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!

Interested in becoming a blogger? Email [email protected]

Click here to Register for a free account or click here to Login to your existing account.

“You Will Always Miss 100% of the Shots You Don’t Take”

“You will always miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” This is a powerful quote from Wayne Gretzky, one of the most famous and highest-scoring professional hockey players of all time.  It is also a very powerful lesson to share with kids. So many people, kids and grownups, let their dreams stay on their “wish list” instead of putting them on their “to do” list – leaving them there to die as the years slip by. But that doesn’t have to happen! Here are three common “stoppers” that keep peo...Read More

A New [School] Year’s Resolution

Editors Note: Please welcome brand new BREAKFAST CLUB BLOGGER Amy  Btiebet, from Open Doors Academy, in Cleveland, Ohio. We are thrilled she has joined the extraordinary BOOST BLOGGING team!   — Hi friends! My name is Amy, and this is my first BOOST blog. I debated writing about a wide range of topics that I felt somewhat confident in after 10 years in youth development—how to run engaging summer programming, transitioning from managing youth to managing staff, growing pains in a rapidly d...Read More

Ode to the Expanded Learning Technical Assistance Provider

 Editor’s Note: Inspired by the original Ode to the Site Coordinator tribute by @diegoarancibia, today’s blog from Breakfast Club blogger @brunomarchesi is dedicated to the Technical Assistance (TA) Provider. __________________________________________________________________________________________________ With much respect & appreciation for the Ode to the Site Coordinator from my brother, Diego Arancibia, that served as an inspiration for these words… — The one who’s work...Read More

Meet the BLT: Stefanie Lawson

Stefanie Lawson Assistant Director, Early Education, Conejo Valley Unified School District, Thousand Oaks, CA Who or what inspires you? The children and families that I serve in my community inspire me every day. What is one characteristic that you believe every leader should possess? Integrity. You will never go wrong with quality of character. Can you name a person who has had a tremendous impact on you as a leader? Why and how did this person impact your life? My father is the person who has ...Read More

Leaping Into the Void: Modeling Learning for Our Students

Artist Yves Klein perfectly captured how it feels to be engaged in the creative act in this 1960 piece entitled Leap Into the Void. I have been teaching the creative process and making art for most of my adult life, and this image perfectly captures the feeling of not knowing where you’ll end up when you begin to make something. Leaping, literally, into the unknown, not knowing if you’ll fall to your death or grow wings and soar, is a wonderful metaphor for the process I’ve tried to teach studen...Read More

Meet the BLT: Melissa Perez

Melissa Perez ASES Programs Supervisor, Child Development Services, Fullerton School District, Fullerton, CA Who or what inspires you? My family, my faith, and my culture inspire me. My homegirl Frida Kahlo inspires me to be the best woman I can be for all women and little girls… to fight and advocate for and live passionately. This picture is one of my favorites. Is there a quote or saying that you live your life by? “Paz y Amor.” (Peace and love.) What is one characteristic t...Read More

Meet the BLT: Lissa Tsu

Lissa Tsu Consultant, San Diego, CA Who or what inspires you? I am inspired by art and artists. The world would be a much less desirable and beautiful place if artists didn’t risk sharing themselves with the world. I admire both their capability to let us see into their soul and their artistic ability to create. I am always seeking out art and artist friends to ground myself. Is there a quote or saying that you live your life by? One quote that has gotten me through a lot of hard times is,...Read More

Sharing The Vision And Shaping The Future: A Message To The Next Generation Of Leaders

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the passage of California’s first comprehensive afterschool legislation. Since then, the investment in California’s most vulnerable children and young people has grown to $630 million a year and redefined what quality expanded learning means and looks like. Those of us who were privileged to lead the way through uncharted terrain worked in complex organizational environments in cities, counties, school districts and nonprofit organizations. We explored new...Read More

Discovering and Engaging Diverse Philanthropic Youth

Editor’s Note: A special thank you to author @jillgordon for sharing the second of four webinars from the Youth Philanthropy Initiative of Indiana’s 2017 webinar series designed to promote next-gen leadership and giving opportunities. Today’s post focuses on recruiting diverse youth to your programs that represent the communities you serve. Click on the webinar link below “Discovering and Engaging Diverse Philanthropic Youth” for the full program. And keep your eyes open later in Jun...Read More

Sports as a Vehicle for Mentorship

I have been playing sports my entire life. I credit the sport of soccer for the individual that I am today! Since the beginning, playing soccer in Peru and the United States, I have been blessed to have some incredible mentors in my life. I vividly remember my father Williams Marchesi spending time with me every single afternoon after his work day, working on basic soccer skills while he passed down history, culture, and lessons learned. What I remember most about this time is what he taught me ...Read More

10 Reasons Why You Should Thank Your After School Professional!

It is spring break for my own kids, so breakfast consisted of me cooking pancakes to order for two kids and eggs to order for two more.  I ate the leftovers…again! Today I want to use this forum to say thank you to all of you Site Coordinators and Program Leaders.  We all know the big things you do. Regardless of what organization you are in, what age young people you serve, or where in the country or world you live, we know you keep kids safe during critical after school hours, ensure grant com...Read More

4 Things I Learned From Bonnie Reiss That After School Leaders Should Reflect On

We are honored to share a reflection from Breakfast Club blogger @diegoarancibia about lessons learned from a pioneer and innovator, Bonnie Reiss. Bonnie was the mind behind the inception of Arnold’s All Stars, now known as the After-School All-Stars. Bonnie Reiss, a top advisor to former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, was a lifelong liberal Democrat who found common ground with the Republican governor on education and environmental issues. Here are four tips from Bonnie for anyone to use for...Read More