BOOST NATION Town Hall meetings are informal public meetings scheduled throughout the conference with national leaders. Everybody in the out-of-school time community is invited to attend, voice their opinions, share issues and challenges, share promising practices and hear the responses from public figures and elected officials about shared subjects of interest in your community.

2012 BOOST Nation: Town Hall Schedule

Thursday, April 26
2:45pm-4:45pm

Federal Threats to Afterschool and Why Your Voice Matters
Jodi Grant, Executive Director, Afterschool Alliance, Washington, DC

Join Afterschool Alliance Executive Director Jodi Grant in a discussion on the state of afterschool in the nation. She will explain how the President’s No Child Left Behind Waivers, as well as House and Senate education bills threaten to divert and potentially eliminate federal funding for afterschool programs through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers Program. These policy changes and proposals are occurring at a time when the well-documented academic and crime-prevention benefits of afterschool programs are more important than ever. Your voice, and the voices of those you work with and serve make a critical difference. We have an amazing story to tell: over 8 million students now participate in afterschool programs; new trends in STEM, physical activity and nutrition, and an emphasis on engaged learning are resulting in a new generation of participants, programs and staff; older youth are now getting academic credit for work performed through afterschool programs; and closer alignment with school curriculum is resulting in improved academic outcomes for those in afterschool programs. Jodi Grant will also highlight some of the most promising new developments in afterschool and our most successful ways to continue to make afterschool programs relevant to policy makers and funders. Share your story and help us reinvigorate a dynamic movement towards quality afterschool programs for all. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet Jodi Grant, ask questions and get up-to-the-minute answers about federal policies impacting after school programs.

Friday, April 27
10:00am-12:00pm

Creating an Education Nation: The Ingredients of an Innovative Educational System
Milton Chen, Senior Fellow, The George Lucas Educational Foundation, Edutopia.org & Edutopia video, San Rafael, CA

Milton Chen will show additional film segments on topics such as the importance of arts, STEM education and digital tools, and how out-of-school programs are helping redefine powerful learning experiences for our youth. He will lead an interactive question-and-answer session on specific strategies for redesigning our educational system and when, where, and how students learn.

Saturday, April 28
9:15-11:15am

The State of Equity in After-School/Out-of-School: How Extended Learning Opportunity Meets Diverse Student Needs
Ernest Saadiq Morris, Esq., Director, Urban Youth Justice Initiative (Urban Youth Justice), Seattle, WA

Ernest Saadiq Morris will lead a dynamic, no-holds-barred Town Hall discussion on how after-school/out-of-school programming is meeting the equity challenges presented by a rapidly diversifying student population.

An overview of current issues and challenges created by diverse student subgroups, based on ethnic origin, nationality, race, gender, special needs, language, sexual orientation, and poverty (to name only a few). We will discuss the obstacles to maximizing the involvement of all student groups, as well as using grassroots organizing strategies to overcome them, e.g., inclusive communication strategies, and identifying barriers to participation. Also, cautionary tales of mistakes that your program will want to avoid.

A unique opportunity to share ideas, experiences, and the best practices for facilitating access to Out-of-School learning opportunities for the diverse student populations of the present and foreseeable future.

Have a suggestion for a Town Hall meeting?  Please contact Tia Quinn This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it