Congratulations, Jane Beck and Project GRAD!

Homer’s Jane Beck Selected as One of Just 16 Afterschool Ambassadors in United States This Year

Jane Beck Will Work in Alaska and Nationally to Increase Access to Afterschool and Summer Learning Programs

Washington, DC – The Afterschool Alliance announced that Jane Beck, Executive Director at Project GRAD Kenai Peninsula, has been selected to serve as an Afterschool Ambassador for the Afterschool Alliance in 2022. She is one of just 16 leaders in the country chosen for the honor this year. Afterschool Ambassadors continue their work with local afterschool programs while serving a one-year Afterschool Ambassador term, organizing public events, communicating with policy makers and community leaders, and in other ways increasing awareness and support for afterschool and summer learning programs.

Celebrating Leap Into Science Week: STEM Challenges and Opportunities in Afterschool

Science is an intimidating subject for a lot of kids, a contributing factor to the drop in interest experienced as they age. Afterschool is the perfect time to develop the impression in young learners that STEM is fun, interesting, useful, and empowering. It provides an environment where kids are free to explore, engage at their own pace, and come up with unique ideas, all while not having to worry about their performance or proficiency being judged.

Out-of-school time presents a tremendous opportunity to get straight at the heart of the obstacles we face in STEM learning, to push back on the most entrenched barriers, and improve outcomes in STEM learning for all youth, regardless of background, race, ethnicity, gender, or gender identity.

Investing in STEM learning in out-of-school time is vital in helping children today reach their full potential.

Welcome to the team, Bethany!

Hi everyone, my name is Bethany Alvarez, and I am joining the Alaska Afterschool Network as the Substance Use Prevention AmeriCorps VISTA after attending Indiana University at Bloomington. I will be graduating with my master’s in Behavioral, Social, and Community Health with a concentration in Public Health Administration this Spring (2022). I have combined my graduate program’s internship with my service year as the goals and timeline for each program aligned perfectly. I am a bit of a traveler at heart, born and raised in Rhode Island, then completing my undergraduate degree in Castleton, Vermont. I have previously worked as an emergency room medical scribe at the Rutland Regional Hospital, then a crisis responder at the Stride Coalition in Bloomington, Indiana.

I have always felt a profound fascination with all topics relating to health. I have felt a calling to become a physician since I was very young, and I aspire to one day create and influence healthcare policy. I especially wish to dismantle healthcare disparities. I believe that fostering healthy communities begins and ends with our youth, and my current service work seeks to explore the role that substance use prevention programming can play as it pertains to a child’s physical, mental, and emotional health. I believe that building the capacity of afterschool programs as early intervention will improve health outcomes and help families thrive. I love to be active and in my free time I enjoy ice skating, practicing martial arts, and drawing/painting.

Welcome to the team, Erin!

My name is Erin Moriearty and I come to the Alaska Afterschool Network from the Anchorage School District where I served as a Site Coordinator for 21st Century Community Learning Centers. I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin and health was a prominent value in my family, which inspired me to get my bachelor’s degree in Community Health Education. I served as a Nutrition Educator with AmeriCorps for a year before coming to Alaska to complete my master’s degree in Outdoor and Environmental Education, and then becoming an afterschool program coordinator. I am thrilled to continue serving afterschool programs as a Program Specialist with the Alaska Afterschool Network.

Through my life experiences I’ve found my passion to help people thrive and prepare children for a healthy life. People and children come from all backgrounds with all different experiences, skills, and needs. When we learn to meet people where they are at and identify the best ways to support them, we can improve outcomes and help children and communities thrive. In my free time I enjoy knitting, gardening, and recreating in Alaska's great outdoors.

Welcome to the team, Julee!

Last week, the Alaska Afterschool Network team and Alaska Children's Trust welcomed Julee Douglas as a summer intern from First Alaskan Institute's internship program. Julee has started her time working with the Afterschool Network and Alaska Children’s Trust by learning more about network partners and immersing herself in the world of afterschool!

STEM Mini Grants Impact Summary

The Million Girl Moonshot STEM Mini Grant Program provides funding to recruit and engage girls and BIPOC (black, Indigenous, people of color) individuals in STEM, build an engineering mindset in students, and create activities to help develop STEM identity. This year, grantees faced the unique challenge of navigating out-of-school activities in the time of COVID-19. Despite the obstacles posed by the global pandemic, these organizations found creative ways to provide safe, fun, meaningful, and engaging programming to the kids they serve. Educators worked to build virtual and/or socially distanced workshops, made STEM kits with fun activity supplies for kids to use at home, and even brought in local female STEM professionals to speak virtually, act as role models, and foster career exploration. Through diligent work and dedication to improving the lives of Alaska kids, facilitators of these programs have helped increase access to out-of-school STEM opportunities for those currently underrepresented in the field, and have made it possible for more young students to see themselves in any career field, no matter their background.

Alaska Afterschool Superhero Awards 2021

Due to COVID-19, the challenges facing our students, families, and communities this year couldn’t be greater, and once more afterschool professionals across Alaska rose to meet challenges to ensure student success! In a flash, these afterschool educators transformed their programs to meet new student needs caused by the pandemic while ensuring safety and relationship building was at the core of their actions. The Alaska Afterschool Network is thrilled to recognize five outstanding afterschool professionals who act as everyday superheroes in our youths’ lives during Afterschool Professionals Appreciation Week, April 19 - 23, 2021.

These five Afterschool Superheroes inspired teens to reach for greatness, transforming a hockey rink into a summer camp, helping students understand the legal system, creating safe places for teens to connect online, and engaging students in outdoor education via Zoom. Join us in celebrating their incredible commitment and passion for our youth!

2020-2021 Engineering Mindset STEM Mini-Grant Grantees Announced

The Alaska Afterschool Network, in partnership with STEM Next and Verizon Wireless, is proud to announce the recipients of the 2020-2021 Engineering Mindset Mini-Grants. These mini-grants were designed to help afterschool programs implement or expand high-quality STEM learning with an eye towards recruiting and engaging girls and other underrepresented populations in STEM fields. As part of STEM Next’s Million Girls Moonshot initiative, the goal of this grant program is to expand access to culturally and locally relevant afterschool STEM programming for girls in Alaska. These programs focus on helping girls develop STEM identities, to see themselves as engineers and scientists, to help encourage more girls to enter STEM careers. All grants received were for $3,000 and were awarded to seven programs.

Youth Programs During COVID-19: How AmeriCorps NCCC Members Offer Support

My name is Luna, and I’m a member of AmeriCorps NCCC, a team-based national service program for young adults. My team of twelve has been serving with the Alaska Afterschool Network, working with Camp Fire Alaska, Trailside Discovery, and The YMCA of Alaska. It’s nearing the end of our two month project and I can’t help but feel overcome with gratitude for having the opportunity to serve during such uncertain, ever-changing times.

Join Us in Welcoming Elizabeth, the Alaska Afterschool Network’s 2020 Summer Intern!

Join us in welcoming Elizabeth, the Alaska Afterschool Network’s 2020 Summer Intern joining us from First Alaskans Institute! Elizabeth Gloria Aqpaluk Ahkivgak was raised in Utqiagvik, Alaska. She attended Mt. Edgecumbe Boarding school and is transferring from UAA to Penn State this Fall of 2020. She is majoring in Accounting with interest in a minor in Energy Business and Finance. This summer she will be introduced to grant writing with the Alaska Afterschool Network Director and AmeriCorps volunteer, work with the team of specialists on conference training workshops, network one on one with non-profits within the Alaska Community Foundation hub, and become involved in the Big Brothers and Big Sisters program.