Breakfast Club Blog

The BOOST Breakfast Club Blog is a curated space where bloggers from around the world contribute content on a continual basis about a variety of topics relevant to in and out-of-school time. The BOOST Breakfast Club blog is at the heart of an ongoing dialogue where expanded learning and education professionals share their personal thoughts and stories from the in and out-of-school time field. They also tell us what they ate for breakfast!

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other agency, organization, employer, or company. Enjoy the brain food.

The BOOST Breakfast Club Blog is Brain Food for In and Out-of-School Time Leaders!

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The Super Hero That IS Within

Editor’s Note: This blog was first published on Monday, April 8, 2019, with permission to use from The Leadership Program and Erika Petrelli, CEO. _________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The kids and I saw the movie Shazam. We all loved it, and afterward, they immediately grabbed their sketchbooks with the intention of creating their own superheroes. After some initial prototyping, Dylan came up with the character of “Sir In...Read More

2 Terrific Tips on Social & Emotional Learning (SEL) For Adults

  This blog is about SEL for adults, exploring why and how we must practice SEL in our collective work, both in and out of school. I believe there is no such thing as a coincidence. I asked my close colleague, who sits just across from me in the office, what I should write about in this next blog.  Understanding my ongoing, organic theme about creating conditions for youth voice and choice, he suggested I write about the competencies within us that allow for this to happen. I was intrigued ...Read More

Raising Our Kids: A Long-Term Approach

I have had an experience several times in the last few weeks that, I am sure, happens to all of us who have worked with students for a certain number of years. If it has not happened to you yet, give it time. It will. Someday, you will run into your former students and they will have turned into adults. It is always a little strange to me when I see my “kids” as adults. I know that time keeps marching on and those kids I have worked with will grow up and continue to live their lives. They will g...Read More

Three Lessons from Practitioners in the Field of Expanded Learning

This past month I had the opportunity to attend the Site Coordinator Symposium by the California AfterSchool Network hosted at the historic Queen Mary ship in Long Beach. This two-and-a-half-day event hosted 500 practitioners from the field of Expanded Learning programs in California, with the majority of them being Site Coordinators from across the state. I wanted to share the three takeaways that stood out the most for me that had heart & meaning and reinforced my two-decade experience in ...Read More

Knowing My Why Is The Root Of My Success

In 2008, I got the courage to start my own professional development company. I have been designing my purpose for this company for the last 11 years. “Dignity of Children believes that all children are born with inherent dignity. They have a right to be loved, nurtured, and valued. Children and youth deserve to be kept safe. They are entitled to a proper education. Children thrive when adults understand their developmental needs, recognize their strengths, and foster their resilience. To evoke t...Read More

Transformation: It’s Time For Personal Change

As we look ahead to imagine what this new year will bring it reminds us that we have an opportunity to change course or dream bigger. The year ahead provides space for transformation. Many people begin the first 30 days with resolutions to tackle. What if, instead of a list of resolutions, we made a commitment to do one thing that would be such a game changer that it would ultimately change the course of our future? In 2016, I tackled something new and challenging each month. A few months ago, s...Read More

Grace and Space

Grace and Space. That’s what I’ve been saying to myself and others lately. We need to offer it to ourselves and to each other. Grace and space. The words just popped in my head, but once they got there they clutched on tight and won’t let go. 2018 has been a hell of a year, for me personally and I think for us in general. So, I think those are my words for 2019. I’ve never been a resolutions girl because I feel they just set me up for failure at the very start of a new beginning (which may be ju...Read More

Leaders Who Inspire Us: Linda Barton

Editor’s Note: We hope you enjoy this new campaign, Leaders Who Inspire Us!  Today’s featured leader is Linda Barton. Linda is skilled in systems development and committed to the advancement of high-quality afterschool programs throughout the state of Wyoming. Contact: Linda Barton, Director, Wyoming Afterschool Alliance, 933 Main Street, Suite 7, Lander, WY WYAA is a Statewide Afterschool Network for the state of Wyoming. I have been Director since its inception in 2007 and the founder of WYAA....Read More

Today Is The Only Day

Editors Note: This blog is being republished with permission from Erika Petrelli Bayh, Senior Vice President of Leadership Development at The Leadership Program. Thank you Erika for this very important message.  ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I’m so sad about the news that came out of Pittsburgh on October 27th and the straight-up hate that instigated it.  Especially in this month when we’ve been talking so much abou...Read More

Leaders Who Inspire Us: Kendrick Dial

Editor’s Note: We hope you enjoy this new campaign, Leaders Who Inspire Us!  Today’s featured leader is Kendrick Dial, a Substance Abuse Counselor, mentor for foster, homeless, and runaway youth, conflict resolution consultant/trainer, and facilitator of the Restorative Justice Mediation Program’s victim/offender dialogue conferences. He is also an adjunct at City College EOPS department and teaches a Personal Growth class. He has also cultivated his role as an artist for over 12 yea...Read More

Girltopia – It Is Achievable!

I have to say, it has been feeling a little dark and grey the past few weeks. It’s been hard to be a girl. The news and world around really haven’t been very empowering or positive, and quite frankly have been sucking the happy out of my soul. But after this past weekend, I feel like a little spark has been rekindled. My Girl Scout troop had a meeting to work on our Girltopia Journey. A journey is an opportunity for scouts to “explore new things, connect with friends and her community, and make ...Read More

How One Kid Can Change How I View The Country Today?

This morning I enjoyed two, over-easy, eggs, a blueberry muffin, hash browns, and a coffee.  I never eat that much for breakfast but happened to have had at a meeting at a great, local, joint. I have struggled with what to blog about this fall. There is so much going on in our country. Elected officials are at war. Politicians are yelling over each other vs listening. Anger. Fear. You would think I would have a million ideas to share. But, I find myself raw, angry and struggling for words. Then ...Read More