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As the summer sun starts to bid us farewell and the leaves begin to change, we are thrilled to join you for another incredible school year that inspires curiosity and creativity! CAN is here to continue to provide STEAM events, professional learning opportunities, activities, and much more. Cheers to enhancing STEAM in Out of School Time (OST) and Expanded Learning Programs throughout our communities and beyond! 

We hope that this July you are finding yourself in the midst of successful summer programs and that you had an enjoyable Fourth of July. As we celebrate America’s independence, we also reflect on the principles of freedom and dissent that were core to its founding. CAN is part of a national network of statewide afterschool networks. As such, we have the unique opportunity to see how policies and social movements impact the out-of-school time community nationwide. 

Our Executive Director, Jeff Davis reflected on this in a recent How Kids Learn publication, Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth in Afterschool Programs and Opposing Anti-LGBTQ+ Attacks. 

Join us in celebrating Pride Month and the end of another school year!

California AfterSchool Network stands alongside our lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community, celebrating their identity and whom they love. Pride Month serves as a beautiful reminder of the invaluable gift that the LGBTQ+ community adds to the diversity of our country, which strengthens us as we pursue equity, justice, and freedom for all. 

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. As the arrival of spring brings blooming flowers and joyful moments, it’s crucial to take a moment to focus on our own mental health and well-being. Embracing self-care is not only essential, but also encouraging to witness more people prioritizing their mental health, breaking the stigma, and promoting awareness.

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI Heritage Month)! This year’s theme for AAPI Heritage Month is Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity. The Million Girls Moonshot and all of its partners will be celebrating the successes of innovative AAPI computer scientists, engineers, and other STEM professionals.

Explore some of the amazing work that has been contributed to the field of STEM by exploring this month’s IF/THEN ambassadors down below!

April 25th was National DNA Day! Every year since 2003, scientists, biologists, and genetics enthusiasts come together to observe National DNA Day, celebrating the discovery and research into DNA and the scientific advancements that helped make progress possible. National DNA Day encourages people to learn more about the science that makes them genetically unique. Help youth feel unique and special with the following resources to use all month long! 

Happy March and welcome to the CAN Newsletter! If you are new here, we are happy to have you join the CAN Family! CAN celebrates the incredible women and folks who identify as women – who are youth developers and community educators! The strong, courageous, creative, intelligent, resilient, and inspiring women and sheroes who go above & beyond to support youth, families, and communities in being the best they can be. We see you, we hear you, and we stand in solidarity with you!