BOOST Conference 2025 is in a few short weeks, and TEAMBOOST is here to help you plan for your best conference experience EVER! Today, we are spotlighting BOOST 2025 Workshops with content from a Capacity Builder context.
Capacity Builder content offers opportunities for discussion that empower attendees to impact program creation as well as curate intentional professional development opportunities that impact the capacity of personnel. All registered attendees are welcome to attend these workshops. Those who are interested in building staff capacity, creating intentional program environments, deepening their expertise, and enhancing organizational effectiveness are encouraged to add these workshops to their BOOST Conference schedule!
Interested in attending these workshops and would like more information? Visit boostconference.org/workshops for descriptions!
Amplifying Employee Engagement: People-Centered Approaches to Boost Retention and Performance
Taylor Mayer, MA, Talent Development & Learning Manager; Lindsey Bynum, MA, Learning & Development Facilitator, Think Together, Santa Ana, CA
Answering the CALL: How a Federal Survey & Community Partnership Supports Student Achievement
Susie Estrada, M.Ed., MPA, Family and Community Engagement Specialist, Utah State Board of Education, West Valley, UT
Beyond the Game: Equity Driven Community Partnerships
Hamza Al Haidari, Chief Growth Officer, America Scores, San Francisco, CA; Georgia Tyrrell, M.Ed., Expanded Learning Assistant Director, Pajaro Valley Unified School District, (PVUSD), Watsonville, CA
Bridging the Gap: Promoting Well-Being Between Early Childhood and Adolescence
Philip Steigman, MS, MPP, Brookline, MA; Carlos Santini, CEO, Mizzen Education, Los Angeles, CA
BOOSTing Belonging: Empowering Inclusive School Environments for LGBTQ+ Youth
Basel Touchan, M.D., Learning and Development Consultant, History UnErased, Lowell, MA
Building Resilience: The Role of Education and Expanded Learning in Supporting Youth Mental Health
Julee Brooks, MFA, CEO; Danny Salas, Chief Program Officer, Woodcraft Rangers, Los Angeles, CA; Denise Diaz, Senior Director of Public Affairs, The Chicago School, Los Angeles, CA; Dr. Debra Garcia, Director, Director of Adolescent Stress & Wellness Research Lab at CAL State LA, Los Angeles, CA
Co-Creating Authentic & Resilient Intergenerational Leadership: Smartest Practices for Collective Growth and Belonging
Elliot A. Rivera, Resilient Leadership & Belonging Consultant, Providence, RI
Compassionate Systems: A Path to Educational Renaissance
Sargina Yonan, Director of Expanded Learning Programs, Master Practitioner in Training in Compassionate Systems, Center for Systems Awareness, Linden Unified School District, Linden, CA; Danielle Jones, System of Support for Expanded Learning Lead, Certified Master Practitioner in Compassionate Systems, Center for Systems Awareness, Region 6 Stanislaus County Office of Education, Modesto, CA; Sheilah Brooks, System of Support for Expanded Learning Lead, Certified Master Practitioner in Compassionate Systems, Center for Systems Awareness, Region 7 Merced County Office of Education, Merced, CA; James Hall, Director of Student, Family, and Community Engagement, Lassen County Office of Education, Susanville, CA
Connecting STEM to Career Pathways: Integrating Afterschool Programs with Workforce Development
Jamecca Marshall, MA, Deputy Executive Director; William Rochester, MA, Director of Programs, Los Angeles STEM Collaborative, Los Angeles, CA
Cultivating Youth Voice through Entrepreneurship!
Moderator: Katrena Perou, Executive Director, Inspiring Minds NYC, Brooklyn, NY. Panelists: Kylie Richardson, CEO, Chucks Round Table, Brooklyn, NY; Arnold Ludd, CEO, Jiggabite Gloves Up Guns Downs, Brooklyn, NY; Sikirat Mustapha, CEO, Sikirat Tutors, Brooklyn, NY; Andrea Ishmael, CEO, Granny and Me, Brooklyn, NY; Joshua Applewhite, CEO, Japplejuice Productions, Brooklyn, NY
Dust Off Your Data! Building Capacity to Use Data to Make an Impact
Haley Umans, Ph.D., Senior Director of Evaluation & Insights, Think Together, Santa Ana, CA
An Ecosystem Approach to Environmental Learning
Moderator: Meg Ramey, MA, Senior Consultant, Education First, San Francisco, CA Panelists: Heather Rossetti, Senior Manager, Outdoor Access Initiatives, San Diego Foundation, San Diego, CA; Jeni Barajas, Director of Youth Programs, Olivewood Gardens & Learning Center, National City, CA; Brooke Wilder, Program Manager, EcoLogik Institute, San Diego, CA; Lacey Cannon, Founder and Executive Director, Indigenous Regeneration, Valley Center, CA; Jamie Cosson, Executive Director, YMCA of San Diego Overnight Camps, San Diego, CA
Empowering Tomorrow: Supporting Our Young Workforce
Cori Ove, MS, Project Specialist I, Expanded Learning, Sacramento County Office of Education, Sacramento, CA
Evolution of Out-of-School Programs: How to Tailor Your Programming to Fit the Needs of Your Students and Community
Theresa Maves, Sr. Director of Education Programs, Champions® Before- and After-School Programs, Portland, OR; Nicole Kooiker, Superintendent of Schools, Glenwood Community School District, Glenwood, IA
Expanding Student Success: State of Expanded Learning in CA
Michael Funk, Director, Expanded Learning Division, California Department of Education (CDE), Sacramento, CA; Heather Williams, Director, Policy & Outreach, California AfterSchool Network, Sacramento, CA; Vanessa Hernandez, Senior Specialist, Policy & Outreach, California AfterSchool Network, Fresno, CA
From Expanded Learning to Educator: Paid Pathways to Teaching
Moderator: Guillermo Castillo, MA, Senior Director Future Educator Support, Butte County Office of Education, Oroville, CA Panelists: Eduardo Caballero, Executive Director, EDMO, Berkeley, CA; Jaqueline Garcia Pelayo, M.A., Lead Instructor, Butte County Office of Education, Oroville, CA; Sera Hernandez, Ph.D., Department Chair, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
Four Years & Counting: Making the Case for Continued Summer Enrichment Funding
Moderator: Joanna Colunga, Portfolio Manager, Los Angeles, Ballmer Group, Los Angeles, CA Panelists: Dr. Ana Ponce, Chief Executive Officer, GPSN, Los Angeles, CA; Dee Ann Rivera, Chief Operating Officer, LA’s Best, Los Angeles, CA; Debe Loxton, M.A., Executive Director, LAUSD Beyond the Bell Branch, Los Angeles, CA
Inclusive Policies & Gender Support Plans for Transgender & Non-Binary Youth
Ellen Kahn, MSS, Senior Vice President, HRC Equality Programs, Human Rights Campaign, Washington, DC; Lisa Stanton, Development Director / Parent, Havaya Summer Programs / Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRCF) Parents for Transgender Equality Council, Denver, CO
Leading with Impact: Elevating School Leadership through Vision, Collaboration, and Innovation
Joshua De Weerd, Principal, Sonoran Schools, Tucson, AZ
Leading with Purpose: How Empowered Staff Drive Student Success
Ayodele Coker, M.Ed., Training and Development Specialists III, Think Together, Santa Ana, CA
Level Up Summer Learning with Evidence-Based Strategies and Practical Tips
Hillary Oravec, MA, Managing Partner, The Learning Agenda, Akron, OH; Patricia Lewis, Ed.D., Senior Consultant, The Learning Agenda and Former Deputy Superintendent, Grand Prairie ISD, Denton, TX
Leveraging Expanded Learning to Promote Physical & Mental Health and Lifetime Success
Jeff Davis, Executive Director; Troy Selvey, Manager, Equity & Quality; California AfterSchool Network, Sacramento, CA
Leveraging Funding & Partnerships for Equitable Family Engagement: Creating Accessible Weekend & Summer Programs
Jen Littleton-Bruno, PPS, Executive Director Expanded Learning; Nancy Zuniga, MA, PPS, Assistant Director Expanded Learning, Pajaro Valley USD, Watsonville, CA
Opening Doors: Fostering Inclusion in Expanded Learning Programs
Robert Hand II, Expanded Learning Program Manager, Oakland Unified
OST Shark Tank: Making the Case for Investing in the OST Workforce
Rebecca Goldberg, Impact Group Facilitator, Grantmakers for Education, San Francisco, CA; Aleah Rosario, Co-CEO, Partnership for Children & Youth, Sacramento, CA
Panel Discussion with District Partners and Innovators in Inclusive Practices
Moderator: Karin Wu, M.Ed., SVP, Marketing, Learning & Development and Employee Experience/DEIB, Elevo, San Diego, CA Panelists: Mike Taylor, Expanded Learning Program Coordinator at San Rafael City Schools, San Rafael, CA; Esther Garcia, Coordinator of Special Projects, Rowland Unified School District, Rowland Heights, CA; Monik Vega, Senior Program Manager, Partnership for Children & Youth, Sacramento, CA
Practical Everyday Habits: Creating Intentional Spaces
Meghan Belknap, Area Manager, Champions® Before- and After-School Programs, Bothell, WA; Jordan Leonard, Area Manager, Champions® Before- and After-School Programs, Portland, OR
Resources for Quality, A 360° Conversation for Staffing and Programs
Tiffany Gipson, Director, Equity & Quality; Lupita Perez, Senior Specialist, Equity & Quality; Troy Selvey, Manager, Equity & Quality, California AfterSchool Network, Sacramento, CA
School-Based Medical and Mental Health Care Partnerships… Who, What, Where, When, and How?
Linda Long, LMFT, School-Based Health Clinic Coordinator; Angela Windham, School-Based Health Clinic Assistant, USD #261, Haysville, KS
Storytelling for Advocacy
Mike de la Rocha, Co-Founder, Revolve Impact, Los Angeles, CA
Take on Tough Challenges with Data-Informed Confidence
Sarah Cusey, MBA, Nexus Project Manager and Lead Trainer; Vicki Wodarczyk, Ed.D., Senior Director of Research and Evaluation; Najmo Abdi, B.A., Research and Evaluation Coordinator, Monarch School Project, San Diego, CA
Unlocking Intrinsic Motivation: A Coaching Approach for OST Leaders
Taylor Mayer, MA, Talent Development & Learning Manager; Raelin Tran, Quality Assurance Coach; Sarah Jones, Learning and Development Facilitator, Think Together, Santa Ana, CA
WE>ME: How to Get Students, Caregivers, and Staff to Work as a Team
Lance Loya, MS, CEO, The Good Teammate Factory, Windermere, FL
Whole-Child Approach to Age-Appropriate Programming
Theresa Maves, Sr. Director of Education Programs, Champions® Before- and After-School Programs, Portland, OR; Nicole Kooiker, Superintendent of Schools, Glenwood Community School District, Glenwood, IA
The Why Behind the Importance of Integrating Social and Emotional Learning into Your Out-of-School Time Programs
Kerri Kubacki, Strategic Quality Business Partner, Jen Fairburn, Strategic Quality Business Partner; Bonnie Rogers, Sr. Manager Quality and Accreditation, Champions® Before- and After-School Programs, Portland, OR
Winning Settlement Dollars to Support Engagement, Community & Connections in the Age of Social Media
Elizabeth Gaines, Chief Executive Officer and Founder, Children’s Funding Project, Washington, DC; Erica Lim, Ed.L.D., Senior Program Officer, The Eli & Edythe Broad Foundation, Los Angeles, CA; Jennifer Dietrich, MA, Director of Policy, Partnership for Children and Youth, Sacramento, CA; Diana Carrillo, MBA, Vice President of Programs, arc, Torrance, CA; Eleanor Blume, Special Assistant Attorney General for Economic Justice, Office of the Attorney General, State of California Department of Justice, San Francisco, CA
Youth Development: The Anchor AND the Sail for the Future of the Workforce
Lupita Perez, Senior Specialist, Equity & Quality; Leslye Lugo, Senior Specialist, Equity & Quality; Bill Fennessy, Senior Specialist, Equity & Quality, California AfterSchool Network, Sacramento, CA
Get ready for this one-of-a-kind professional development experience, where local, national, and global leaders gather to grow together, build community, and co-create a great world for kids. Together we INSPIRE YOUTH, INSPIRE LEARNING, and INSPIRE CHANGE.
Still need to register for BOOST 2025? Visit boostconference.org/registration for more information.
BOOSTers, we can’t wait to learn with you April 29 – May 2, 2025, in sunny Palm Springs!
Start planning your conference experience TODAY!