Now that summer break is here, many students will not be getting any form of academic instruction. How will the COVID-19 Slide impact students’ academic achievement? Is there anything OST staff and parents can do to lessen academic losses? To discuss this issue we are joined by guest Dr. Cedric Stewart. During this podcast, you will hear some answers to these questions and the following:
• Definition of COVID-19 Slide
• Subjects with the largest incidence of learning loss during summer
• Tips and strategies for parents and OST providers to help enhance students' learning during summer
• Methods for parents and OST providers to encourage engaged learning
• Strategies to minimize students' math anxiety
• Resources for parents and OST providers with math anxiety

Guest

Dr. Cedric Stewart has served families in Harris County as an educator, consultant, and administrator since 1992. During that time, he has held many roles simultaneously, accruing over 20 years of educational experience with a fierce commitment to equity for all students. Dr. Stewart was recently appointed to serve as the new Instructional Leader of Jewel Houston Academy. He is a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces and holds 6 degrees in Criminal Justice, Educational Leadership, and Counseling.
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Resources
Dr. Steward
Cbsteward@aldineisd.org

Khan Academy
https://www.khanacademy.org/

Code.org
https://code.org/

Sesame Street
https://www.sesamestreet.org/

PBS for Kids
https://pbskids.org/

Cool Math
https://www.coolmathgames.com/

We Are Teachers
https://www.weareteachers.com/free-online-learning-resources/

Fun Brain
https://www.funbrain.com/