February 20, 2020 Nurturing Connection to Nature for Health and Wellness Join APOST and Pittsburgh Parks Rx at the Frick Environmental Center on February 28 to learn how spending time in nature can support physical and mental wellness. About Attend this workshop to explore how to plan engaging experiences that nurture a connection to nature by incorporating active play and mindful reflection. Participants will try out activities, share ideas, and receive tools and resources to help you connect youth with nature in parks or any outdoor space! A light lunch will be provided and free parking will be available on site. Registration To register, visit the Eventbrite page. More Information For more information, contact APOST at 412.456.6876.
Helping Youth Deal with Grief and Trauma Join the Highmark Caring Place on March 13 for their workshop exploring how to help children cope with grief and trauma. About This training provided by the Highmark Caring Place, A Center for Grieving Children, Adolescents and Their Families, will explore grief and loss for children with a focus on how traumatic events may impact a child’s ability to cope. Participants will begin to learn about activities that may support children in a variety of environments to help with healing. Following the presentation, participants are invited to take a brief tour of the Caring Place to learn more about the program. Register To register, visit the Eventbrite page. Parking is available free of cost in the Stanwix Riverfront Center Garage located at 625 Stanwix Street. More Information For more information, contact APOST at 412.456.6876.
January 7, 2020 2020 Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference Join the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) on Friday, February 28 for their fourth annual Child and Adolescent Mental Health Conference, “Resilient Youth: Strategies to Overcome Adversity,” at the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott! About Resilient Youth: Strategies to Overcome Adversity is one of the only events in the region specializing in youth mental health. Participants from all over the country attend to learn about the newest research and best practices to assist and advance the mental health needs of young children, adolescents, and young adults. With this, the conference will explore how families and mental health professionals can work together to support young people dealing with mental health challenges using an evidence-based model built on strengthening relationships. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) and Act 48 credits are available. See the conference brochure. Registration Registration price varies depending on registrant type. Free parking, a continental breakfast, and lunch included. To register, visit the conference event page. More Information For questions, contact NAMI at 412.366.3788. Visit their website to learn more.
October 17, 2019 CitiParks Annual Track & Treat Join Citiparks on October 26 for its annual “Track and Treat” event at the Bud Harris Cycling Track on Washington Boulevard. About Citiparks Track and Treat is a free, fun, and active seasonal event for children and families with a Halloween theme. Children and families are welcome to wear their Halloween costumes, bring their own bikes, or borrow one! Cycle around the Bud Harris Cycling Track–stopping along the way to learn bike etiquette, safety, and maintenance from the Pittsburgh Police Bicycle Unit and have fun decorating their bikes. Children can play a host of Halloween and seasonal games and win prizes, enjoy Pittsburgh Puppet Works Halloween shows and the Dr. Sparks Science Show, and enjoy giant bubble making, balloons, and face painting. Generous donations include Eat n’ Park Monster Mash Cookies and Bike PGH information and resources. Children and families can enjoy life-size hand-painted seasonal decor including a haunted house facade, a barn and barnyard characters, minion city, pumpkin people, and more. Games and Activities Games and activities include: Halloween Costume Contest (2 p.m.), Pumpkin Decorating, Inflatable Games, Pumpkin Cone Toss, Spider Corn Hole Toss, Pumpkin Bowling, Guess How Many (Candy Corn), Break a Balloon, and more! More Information To learn more, visit the CitiParks website.
August 15, 2019 Author Discussion: Michele Borba’s “Unselfie” On November 11, the South Hills area will be hosting author Michele Borba to speak on her new book, “Unselfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World.” About Through a partnership between Saint Paul’s Episcopal Nursery School and Episcopal Church and the Community Foundation of Upper Saint Clair (USC), with additional support from the USC School District and the USC Wellness and Youth Steering Committees, the South Hills area will be hosting renowned author and speaker, Dr. Michele Borba, on Monday, November 11. In her most recent book, “Unselfie,” Dr. Borba explains what parents and educators need to do to combat the “growing empathy crisis among children today.” The book includes a nine-step empathy-building program, providing tips to help caregivers guide their children from birth through college and beyond. This event is free and open to the public. Learn More For more information, contact Eileen Sharbaugh at 412.531.2644 or esharbaugh@stpaulspgh.org. To learn more about empathy and the author, watch this video or Michele Borba’s Ted Talk.
July 24, 2019 For Student Success, We Need To Remake Learning As technology continues to be integrated in the daily lives of our region’s youth, the landscape of learning and workforce readiness is evolving. With this, youth are utilizing what some may call “non-traditional” methods to purse knowledge, seek support, and develop their identities. To ensure their long-term fulfillment personally, academically, and in the workforce, we need to “remake learning.” About Remake Learning Remake Learning is a network that ignites engaging, relevant, and equitable learning practices in support of young people navigating rapid social and technological change. Established in 2007, the network is an open group of interconnected, creative, and innovative people and organizations in the greater Pittsburgh region. Their purpose is to spark and share best practices and new ideas, make it easier for neighbors and colleagues to help each other, reduce duplicative efforts in the region, and leverage resources collectively for greater impact. With this, they seek to ensure that learning is engaging, relevant, and equitable to ensure that all youth in our region have access to learning experiences that reinforce their long-term success. Why It Matters Just as it’s important to utilize developmentally appropriate strategies with our youth, it’s important to consider that fact that the traditional, repetitive learning structure is, as Remake Learning puts it, “a relic of the bygone factory era: a time when efficiency and repetition were valued above all, with a focus on basic knowledge and skills.” As the needs of society develop over time, so do the needs and requirements of our youth and the workforce. However, many schools and programs are still relying on the traditional learning structure, making only small adjustments to incorporate a taste of technology. And, as displayed through stagnant or declining test scores across the years, this structure isn’t working. Establishing Learning Values In their mission to ensure that learning is engaging, relevant, and equitable, Remake Learning encourages the following learning values: Activate skills in critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, communication, and collaboration so learners are prepared for an increasingly technology-driven future. Doing so will empower students to identify and solve problems; to fail, try, and learn from mistakes; to express their creativity in authentic ways; and to both struggle and have fun. Challenge learners to question, examine, and dissect social systems; to develop the confidence to address and deconstruct inequalities; and to construct a more just and equitable world. Connect all the places learners live, work, and play, including schools, libraries, museums, parks, clubs, community centers, centers of faith, home, and online. Encourage learners to explore and play and support them to follow their curiosity using varied tools (including, but not limited to, technologies). Establish deep and caring relationships between learners and their families, peers, educators, and mentors. Connect learners to their communities and, in an interconnected world, help learners develop cross-cultural understandings that unlock opportunities to thrive both within and beyond their own communities. Become A Member Are you interested in supporting Remake Learning’s mission? Consider signing up to become a part of their network! Remake Learning members reside in the greater Pittsburgh region, including the counties of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Mercer, Washington, and Westmoreland in Pennsylvania, as well as parts of north-central West Virginia. *Information provided by Remake Learning
July 2, 2019 Supporting Math Skills with Developmentally Appropriate Music Activities Join Music Together on July 10 for an edWebinar exploring opportunities to support young children’s emerging math skills with developmentally appropriate music activities. About In this edWebinar, participants will learn about developmentally appropriate music and movement activities that naturally support children’s exploration of math concepts, including pattern, sequence, representation, proportion, and opposites. Participants will be introduced to new songs and chants they can use in their work with children, hear about research on the topic, and see ways to lead music experiences with young children. This edWebinar will be of interest to educators working with toddlers, preschoolers, and kindergartners. Time for questions will be provided. Register To register and learn more about this edWebinar, visit the event page.
Free Dental Clinic: Mission of Mercy Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh is providing free dental clinic services on a first-come, first served basis on July 26 and 27th, with doors opening at 6 a.m. About If you, a loved one, or a friend are in need of free dental care, Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh (MOMPGH) is here to help! MOMPGH provides free dental services, with a limit of one dental procedure per patient per day, on a first-come, first serve basis until capacity is reached. The clinic doesn’t require specific eligibility or income requirements and is open to children (ages 2 to 17) and adults. If a child is present (anyone under 18), there must be a guardian available to watch the child at all times, meaning if one adult is receiving a procedure, another must be present to watch the child. Child care is not provided. Pre-registration is not required, but it is recommended to arrive early. Participants must enter through the PPG Paints Arena Highmark Gate, located next to the Epiphany Catholic Church on Centre Avenue. Services Provided The free dental clinic provides: cleanings, fillings root canal treatments on selective teeth, extractions, oral hygiene instruction, and a limited number of temporary partial dental appliances. Transportation Shuttle services will be provided for patients, with two routes available. The circuit for each route will on the hour, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The last shuttle will depart PPG Paints Arena at 6 p.m. Route A Station Square T Station Carson Towers (2117 East Carson Street) Hillman Library (2960 Forbes Avenue) VA Pittsburgh Hospital – University Center Jubilee Kitchen (2005 Wyandotte Street) PPG Paints Arena (1001 Fifth Avenue) Route B Saint Stanislaus Church (57 21st Street) Giant Eagle on North Side (318-320 Cedar Avenue) Greyhound Station (55 11th Street) Market Square PPG Paints Arean (1001 Fifth Avenue) Click here to view the map. Learn More To learn more about available services, what to expect, and more, visit the MOMPGH page. For questions, email info@MOMpgh.org.
June 13, 2019 Don’t Be A Trigger: Trauma-Informed Care Approach Looking for a more in-depth dive into Trauma-Informed Care? Join Debralyn Woodberry Shaw of ELIE Circle, LLC to explore trauma might manifest in your early childhood or youth program. About Our past experiences – personal, familial, societal – influence our brain development and shape how we interpret and respond to the world. In this session, youth workers will explore how trauma might manifest in their program. Participants will also learn how self-awareness and a growth mindset aid in creating a Trauma-Informed Community and protect youth workers from the effects of vicarious trauma. Lunch will be provided. Learning Objectives Participants will: be introduced to the Trauma-Informed Care framework, become familiar with the foundations of Trauma-Informed Care, understand complex trauma and the parts of the brain related to trauma, be introduced to vicarious trauma, identify self-care and building resilience techniques, reflect on their past experiences and how they influence their interactions with young people, and explore the concept of a growth mindset. Registration and Questions To register for this workshop, visit APOST’s event page. For questions, contact APOST at 412.456.6876. *Information provided by APOST
June 3, 2019 APOST Summer Conference for Out-of-School Time Join Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School-Time (APOST) on June 14 for their Summer Conference for Out-of-School Time. PQAS/Act 48 credit available upon request. About The APOST Summer Conference for Out-of-School Time is a professional development conference that shares best practices in youth development. This conference is open to youth practitioners who desire to increase their skills in working with youth in out-of-school time programs or in mentoring relationships. This year’s event will feature Keynote Speaker Timothy Jones, an expert in youth development and hip-hop culture/pedagogy who has developed, implemented, and evaluated out-of-school time programs inside and outside of schools for over 20 years. Limited free parking is available, but carpooling is recommended. More Information To learn more and register, visit APOST’s Eventbrite page. For questions, contact APOST via phone at 412.456.6876.
