The NYC Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) has released two concept papers and seeks feedback to assist in the forthcoming requests for proposals anticipated this fall. Feedback for the Summer Youth Employment Program concept paper is due October 19, 2017. Email conceptpaper@dycd.nyc.gov with subject line: SYEP Concept Paper or submit by mail to Milagros Ramirez, Department of Youth and Community Development, 2 Lafayette Street, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10007. Feedback for the Residential and Non-Residential Runaway and Homeless Youth Services Program concept paper is due October 24, 2017. Email CP@dycd.nyc.gov with subject line: Runaway and Homeless Youth Concept Paper or submit by mail to Cressida Wasserman, Department of Youth and Community Development, 2 Lafayette Street, 20th Floor, New York, NY 10007.

Commissioned by the Wallace Foundation, Strategies to Scale Up Social Programs: Pathways, Partnerships and Fidelity explores the question of how to scale up social programs. Looking at how 45 effective nonprofits succeeded in extending their reach by working in partnership with others, the study analyzes the choices the programs made along the way, offering insights into how partnerships can help bring sound programming to more people. The programs featured in the study—in the fields of health, education and youth development—are tackling some of society’s most serious problems, ranging from teen pregnancy to hunger to climate change. The report found that what they had in common in their expansion-by-partnership work was a trio of strategic questions: how to grow, whom to partner with, and what degree of faithfulness to the original program to demand.

October 26, 2016 is Lights On Afterschool (LOA). LOA is a nationwide event organized by the Afterschool Alliance that draws attention to the many ways afterschool programs support students by offering them opportunities to learn new things—such as science, community service, robotics, Tae Kwon Do and poetry—and discover new skills. The events send a powerful message that millions more kids need quality afterschool programs. Visit the LOA website to register your afterschool event.

The Center for Educational Options OST Networking Meeting takes place October 12, 2017 from 10:00 am - 12:30 pm. The meeting will focus on exploring growth mindset - the belief that one can get good at something through effort and learning and that it is not just a matter of being “good” or “bad” at something. The session includes hands-on activities and group work to think about how growth mindset applies to your programs and your work with youth, especially during these tough times. RSVP by October 9, 2017 to annehlawrence@gmail.com. Download a flyer for more details.

Hosted by Dignity of Children, the ChangeMakers Institute™ is a six-month professional development program designed to support non-profit professionals to develop new skills and competencies to lead and manage change in their programs and organizations.  The Institute uses a strength-based approach to facilitating change called Appreciative Inquiry, that is comprised of reflection, analysis, and visioning. The Institute will meet monthly, both in-person and virtually.  The sessions will take place on the first Thursday of every month beginning November 2, 2017.  Participate in an Information Session on October 5, 2017. 

In partnership with Open Society’s Youth Exchange, the Soros Justice Youth Activist Fellowships support outstanding individuals, ages 18-25, to take on projects of their own design that address some aspect of the U.S. criminal justice system. Youth Activist Fellowships must be undertaken in partnership with a host organization. Projects can be full-time or part-time, 12 or 18 months, and can begin anytime between July and November 2018. Youth Activist Fellowships come with an award of $52,500 for full-time, 18-month projects (the award is pro-rated for part-time or 12-month projects), plus project-related expenses, as well as access to a range of training and professional development opportunities. Letters of Intent are due on December 6, 2017 (11:59 pm EST) and must be submitted online. Full proposals from invited applicants due late-February 2018.

The STARS Citywide Girls Initiative is hosting the STARS College Fair on October 17, 2017 from 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm at the High School of Fashion Industries in Manhattan. All middle and high school-age girls and young women are welcome to this free event and parents/guardians are encouraged to attend. STARS (Sports Training And Role models for Success) is a special initiative of the New York City Council created to support the healthy development of girls and young women from all five boroughs of NYC and celebrate them as the leaders of tomorrow. RSVP to attend.

New York Well provides free, confidential mental health support. Speak to a counselor via phone, text, or chat and get access to mental health and substance misuse services, in over 200 languages. New York Well provides suicide prevention and crisis counseling, peer support and short-term counseling via telephone, text and web, assistance scheduling appointments or accessing other mental health services, and follow-up to check that you have connected to care and it is working for you. NYC Well Counselors are trained to accept calls from deaf and hard of hearing individuals using video relay services. Call 1-888-NYCWELL, text WELL to 65173, or chat nyc.gov/nycwell.