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“I feel like I’m somebody.”. Meaningful Membership in Afterschool Activities for Rural High School Students. Step Up Summit - San Diego, California - November 3, 2010. Group Agreements. Be engaged in all activities Avoid side conversations Agree to disagree
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“I feel like I’m somebody.” Meaningful Membership in Afterschool Activities for Rural High School Students Step Up Summit - San Diego, California - November 3, 2010
Group Agreements • Be engaged in all activities • Avoid side conversations • Agree to disagree • Turn off your cell phone or put it on vibrate (including texts and emails)
Session Goals • Participants will • Understand of the importance of belonging and meaningful membership in the lives of youth • Explore how afterschool programs can help youth to develop a sense of belonging • Examine the critical role of afterschool programs in the lives of rural youth
Background: My Guiding Questions • How does sense of belonging develop in afterschool programs? • How do relationships, activities, and place shape the development of sense of belonging? • How do afterschool programs matter for rural youth?
Background: Rural Afterschool Programs • Our habit of confusing “urban” and “youth” • Overwhelming focus on urban programs • Research • Practice • Policy and Funding
Background: Meaning and Belonging • Belonging as a critical developmental need • Relatedness • Autonomy • Competence • Limited opportunities for meeting this need in some rural communities • High school as a difficult place to belong
Think, Pair, Share • What are some features of your afterschool program that impact students’ sense of belonging and mattering? • How are these features unique to programs in rural areas?
Small Group Discussion Select an activity that your programs have in common and discuss: • What is the activity’s group/task orientation? • What do youth gain from participation? • What are the expectations for participants? How are they held accountable? • What is the level of gate-keeping? • What is the level of visibility and recognition? • How would this activity be different in an urban setting?
Session Goals • Participants will • Understand of the importance of belonging and meaningful membership in the lives of youth • Explore how afterschool programs can help youth to develop a sense of belonging • Examine the critical role of afterschool programs in the lives of rural youth
Contact Information Logan Robertson, Ph.D. Assistant Director of Community Services Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified School District (559) 528-6949 lrobertson@cojusd.org