Michigan After School Partnership

Check out MASPs April Newsletter:Afterschool Fun: The Blue Dragons Mix Tape

Included in this issue:

• Program Spotlight on YouthQuest in Flint, MI
• Summer Learning Loss Educational Video
• Advocacy Updates and Action
• Updates on Expanded Learning and Afterschool Opportunities
• MetLife Foundation Innovator Award
• Upcoming Events

This year's Summer Summit features keynote speaker Mike Roskamp's message on, "Great Expectations! Greater Success!" Mike Roskamp is a Grand Valley State University Assistant Professor in the Department of Movement Science. Read More »

School is about to end in the next couple of months, and many children will go without at least one nutritious meal a day during the summer time. Only one in seven of low-income students who depended on the School Lunch Program during the school year had access to summer meals in 2010. Read More »

“Goofing around and getting paid for it” is the way a brother-in-law once described my job. I prefer to think about it as showing others how children can goof around and learn at the same time.
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The robotics experiential learning is building youths skills in the areas of science, engineering, technology and math. Furthermore; youth are being inspired and developing an early interest in engineering and technology. Read More »

The West Michigan Center for Arts and Technology (WMCAT) provides after school programming to urban teens in arts and technology that incorporates these new skills and provides opportunities through
creative thinking.
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In 2009 a survey by MASP disclosed that only half of Michigan after-school programs responding to the survey regularly include math and science activities in their program, and somewhat fewer include technology skill development (26%) and engineering (16%). When asked what support they needed to increase the quantity and/or quality of STEM activities, about half asked for professional development and knowledge of STEM materials and curriculum.

In response, MASP applied for and received a Noyce Foundation grant to build a coordinated informal STEM SySTEM in Michigan. This SySTEM, Project LIFTOFF, intends to increase awareness and facilitate capacity building of high quality, innovative STEM programs in after-school settings. A large part of Project LIFTOFF involves creating and piloting STEM professional development for after-school program staff. Pilot training will take place in Saginaw, Grand Rapids, and Detroit during 2012-13. MASP hopes to leverage this grant to obtain ad ... Read More »

Summer programs can benefit children and youth by helping them to maintain or improve academic skills over the summer while also promoting positive youth development. Read More »

This year I’m serving as an Afterschool Alliance Ambassador and having a ball -- the Alliance is awesome! Its purpose is to make sure that youth have access to quality afterschool programs. As part of that, the Afterschool Ambassador program brings together afterschool providers to offer training, technical support and a bit of funding. Read More »

Let's prevent 552,000 children in Michigan from going hungry
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