Author: NJSACC

👑 Empowering Leaders. Strengthening Programs. Transforming Youth Outcomes. 21st CCLC Site Coordinator Summit | April 16 Join fellow 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21CCLC) Site Coordinators and youth development supervisors for a dynamic day of professional learning, collaboration, and inspiration. This summit is designed to equip program leaders with innovative tools, leadership strategies, and practical…

🏫 It’s not too late to participate in the Afterschool for All Challenge from home! This week, afterschool advocates are headed to Capitol Hill to meet with their members of Congress. Help us lay the groundwork for their conversation by contacting your elected officials and urging them to support afterschool and summer programming, including those…

🖼️ The 2026 Lights On Afterschool Poster Contest is open The Lights On Afterschool poster contest is officially open, and this year, we’re looking for any artwork that represents the spirit of afterschool programs. This includes murals, paintings, graphics on social media, and anything else that celebrates afterschool. Be creative! We encourage students to think of how your program…

🗣️ Speak Up For Youth Voice Week 2026 Youth Voice Week: April 13–17, 2026 Young people are changemakers. Join us in amplifying youth voices and celebrating how afterschool and summer programs empower young people to take action on issues they care about. Throughout the week of April 13–17, we’re encouraging programs, organizations, and young people…

NJSACC Celebrates Greek-American Heritage Month. You can too. NJSACC celebrates the culture, accomplishments and experiences of Greek people during Greek-American Heritage Month in March. SOME GREEK-AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH RESOURCES: Ancient Greek Toys: All You Need To Know Kids Cooking Activities: Study Greek Cooking Lesson Plan: It Came From Greek Mythology (6th-12th grades) Teacher Planet’s Mythology: Lessons,…

NJSACC Celebrates IRISH-American Heritage Month. You can too. NJSACC celebrates the culture, accomplishments and experiences of Irish people during Irish-American Heritage Month in March. SOME Irish-AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH RESOURCES: Library of Congress: Irish-American Heritage Month: A Commemorative Observances Legal Research Guide The National Archives’ Irish-American Heritage The Smithsonian Institute’s Irish-American History and Heritage NJSACC staff has…

🗣️ 2026 Fighting Words Poetry Contest Open Now It’s one of our favorite times of the year—the 2026 Fighting Words Poetry Contest is open! This annual contest invites students from around the world to use poetry to respond to the global issues featured in Pulitzer Center-supported reporting.  This year, we are excited to expand this opportunity…

💰 Check Out This Grant Opportunity from ALDI! ALDI Community Gift Card Program The ALDI Community Gift Card (ACGC) program offers gifts valued between $100 and $1,000 to qualified nonprofits and schools committed to supporting after-school and out-of-school youth programs. This initiative also extends to food banks and pantries seeking to purchase essential products. Whether…

🚀 opportunities and activities to meet the needs of program providers and staff in your state. How DNA Learning Journeys Are Building STEM Confidence in Youth and Educators When Amelia Mock needed STEM activities she could lead on her own without a formal STEM background, STEM Next’s Genomics Learning Journeys, created in partnership with Illumina, gave her everything she needed to make science learning…

Skills for Community, Skills for Career: Sign up for SEL Day! SEL Day on Monday, March 2—kicking off SEL Week through March 8—is a global, grassroots celebration of social emotional learning, in support of young people’s academic achievement, mental health, and future success. Our 2026 theme is Skills for Community, Skills for Career. Sign up now and…