BOOST NATION: Town Hall meetings are informal public meetings scheduled throughout the conference with national leaders. Everybody in the out-of-school time community is invited to attend, voice their opinions, share issues and challenges, share promising practices, and hear responses from public figures and elected officials about shared subjects of interest in your community.

WEDNESDAY, April 29

10:30AM - 12:15PM

Expanding Student Success: State of Expanded Learning in CA
Michael Funk, Director, Expanded Learning Division, California Department of Education, Sacramento, CA; Heather Williams, Director, Policy & Outreach, California AfterSchool Network, Sacramento, CA

Join CDE, CAN, and others from the System of Support for Expanded Learning for a rich discussion on California's current Expanded Learning landscape, including the latest on ELO-P funding, federal policy implications, and critical updates on "Strategic Plan 3.0." Participants will have the opportunity to hear the latest updates from state leadership and engage in dialogue to help shape the future of Expanded Learning.
PK, E, M, H, HE, ULA, MLA, CB
Strand: BOOST Nation: Town Hall; Program Design, Development & Quality; CA Focus
Madera/Catalina

2:45PM - 4:45PM 

Charting the Course: Afterschool Policy in Trump’s Washington 
Jodi Grant, JD, Executive Director; Jennifer Rinehart, MA, Senior Vice President, Strategy and Programs, Afterschool Alliance, Washington, DC   

Afterschool and summer programs are currently facing unprecedented threats, while at the same time exciting new opportunities exist. In this town hall, afterschool policy experts break down the latest federal policies under the Trump administration and share practical advocacy and partnership strategies to help you navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and secure critical support for your programs. Leave with new ideas and strategies to ensure that our programs remain available for all youth
PK, E, M, H, HE, ULA, MLA, CB, DS
Strand: BOOST Nation: Town Hall; Staff Leadership, Partnerships & Building Relationships, Sustainability
Madera

THURSDAY, April 30

10:00AM - 12:00PM

Supporting Young Minds: Exploring Mental Health Screening, Free Skill Building Resources, and Data Trends for Advocacy
Theresa Nguyen, LCSW, Chief Research Officer, Mental Health America, Alexandria, VA

Recent funding and policy changes, and the rise of digital technologies, have created a new landscape for supporting youth mental health. Join Mental Health America (MHA) to learn about the data MHA is collecting on youth mental health trends, resources for mental health screening in schools, and free toolkits that include skill-building materials for students. This town hall discussion will explore current challenges in your local community and available supports to strengthen youth mental health.
M, H, ULA, MLA, CB, DS
Strand: BOOST Nation: Town Hall; Program Design, Development & Quality; Partnerships & Building Relationships
Madera 

1:15PM - 2:30PM

Telling a Bigger Story: Using Race Class Gender Narrative to Advance LGBTQ+ Justice
Anthony Brisson, MAT, Senior Policy Analyst/Program Specialist, National Education Association (NEA), Washington, DC

This session explores how the Race Class Gender Narrative (RCGN) framework can strengthen LGBTQ+ advocacy and communications. Participants will learn how to tell stories that connect across identities and experiences, framing LGBTQ+ rights as a shared struggle for dignity, safety, and freedom. Through examples, discussion, and practical exercises, we’ll examine how to counter divisive narratives and build solidarity across race, class, and gender lines to move hearts, minds, and policy.
PK, E, M, H, HE, ULA, MLA, CB, DS
Strand: BOOST Nation: Town Hall; Program Design, Development & Quality; Partnerships & Building Relationships; Sustainability
Madera

3:45PM - 5:15PM

Protecting California K-12 Students from Harmful Law Enforcement (including ICE) Encounters in Schools
Brenda Rosas, Equal Justice Works Fellow, ACLU of Southern California Education Equity Project, La Habra, CA

This session will equip educators and staff with the tools to protect students and respond effectively to law enforcement and immigration enforcement on campus. The presentation will provide an overview of the school-to-prison/deportation pipeline, legal protections for students in California schools, how to create safe and supportive environments, how to prepare for law enforcement encounters, rights when interacting with law enforcement or immigration agents on or near campus, how to support students impacted by detention or deportation, and action steps and resources. As part of the session, participants will have the opportunity to review their own district's sanctuary school policy and learn how to advocate for stronger protections.
PK, E, M, H, ULA, MLA, CB, DS
Strand: BOOST Nation: Town Hall; Program Design, Development & Quality; Staff Leadership; Partnerships & Building Relationships
Madera

FRIDAY, MAY 1

9:15AM - 11:15AM

From Suffering and Surviving to Healing and Thriving: Applying Indigenous Wisdom and a Critical Wellbeing Paradigm to Recalibrating Education Ecosystems
Roberto Rivera, Ph.D., Executive Director, Alliance for the 7th Generation, Chicago, IL; Jennifer Leavitt-Moy, President, Cadre LLC, Chicago, IL

What does it take to build education ecosystems where all young people, especially those most marginalized, can truly thrive, even in politically tumultuous times? A global scan searching for long-standing, holistic success stories uncovered something remarkable: only 4 sites worldwide met the criteria, and each was led by Indigenous communities using what is now known as the Critical Wellbeing Paradigm.

Join us for an upcoming Town Hall to explore how this powerful, community-centered approach is transforming education ecosystems. You will learn how the Critical Wellbeing Paradigm and a strategic wellbeing management platform are helping diverse staff, students, and communities reclaim and recalibrate their ecosystems: centering mental health, belonging, and voice participation, while amplifying youth and community partnership through meaningful data. Through real-world case studies, discover how expanded learning organizations are using this approach to drive lasting impact, even in politically complex and uncertain times. Participants will leave with practical strategies and tools to use the right data to amplify the voices that matter most, strengthen wellbeing across their ecosystems, and systematize wellbeing and sustainable change. This is more than a conversation: it is an invitation to reimagine what is possible, and to become part of a growing movement catalyzing education ecosystems worldwide.
PK, E, M, H, HE, ULA, MLA, CB
Strand: BOOST Nation: Town Hall; Program Design, Development & Quality; Partnerships & Building Relationships
Madera

BOOST Nation: Town hall Contact

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