Conference attendees will decide which new innovation they want to explore. Whether it is Ready Skills, Global Citizenship Study or Critical Media Consumption – this session will focus on what participants find new and exciting in the extended learning world.

Participants will take part in facilitated networking activities to share their experiences in delivering extended learning programs, including facilitated exercises highlighting techniques used by classroom innovators such as Lalela and Sanford Harmony. Sessions will engage participants to share what’s working, what isn’t, and how our shared experiences can contribute to what we can all learn about the practice and evolve it for our students’ well-being and success.

The art of Heart Mapping, a signature curriculum of South Africa-based Lalela, drives positive social change through an innovative curriculum of ideas, art and music, and connecting students on a deeper level of emotional and creative intelligence. Lalela provides educational arts for at-risk youth to spark creative thinking, awaken the entrepreneurial spirit, and help students express four emotions that define them as “being human and being extraordinary.” Students interview and discover each other by touring each other’s heart, learning about their cultural connections, common and different fears, challenges, talents, desires and dreams, and connecting people across cultural barriers, gender differences and other boundaries.

Sanford Harmony, the social-emotional learning program inspired by Philanthropist, T. Denny Sanford, and researched and developed by educators at the Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics at Arizona State University to identify practical strategies to improve classroom relationships that have impacted more than 1 million students nationwide

A limited number of 30 minute consultation sessions will be available to work with organizations or agencies on personalized capacity building in the areas of grants/fundraising, program quality, and afterschool design. This opportunity will take place pre and post conference, as well in evenings following the conference. Pre-registration required, along with a quick 15 minute phone/video conference prior to arrival. (Limited opportunities. First-Come / First Serve)

This town hall centered on a panel of funders will offer program staff and their supporters, in person and remotely, an opportunity to ask questions around the future of philanthropy and share concerns from their own communities. Questions will be collected from months of pre-conference discussion among the network of extended learning organizations and communities in need.

Conference attendees will have an option to visit Eagle County program sites and interact with students, teachers and program officers. This hands-on experience will take place the afternoon of Wednesday, November 7th.