Help Shape the Future of Out-of-School Time in Your Region

MASP is traveling across Michigan to listen, learn, and build stronger regional connections with the people and organizations shaping out-of-school time every day.

These Regional Listening Sessions are an opportunity for out-of-school time (OST) providers, partners, young people, and community leaders to share what is working, what barriers remain, and what support is needed to build a more connected, equitable, and youth-driven OST ecosystem across Michigan.

Your experience matters. Your region matters. And what we hear through these conversations will help shape future MASP programs, policy priorities, communications, and regional network-building efforts.

Schedule

Map of Michigan’s Prosperity Regions

Region 1: Upper Peninsula Prosperity Alliance

Tuesday, July 14
9:00 — 10:00 AM

Region 2: Northwest Prosperity Region

Tuesday, July 28
9:00 — 10:00 AM

Region 3: Northeast Prosperity Region

Wednesday, August 12
9:00 — 10:00 AM

Region 4: West Michigan Prosperity Alliance

Wednesday, August 26
9:00 — 10:00 AM

Region 5: East Central Michigan Prosperity Region

Tuesday, September 15
9:00 — 10:00 AM

Why MASP Is Listening

Out-of-school time looks different across Michigan.

Rural communities, urban neighborhoods, Tribal communities, suburban regions, and small towns all experience different opportunities, barriers, and needs. To build a stronger statewide OST system, MASP needs to better understand what is happening locally and directly from the people closest to the work.

Through these listening sessions, MASP is creating space for partners to share real experiences, identify regional priorities, share the lessons they’ve learned, and help shape solutions that reflect the needs of young people, families, providers, and communities.

What We Hope to Learn

During each listening session, participants will be invited to share their perspectives on:

• What is working well for OST programs and young people in their region

• Barriers affecting youth, families, providers, and communities

• Regional strengths, assets, and opportunities

• Gaps in access, quality, funding, staffing, and support

• Youth voice and leadership opportunities

• How MASP can better support OST providers and partners across Michigan

Who Should Attend

These sessions are designed for people and organizations connected to out-of-school time and youth-serving work, including:

• Afterschool, before school, and summer learning providers & staff

• Youth & families

• Regional coalitions and local partners

• Youth-serving organizations in rural, urban, suburban, and Tribal communities

You do not need to be a current MASP partner to participate.

What to Expect

Each region will have two virtual listening session options. Participants only need to attend one session. The same content will be offered twice to increase access and provide flexibility for different work schedules.

Sessions are designed to be welcoming, conversational, and grounded in shared learning. These are not formal presentations. They are opportunities to connect with others in your region, share what you are seeing locally, and help identify priorities that can guide future regional engagement.

How Your Input Will Be Used

What MASP learns through the listening sessions will help inform:

• Future regional engagement strategies

• Regional hub and network-building efforts

• Policy and advocacy priorities

• MASP programs and supports

• Communications and storytelling

• Identification of regional priorities, gaps, and opportunities

• Future leadership and network advocate opportunities

MASP will also share key themes and insights from the listening sessions so participants can see how their input is helping shape what comes next.

Join the Conversation

Strong systems are built through strong relationships. These listening sessions are one step toward building a statewide OST network where every region feels seen, heard, and connected.

We invite OST providers, partners, young people, and community leaders to join a Regional Listening Session and help shape the future of out-of-school time in Michigan.

Questions?

Contact Quintina Pittman at qunitina@miafterschool.org.