Building Futures joined the Rhode Island Afterschool Network on April 28th for their 2nd Annual Out-of-School Time (OST) Impact Awards, an opportunity to recognize the contributions of OST professionals and organizations across the state. OST programs – from arts and STEM programming to career readiness and recreation – provide young people with a safe environment outside the classroom to learn, develop healthy behaviors, and build the skills needed to navigate challenges and overcome barriers.
Building Futures joined the Rhode Island Afterschool Network on April 28th for their 2nd Annual Out-of-School Time (OST) Impact Awards, an opportunity to recognize the contributions of OST professionals and organizations across the state. OST programs – from arts and STEM programming to career readiness and recreation – provide young people with a safe environment outside the classroom to learn, develop healthy behaviors, and build the skills needed to navigate challenges and overcome barriers.
In addition to uplifting the OST workforce and the importance of high-quality, equitable afterschool opportunities in RI, we celebrated the registration of RIAN’s first Registered Apprenticeship Program.
The OST Youth Development Practitioner Apprenticeship is a year-long program that will prepare apprentices to plan, implement, and facilitate engaging and safe educational programs for youth, while serving as positive role models and mentors. Staffing, recruiting and retaining skilled professionals is a barrier – in Rhode Island and nationwide – to improving access to these essential programs. This apprenticeship will help address these staffing shortages by establishing the occupation as a respected and viable career path, and in turn, improve the quantity, quality and accessibility of OST programs in the state.
Amy Weinstein, Director of Apprenticeship Program Development at Building Futures, was recognized during the announcement for the guidance and support she and the Apprenticeship RI team provided through the design and registration process.
“When there’s such societal importance for the occupation you’re apprenticing, it makes sense to ensure that that occupation’s program standards are right … By having a registered apprenticeship program, you have a talent development strategy for each one of the employers in this network, that can predictively develop your talent to exactly the professional you’re looking to employ.”
Andrew Cortés
President & CEO,
Building Futures
