📢 Last call for OST Champion Award Nominations! The Roberta Newman OST Champion Award nomination form closes on Wednesday, September 30th. If you have a colleague who deserves recognition for their passion for and dedication to the OST field, take a moment to nominate them! VPOST will recognize up to three nominees during our conference in November. 📲Nomination Form: bit.ly/OSTChampionAward2026📲Conference Registration: bit.ly/VPOSTConf2026#afterschoolchampion #ostchampion #ostaward
Our Executive Director, Blaire Denson, joined Senator L. Louise Lucas last night with our government relations team at Commonwealth Strategy Group. Sen. Lucas is currently President pro tempore of the Virginia Senate, represents District 18, and serves as chair of Senate Finance and Appropriations as well as a member of Education and Health. VPOST recognizes Senator Louise Lucas for her leadership in supporting Virginia’s children, families, and out-of-school time programs.As Chair of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, Senator Lucas helped advance $2 million annually in the 2026 state budget to strengthen Virginia’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers, supporting afterschool, before-school, and summer learning opportunities. The budget also recognizes VPOST’s role in supporting programs and grantees across the Commonwealth. VPOST looks forward to working with Senator Lucas, Attorney General Jay Jones, and members of the General Assembly, helping advance opportunities that support youth well-being and meaningful connections.We appreciate Senator Lucas’s commitment to ensuring Virginia’s young people have access to quality learning opportunities beyond the school day.
Just under one month away from Lights on Afterschool 2026! Check out Afterschool Alliance for ways you can shine a light on the important work your program does everyday! 📲https://afterschoolalliance.org/loa.cfm#AfterschoolWorks #loa #LightsOnAfterschool
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📢 VPOST Executive Director, Blaire Denson, and VPOST Board Member and Mayor of Harrisonburg Deanna Reed have authored an article in the Richmond Times Dispatch today, making the case for investment and afterschool programs. Check out the article here: 📲 bit.ly/METASettlementArticle"The easiest and most meaningful way to create opportunities is through accessible after-school and summer programs. Unfortunately, these programs are stretched thin in Virginia. 🚨Eighty percent of Virginia youth are missing out on attending an afterschool program: 745,000 versus 145,486 enrolled in programming. That means for every child enrolled in an afterschool program in Virginia, four or more are on a waiting list. The dollars from this settlement can help close those gaps, but only if policymakers make deliberate choices about where they go. We must ensure these funds directly help and protect the consumers who were wronged: Virginia’s children."#afterschoolworks #virginiaafterschool #VirginiaAfter3PM #FundIRL #FundIRLVirginia
📢There’s one month left to reserve lodging and register for VPOST’s 17th annual conference! 📲 Registration link: bit.ly/VPOSTConf2026📲 Lodging link: bit.ly/VPOSTLodging2026Registration closes at 5 PM on October 16th – don’t forget to purchase a ticket and build your village with us in Williamsburg! Every conference ticket comes with a FREE National AfterSchool Association (NAA) membership and an entry to win one of our awesome door prizes! See you on November 2nd!
