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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

Friday Jan 31, 2025
Useing Hip Hop pedagoy to Teach Financial Literacy
Friday Jan 31, 2025
Friday Jan 31, 2025
The topic of today’s episode of the Making After School Cool podcast, focuses on the use of Hip Hop pedagoy to teach financial literacy in underserved communties. My guest is Joshua Marks who’s passion for the hip-hop inspired him to develop a curriculum called "Hip Hopportunity." The vision of Hip Hopportunity LLC is to create an inclusive learning environment for youth of all backgrounds that fosters critical thinking & financial literacy through hip-hop pedagogy.
During this podcast you will learn about the following:
- The motivation behind developing Hip Hopportunity
- The disparity in financial literacy among diverse groups of people and the importance regarding closing the economic gap
- The types of activities and lessons youth can learn from Hip Hopportunity
- The importance for youth to have a vehicle to share their voice, culture and language without judgment.
Resources
Hip Hopportunity - www.hip-hopportunity.com
Joshua Marks – joshua@hip-hopportunity.com
Mike Wilson – mwilson@hcde-texas.org

Friday Jan 17, 2025
Creating A Motivational Educational Environment
Friday Jan 17, 2025
Friday Jan 17, 2025
Today’s episode of the Making After School podcast focuses strategies parents’ educators, after school practitioners and youth face; how to be successful in school and life. To speak on these issues is my guest Mr. Mills Rogers. Mills "Mr. Rodge" Rodgers’s is a consultant, author and trainer with a purpose to help education & corporate leaders improve campus & organizational culture.
During the episode you will learn:
- How to overcome common educational obstacles including lack of parental involvement and economic factors
- Addressing the stress and anxiety experienced by youth
- Steps to advocate for special needs youth
- Overview of the books “You Can Win Being You,” and “Success is a Process, Not an Event,”
Resources
Mills Rogers - www.successisaprocess.net
Mike Wilson - mwilson@hcde-texas.org

Thursday Dec 19, 2024

Thursday Dec 19, 2024
CASE Holiday Season Message
Thursday Dec 19, 2024
Thursday Dec 19, 2024
We at CASE for Kids would like to send a special message of gratitude and thanks to our partners, out of school time professionals, community supporters, parents, teachers and administrators, mentors and most importantly the students who touch all our lives. We wish you a speacail Holiday Season

Monday Nov 25, 2024
Defining Your Own Success Story
Monday Nov 25, 2024
Monday Nov 25, 2024
The topic of today’s episode of the Making After School Cool podcast, focuses on defining your own unique success story. There are many perspectives of what is considered successful. Some may say it is the accomplishment of reaching a life goal, while others may view it as economic wealth, a position of high regard, or status within a community. Then there are those who believe success is an internal measurement based on the realization of an individual’s purpose (Palmer,2021). To assist others on their journey of defining their own unique success story is my guest today Mr. Chip Baker.
During this podcast you will learn about the following:
- How to develop a personal defintion of success
- The Success Chronicles, & what motivated you to develop it
- Advice for youth who are starting this journey towards developing goals and accomplishing them?
- The importance of being intentional about being intentional can you expand on this mindset
- The importantance of being around people who are positive and successful
Resources
Mike Wilson – mwilson@hcde-texas.org
Chip Baker - ChipBakerTSC@gmail.com

Monday Nov 18, 2024
Self-Care for Postive Mental Health Featuring Nicole Milton
Monday Nov 18, 2024
Monday Nov 18, 2024
Today's episode of the Making After School Cool podcast features my Discussion with Nicole Milton with the Mental Health America of Greater Houston. During this episode you will hear about the following:
- the connection between a person’s mental health and the impact it could have on their physical health
- Why are good self-care practices important for a person’s personal and professional life
- How does stress affect us physically and emotionally
- Balaning alone time and social interaction to improve your health and wellbeing
Resources
Mike Wilson - Mwilson@hcde-texas.org
Nicole Milton - nmilton@mhahouston.org

Monday Nov 04, 2024
Part 2: The Influence Of Positive Mentoring Programs on Youth
Monday Nov 04, 2024
Monday Nov 04, 2024
Today’s episode of the Making After School Podcast is part 2 of my interview with Dipin Bhakata, Co-Area Leader of The US Dream Academy in Houston, TX. We continue or discussion on the power positive mentoring programs can have on youth. The U.S. Dream Academy helps children reach for their dreams through academic, social, and values enrichment. The agency empowers children impacted by parental incarceration to believe in themselves and to succeed.
For more Information contact:
Dipen Bhakta
Co-Area Leader
Email: dbhakta@usdreamacademy.org

Friday Oct 25, 2024
The Power of Positive Mentorship
Friday Oct 25, 2024
Friday Oct 25, 2024
Today’s episode of the Making After School Podcast focuses on the power of positive mentoring programs can have on youth. Mentorship programs, both formally and informally have been around for centuries. Be it in the form of apprenticeships, coaching, teaching or parenting, mentors play a crucial role in the development of youth. One such program that is doing this type of work is the US Dream Academy. I am fortunate to have has my guest today on the Making After School Cool Podcast is Dipen Bhakata, Co-Area Leader of The US Dream Academy in Houston, TX.

Wednesday Oct 02, 2024
Mental Health and Self-Care Strategies For OST Professionals
Wednesday Oct 02, 2024
Wednesday Oct 02, 2024
This episode of the Making After School Podcast focuses on self-care and proper mental health care strategies for adults and professionals working with youth in either education, social work, youth programing or as mentors. My guest today is Ms. Nichole Milton with Mental health America of Greater Houston.
During this podcast you will learn more regarding:
- The connection between a person’s mental health and the impact it could have on their physical health
- Why good self-care practices are important for a person’s personal and professional life
- Examples of healthy self-care practices
Resources
Nichole Milton - nmilton@mhahouston.org
Mike Wilson - mwilson@hcde-texas.org

Monday Aug 26, 2024
Teaching Youth Financial Literacy Featuring Sterling Mark
Monday Aug 26, 2024
Monday Aug 26, 2024
For many youths, being a successful adult is often viewed in a lens primarily associated with making a large amount of money. Although low-income youth may not personally know people who are successful in business, acting or athletics, these professions are very attractive to kids because the benefactors appear well compensated. Having a wide knowledge on financial literacy allows youth to think rationally and make effective decisions on financial use and management (ANZ Bank, 2008; Van Rooij et al., 2011).
During this episode you will hear more about:
- Kidprenur Dreams: Exploring Money and Emotions and the Coloring Book: a World of Creative and learning
- Why is it import for parents, youth and out of school time staff be knowledgeable regarding help youth be aware of financial literacy
- Some of the biggest mistakes youth fall into regarding make sound financial decisions.
- The best age youth should practice sound money management