Making After-School Cool Podcast

Today’s topic of the Making After School Cool Podcast focuses on the power of building quality relationship with youth in OST programs. There is currently an explosion of research based on the need & interest in after-school programs. According to research published in the American Journal of Community Psychology “More Than Attendance: The Importance of After School Program Quality (Barton J....

This episode of the Making After School Cool Podcast focuses on the Power of Poetry and the Spoken Word. Since, 1996, the month of April has been designated as National Poetry Month. This distinction reminds the public that poets have an integral role to play in our culture and that poetry matters. My guest today is a poet in the Houston area, Ms. Jo-Ann Blanchard. Ms. Blanchard has been writing s...

The Afterschool is Cool Youth Expo focused on career opportunities in the field of technology, including digital innovation, energy entrepreneurship and life sciences, and incorporated the gamification of learning. The Expo is part of LevelUp Houston, Harris County’s newest student badging platform, developed by CASE for Kids and MyVoluntier and funded by the Houston Endowment through the Educatio...

Today’s topic features teenagers who are a member  of the City Of Houston Youth Ambassadors advisory group.  This group, under the direction of Ms. Laura Cuellar, are advisors to the city of Houston Mayor’s Office. The City of Houston Championing Change Youth Ambassadors include youth ages 13-18 who work to advance children’s rights and ensure youth voice is considered in the City of Houston's pro...

My guest today on the Making After School Cool podcast is Dr. Crystal Belle. Dr. Belle is a published writer, activist, educator and professional development trainer.  She is an authority in, Diversity. Equity and Inclusion and education consultant, self-care coach and author. As the founder of Self Love Life 101, her goal is to help people live their best lives through online video coaching, educ...

This episode of the Making After School Cool Podcast highlights the work of Dr. William Parrett research regarding strategies schools with alarge number in impoverished students yet still produce high academic achievement.  According to theories among many psychologists and child development specialists a child’s behavior can stems from many things including a combination of genes and their enviro...

Todays topic features a podcast series developed, and produced by  students attending Chavez Highschool.  These students learned the fundamentals of podcasting and host their own show entitled the Teen Aged Life.  This segment of their episode centers on a debate regarding the availability of cell use for high school students during school hours. Guest I would like the thank the  students producin...

This episode of the Making After School Podcast features my interview with Dr. Rich Milner, Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair of Education in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Vanderbilt Peabody College of Education and Human Development. We discuss the unique challegenes of working with students living in urban setting and how to address the opportunity gaps that many if these students encounte...

Today’s episode of the Making After School Cool podcast focues on the positive influence mentors can have on the lives of youth. This is part two of the series.  During this podcast you will learn more regarding: Risk factors for youth who do not have access to a positive adult in their life beyond the school day educators? The difficulties regardomg finding mentors, for older boys of color How th...

Today’s episode of the Making After School Cool podcast focues on the positive influence mentors can have on the lives of youth. A report by Dr. Jean E. Rhodes and Dr. David L. DuBois from the University of Massachusetts, Boston, and University of Illinois at Chicago respectively, indicate that youth having had a mentoring relationship during adolescence exhibited significantly better outcomes reg...

Over the last two decades the emergence of after school programs have grown into its own industry. Initially, thought of a place where kids can stay after school until their parents come home from work, currently after school program are more complexed and can address students and community needs.  According to research conducted by Dr. Fashola, with John Hopkins and Howard Universities, her revie...

This is our third episode in our series regarding interacting with youth during the technology age. Today's episode focuses on guiding youth to be responsible when using cells phone and other forms of social media.  According to research conducted by Dr. Ling, and Dr. Haddon, published in the International Handbook of Children; as  kids age, their  use of mobile phones often  create unexpected  is...

This is our second episode in our series regarding interacting with youth during this age of technological advancement. The more digitally literate children become, the more likely they will learn skills which empowers them to avoid the numerous online risks. Unfortunately, as digital skills develop with use, inequalities persist due to social economic status, age and, to a lesser degree, gender....

Today, the use of technology has grown exponentially and is commonplace in our everyday lives. However, without guidance and training from a caring adult, young people can unintentionally misuse their technological fluency as a valuable resource. To speak on living with teens in a digital age is Diana Graber. Diana is a digital literacy educator and advocate. She is the co-founder of Cyberwise, a...

Today’s guest on the Making After School Cool Podcast is Ms. Maria Perez.  For the last 6 months Maria has been working here with Case as a project-based learning associate.  In fact I had to pleasure of assisting Maria with establishing a Youth oriented podcast created by kids.  To share her xperience, and what’s it like to create project based learning activities for youth is my guest Maria Pere...

Today’s episode of the Making After School Podcast focus on ways parents can support students' emotional and educational needs.  My guest are my colleagues with CASE for Kids  Azelia O’Neal and Jesus Urdiales and they play an important role involving empowering parents to support their kids educational needs. They are Family Engagement Specialist supporting our 21st Century Community Center Campus...

Motivation for students and adult can at times be a challenge.  One resource adults and youth can use to stay on track is the Growth Times Infinity Podcast hosted by Reggie Bisor. This valuable resource provides guidance for people of all ages to develop personal, spiritual and mental strength to overcome obstacles and reach their goals.  During this podcast you will learn: Why  it is important fo...

This is part 2 part of a 2 part series regarding the life lessons youth can learn throuigh sports. Research shows that participating in youth sports can lead to immediate and long-term benefits for youth, their families, and communities. According to a study conducted by health.gov, 73 percent of parents believe that sports benefit their child’s mental health, lowers their depression and creates h...

This is part 1 of a 2 part series regarding the life lessons youth can learn throuigh sports. Research shows that participating in youth sports can lead to immediate and long-term benefits for youth, their families, and communities. According to a study conducted by health.gov, 73 percent of parents believe that sports benefit their child’s mental health, lowers their depression and creates higher...

Today we are happy to feature a Houston area program Girls on the Run. Girls on the run as the name implies involves girls’ physical fitness but a whole lot more. The program provides  Girls of all abilities learn the opportunity  to embrace their inner strength and make meaningful connections with others. To tell us more about this amazing program is Mary  Callahan CEO During this episode you wil...

Today we are previewing episode 119 of the Making After School Cool Podcast which features a Houston area program, Girls on the Run. Girls on the Run  provides more than physical fitness but works with girls mental and social development. The program provides  girls of all abilities the opportunity  to embrace their inner strength and make meaningful connections with others. To tell us more about...

Welcome to episode 118 of the Making After School Cool podcast which features my conversation with Dr. Maiysha Clairborne in honor of mental Health Awareness month.  For the past 70 years, the month of May has been dedicated to raising mental health awareness and is widely celebrated as Mental Health Awareness Month. Organizations like the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Mental Health America, a...

Today we are going to preview episode 118 of the Making After School Cool podcast which features my conversation with Maiysha Clairborne in honor of mental Health Awareness month.  For the past 70 years, the month of May has been dedicated to raising mental health awareness. And is widely celebrated as Mental Health Awareness Month. Organizations like the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Mental H...

This is a perview of EP 117 which focuses on mpowering parents to support the educational needs of their children.  My guest are Azelia O’Neal and Jesus Urdiales who are Family Engagement Specialist supporting CASE for Kids 21st Century Community Center Campuses.   

This is the first episode of a new series I’m developing regarding the advice adults in our community would give to their  younger self.  We’ve often heard the phrase, “If I had the chance to do it over again I would…” Of course that is not possible but in this series I give professionals the opportunity to share their life experiences with the next generation.  My guest today is Leonard Tolliver....