In a field built on relationships, dedication, and an unwavering belief in the potential of young people, it is a special thing when that same spirit shines through in the professionals doing the work. Dakota Schlechter and Michaela Flores are exactly those kind of professionals — and this year, the Read more…
This year, the National Afterschool Association Conference convened in Washington, D.C., uniting afterschool and out-of-school-time (OST) professionals from across the nation. In partnership with the Afterschool Alliance, the conference provided OST leaders with a critical opportunity: to bring the stories of their programs directly to the halls of Congress. Representing Read more…
The 2026 Afterschool Leadership Conference brought together program directors from Missouri and Kansas to address the culture, community ties, and advocacy skills that define effective programs. Program directors and afterschool administrators from across Missouri and Kansas gathered at the Kauffman Foundation Conference Center in Kansas City for the 2nd annual Read more…
Partners in Possibility Grant Entrepreneurship Grant Missouri’s workforce development pipeline does not begin at graduation. It begins much earlier — in classrooms, community spaces, and afterschool programs where young people are introduced to career possibilities and entrepreneurial thinking. The Missouri AfterSchool Network (MASN) supports afterschool programs as a strategic driver Read more…
At the Missouri AfterSchool Network (MASN), our work centers on supporting the people who support Missouri’s youth outside the regular school day. Through youth work initiatives, Mark Cowsert, MASN associate director of partnerships, and Aaron Banks, MASN youth workforce initiatives coordinator, partner with afterschool programs across the state to strengthen Read more…
The school closure notification arrives early in the morning. Snow day. For students, it’s welcome news. For working parents, it often means a difficult decision. While teachers and education staff may have the day off, most working parents still need to report to their jobs. This is where afterschool programs Read more…
Missouri afterschool programs of all sizes and types can give their students the chance to compete in a national youth pitch competition that celebrates creativity, problem-solving, and innovation – the Mott Million Dollar Challenge. Any program can utilize Mott’s comprehensive resources, offering opportunities for afterschool programs that haven’t coveredentrepreneurship or Read more…