State Opportunities to Champion CACFP
2026-06-18 13:00 - 14:00 (America/Denver)
Join FRAC for a webinar that spotlights how states are working to strengthen and expand access to the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). This session will highlight innovative strategies, partnerships, and policy approaches that state partners are using to reach more children and adults with nutritious meals and snacks.
Speakers: — Keely Agan, Hunger Free Vermont — Kayla Snyder, Hunger Solutions New York

Register

State Opportunities to Champion CACFP
2026-06-18 13:00 - 14:00
Join FRAC for a webinar that spotlights how states are working to strengthen and expand access to the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). This session will highlight innovative strategies, partnerships, and policy approaches that state partners are using to reach more children and adults with nutritious meals and snacks.

Speakers:
— Keely Agan, Child Nutrition Initiatives Manager, Hunger Free Vermont
— Kayla Snyder, CACFP Outreach and Engagement Specialist, Hunger Solutions New York

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Future Ready AI Session 2: AI for School Success: Tools to Learn, Study, and Create
2026-06-23 14:30 - 16:30 | The University of New Mexico-Valencia Campus, 280 La Entrada Rd, Los Lunas, NM 87031, USA Room LRC 101
​The New Mexico Technology Council’s summer workshop series, Future Ready: AI Pathways, will bring accessible, hands-on AI education to Valencia County, helping residents, particularly high school students and young adults, build the skills needed for emerging careers.
​Each session will equip participants with practical AI skills they can use in school, early career opportunities, and everyday problem-solving. Sessions will cover topics like prompt writing, AI career pathways, digital literacy and AI best practices, ethical considerations, and future readiness with adopting emerging technologies. The program is designed to meet young people where they are, ensuring they leave not only understanding what AI is, but how to use it confidently, safely, and creatively.

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Virtual Roundtable on Youth Digital Safety and The Role of Afterschool Programs featuring Attorney General Torrez
2026-06-24 10:00
NMOST invites you to join us at a Virtual Roundtable on Youth Digital Safety and the Role of Afterschool Programs on June 24 at 10 AM Mountain Time.

This Roundtable brings together afterschool professionals, educators, community leaders, and youth to examine the intersection of afterschool safety and digital risk, with a focus on the implications of the New Mexico v. Meta Platforms, Inc.

The Roundtable will include a presentation from Attorney General Torrez and a panel discussion from afterschool providers sharing lessons learned from digital safety programs in the afterschool space:
Sandy Campbell, Executive Director, True Kids 1
Robert Stokowy, Executive Director, Warehouse 505
Christian Naea, Assistant Executive Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Fe/Del Norte

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Strategies for Increasing Redemption Rates in Summer EBT
2026-06-25 13:00 - 14:00
As Summer EBT enters its third summer, the program continues to play an important role in reducing summer hunger for children and families. To strengthen implementation and increase benefit use, state agencies, advocacy organizations, and other partners need effective outreach and communication strategies. Join FRAC and partners for a discussion of promising practices to improve Summer EBT redemption rates, with examples and lessons that can help strengthen programs in future summers.

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Future Ready AI Session 5: Jobs, Skills, and Opportunities in New Mexico
2026-06-28 14:30 - 16:30 | The University of New Mexico-Valencia Campus, 280 La Entrada Rd, Los Lunas, NM 87031, USA Room LRC 101

Afterschool Policy Pulse
2026-06-29 08:00 - 17:00
Every second Friday at noon ET, Afterschool Alliance Senior VP of Policy, Erik Peterson, will recap the latest policy developments, what we know (or don’t know!) about how they may impact afterschool and summer programs, and what may be coming up next. Submit your questions in advance so we know what’s top of mind for you.

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Transforming Cybersecurity: Why Women Must Lead the Way
2026-06-30 12:00 - 13:00
JUNE 30 | Transforming Cybersecurity: Why Women Must Lead the Way Women are the fastest-growing segment of the global talent pool, but they hold less than 25% of cybersecurity roles worldwide. Join Girls Who Code CEO Dr. Tarika Barrett, VP of Research and Strategy Ryan Clarke, and Women in Cybersecurity Executive Director Lynn Dohm for a conversation on what it takes to build a more equitable and sustainable cybersecurity workforce. Register today.

STEM Talk
2026-07-02 12:00 - 13:00
The House Appropriations Committee just advanced an FY2027 proposal that cuts $8.1 billion from the Department of Education, eliminates Title II and Title III entirely, and rescinds $1.6 billion in already-appropriated funds. This episode breaks down what’s at stake for STEM education and what a restructured NSF means for organizations looking to stay funded.
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Future Ready AI Session 3: AI for the Workplace: Tools to Get Job-Ready
2026-07-07 14:30 - 16:30 | The University of New Mexico-Valencia Campus, 280 La Entrada Rd, Los Lunas, NM 87031, USA Room LRC 101

Explora: Flipbooks and Stop Motion Animation
2026-07-14 13:30 - 15:30
Flipbooks and Stop Motion Animation

July 14
1:30-3:30 pm
Virtual
Professional development workshop for educators, librarians, and out-of-school time staff. 2 CEUs
Discover ready-to-go activities which will support young students’ understanding of sequencing and storytelling. Explore digital tools appropriate for learners of all ages.
Zoom link sent the day before.
Please contact Explora with questions – education@explora.us
This workshop is funded with the support of NMAEYC and offered at no cost to participants.
Register

YEI Educator Power Hour
2026-07-21 14:00 - 15:00
Topic: Bringing Entrepreneurship Into Your School
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Future Ready AI Session 4: Responsible & Ethical AI Use: Privacy, Bias, Safety, and Digital Decision-Making
2026-07-23 14:30 - 16:30 | The University of New Mexico-Valencia Campus, 280 La Entrada Rd, Los Lunas, NM 87031, USA Room LRC 101

Explora: Color-Licious
2026-07-26 09:30 - 11:30
Color-Licious

July 26
9:30 am – 11:30 am
Virtual
Professional development workshop for educators, librarians, and out-of-school time staff
Combining colors can yield surprising results. What happens when you mix colored light or use chromatography with candies? Discover ready-to-go activities for your classroom!
Please contact Explora with questions – education@explora.us
This workshop is funded with the support of NMAEYC and offered at no cost to participants.
This professional development workshop is intended for adults and requires collaboration amongst peers. We encourage interested classrooms to inquire about our virtual and in-person program offerings found in the Explora Program Guide or email reservations@explora.us

Fund IRL Webinar: What Comes Next: Organizing for Youth Investment in the Social Media Litigation Landscape
2026-08-04 12:00 - 13:00
As social media litigation continues across the country, communities may soon face important decisions about how any resulting public funds should be used. Fund IRL is helping partners prepare now so young people are at the center of those conversations.
Join Fund IRL partners, youth leaders, and Eleanor Blume, special assistant attorney general at the California Department of Justice, for a practical conversation about the evolving litigation landscape and what advocates can do before decisions are made.
Participants will hear updates from the field, lessons from coalition partners, and guidance about how to build relationships, sharpen messages, and make the case for youth investment. The conversation will focus on one shared goal: ensuring that if social media litigation produces public funds, those resources support youth development, mental wellness, after-school programs, summer learning, mentoring, and other community-based opportunities that help young people connect and thrive in real life.
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Capacity Building in Today's OST Policy Environment
2026-08-05 10:30 - 12:00
Join the Forum for Youth Investment, the Afterschool Alliance, and the American Institutes for Research (AIR) for a conversation on capacity building and the policy environment facing 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) today. We’ll look at how capacity building drives better outcomes, the current funding and policy realities programs face, and how the ESSA/ESEA waiver environment is affecting state-level capacity-building and quality investments — with firsthand examples of what’s at stake. Hear from researchers and advocates on the front lines of this work, and explore what it means for your own program and community.

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The STEM Talk: Beyond the Funding
2026-08-06 08:00 - 17:00
This month, STEM leaders have new moves to make. The WIOA overhaul in the Stronger Workforce for America Act, fresh state waivers reshaping Title fund control, and 134 state AI-in-education bills are all converging on classrooms right now. In this August episode, we’re skipping the recap and going straight to the actions you need to take in response to these federal and state signals.

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R4Creating STEM Festival
2026-08-08 09:00 - 12:00 | R4Creating, 1650A Rio Rancho Blvd E, Rio Rancho, NM, United States
The STEM Festival is R4Creating’s free annual community celebration of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Families, students, and educators enjoy hands-on activities including robotics, drones, 3D printing, makerspace projects, coding, engineering challenges, and interactive exhibits hosted by community and industry partners. The festival inspires curiosity, introduces participants to STEM careers, and connects families with year-round educational and workforce development opportunities.

Warehouse 505 End of Semester Showcase
2026-08-08 12:00 - 15:00 | Warehouse 505
Learn more at https://warehouse505.org/

IGNITE: A New Framework for Democracy Service-Learning
2026-08-12 11:00 - 12:00
This is the moment to IGNITE your service-learning practice. Born out of years of research and practice, IGNITE is NLYC’s newest framework for service-learning, built to help schools and youth organizations move young people from civic knowledge to civic action. In this session, you’ll be among the first to see the framework unveiled in full: what it is, how it works, and why it’s different from what’s come before. nylc staff will walk through each element live, showing exactly how IGNITE translates into real classrooms and real programs, not just theory on a slide. You’ll leave with an early look at the tools and resources behind the framework, plus a clear sense of how to bring IGNITE to your own program or classroom.
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Build Back-to-School Skills Through Hands-On Engineering
2026-08-12 12:00 - 13:00, 2026-08-26 17:00 - 18:00
Start the school year building a positive classroom culture with hands-on engineering experiences that foster collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills. In this interactive webinar, educators will explore the Engineering Design Process and complete a design challenge to create a pencil case that holds five pencils and survives a four-foot drop test. Participants will leave with engaging, classroom-ready engineering activities.

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The Flourish Lab No Cost Workshop: The Ripple Effect
2026-08-13 10:00 - 10:45
The response you choose in each moment has an inevitable ripple effect on the youth in your program, co-workers, parents, guardians and others in your program community. When we are intentional about our actions, we can maximize the chance of making a positive impact on those we care about. In this workshop, we consider the multitude of ways to respond to common scenarios in youth development, and the possible outcomes of those choices.
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Building AI Literacy for Inclusion in STEM: Resources and Strategies from a National Landscape Study
2026-08-19 10:00 - 11:00
As usage of artificial intelligence (AI) increases, supporting educators in understanding how to use AI safely, effectively, and ethically in K-12 learning settings is crucial to empowering the next generation to navigate a digital future with confidence and responsibility. Join us for this timely webinar to explore the current state of AI literacy and learn about resources for exploring AI in STEM learning environments. This webinar will share findings and recommendations from a national landscape study conducted as part of the Building AI Literacy for Inclusion in STEM initiative, developed by NGCP in partnership with Ingenia Learning and STEM Next Opportunity Fund, made possible through the generous support of the AMD Foundation.
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Afterschool Meals Matter: Strategies and Practical Takeaways
2026-08-27 13:00 - 14:00
Afterschool meals are more important than ever for reducing hunger, helping students stay engaged and ready to learn, and strengthening connections among schools, community partners, and families. This webinar will explore strategies for strengthening and expanding afterschool meal programs, including outreach, partnerships, site engagement, and menu planning.

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Explora: Renewable Energy: Water Power
2026-09-03 17:00 - 19:00 | Explora, 1701 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104, United States
Renewable Energy: Water Power

Sept 3, 2026
5 pm – 7 pm at Explora – 1701 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque NM
Explore clean renewable energy from the waves, tides, and currents. Roll up your sleeves for some fun activities ready for your classroom that connect to math and science standards. Learn about local research as you explore clean renewable energy! You’ll be ready to immediately apply your learnings with students.
Please contact Explora Education with questions – education@explora.us
This workshop is funded with the support of Sandia National Laboratories Water Power Organization and offered at no cost to participants.

Register

Explora: Renewable Energy: Water Power Workshop (In Person)
2026-09-03 17:00 - 19:00 | Explora, 1701 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104, United States
An in-person workshop for middle and high school educators, librarians & out-of-school time providers. Stipend provided.
Explore clean renewable energy from the waves, tides, and currents. Roll up your sleeves for some fun activities ready for your classroom that connect to math and science standards. Learn about local research as you explore clean renewable energy!
Register

Youth as Solutions Film Festival
2026-09-11 17:00 - 18:00
Experience the stories. Meet the filmmakers. Be inspired to take action. The Youth as Solutions Film Festival features a curated collection of short films created by youth leaders documenting how they are addressing real challenges in their communities through service-learning and civic engagement. After the screenings, audiences will hear directly from the student filmmakers and story-telling experts during a live panel discussion exploring the challenges, triumphs, and impact behind storytelling. This unique event celebrates the power of youth changemakers while offering a unique opportunity to learn from experts in filmmaking. Leave inspired by the creativity, resilience, and leadership of a generation that is already making a lasting difference.
Sponsored by the Shinnyo-en Foundation.

This event will take place via Zoom. You will receive the link to join the Zoom call closer to the event date.

Register

Boosting Budgets With Sustainable Afterschool Meal Programs
2026-09-17 13:00 - 14:00
Join FRAC for this webinar to learn how afterschool meals can help strengthen program budgets by maximizing federal reimbursements, offsetting food and operating costs, and supporting more sustainable afterschool programming.

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Explora: Place-Based STEAM Workshop (Virtual)
2026-09-17 17:00 - 18:15
A virtual workshop for educators, librarians, and out-of-school time providers (1 CEU)

You’ll explore how to leverage students’ cultural and linguistic strengths as assets to enhance STEAM learning experiences in place-based activities. Get ready to use these activities immediately with your students!
Register
Virtual Zoom link sent one day before.
Register by Sept 9 for kit-pick up or shipment for first 20 registrants.
