SouthernRecharge2025

This engaging keynote addresses the critical importance of mental health in schools, providing a dynamic and creative approach to fostering emotional well-being among students, educators, and communities. Through a blend of powerful storytelling, short edutainment films, and interactive conversations, participants will explore essential mental health topics such as depression, anxiety, suicide awareness, body image struggles, and overcoming PTSD.
The session focuses on breaking the silence surrounding mental health by dismantling stigma and empowering individuals to prioritize psychological safety in school environments. Participants will gain practical tools for creating open, supportive cultures, along with strategies for effective communication, building resilience, and encouraging peer and staff engagement.
Key takeaways include:
- Understanding and addressing stigma in school settings.
- Empowering communities with actionable tools for supporting mental health.
- Enhancing communication skills and fostering meaningful connections.
- Developing sustainable plans for creating a culture of well-being in schools.
Whether you’re an educator, counselor, or student leader, this keynote will equip you to inspire change, promote mental health awareness, and build environments where everyone can thrive.

Unlock the mysteries of FERPA! This interactive trivia session will dive into what FERPA is, who it affects, and how schools can share student data with Out-of-School Time (OST) programs while staying within legal boundaries. You’ll gain valuable insights, real-world examples, and brand-new resources from UAN to help bridge the gap between your OST program and the school day—ensuring seamless collaboration and data-sharing in full compliance with FERPA. Plus, participate in live trivia and knowledge-testing games throughout the session for a chance to win exciting prizes! Don’t miss this opportunity to empower your program, strengthen partnerships with schools, and have fun while learning!

Afterschool professionals will step into the world of a struggling reader with a powerful dyslexia simulation that builds empathy and understanding. This presentation will deliver three actionable strategies to help afterschool staff close the literacy gap and support struggling readers with confidence. Attendees will walk away with practical tools they can implement immediately and discover how a structured, evidence-based curriculum can amplify their efforts. Experience the challenge, embrace the strategies, and leave inspired to make a lasting impact.

Looking for an engaging, creative activity that fosters connection, emotional growth, and teamwork? Create Perspective is the perfect workshop to inspire after-school programs. Designed to inspire students’ imaginations, this session uses visual arts and storytelling to explore empathy, relationships, and emotional awareness.
Through hands-on projects, participants use images and symbols to express themselves while building essential life skills like communication, conflict resolution, and teamwork. Mindfulness and positive psychology are woven into every activity, helping enhance focus, develop self-esteem, and implement healthy boundaries.
What you can expect:

• Inspiring projects that drive engagement and creativity.
  
• Practical tools for self-expression, wellness, and communication.
  
• Evidence-based self-care strategies.
  
• Activities that promote communication skills and foster a sense of community.
  

This workshop is designed to be fun, empowering, and impactful. This is a wonderful opportunity to express your stories, build confidence, and connect with others in meaningful ways!

Plan an afterschool activity with this three-pronged approach of visualizing inputs, outputs and outcomes easily and painlessly (sometimes called "the Logic Model")! We will walk through a mock activity together and illustrate how to engage students in planning, leadership, skill-building and reflection.

Helping afterschool professionals understand the needs of children and families impacted by adoption, kinship, and foster care is a critical first step to providing services to meet their unique needs, strengths, and challenges. Participants will learn common issues related to adoption, kinship, and foster care and available resources aimed at supporting these types of families. Walk away with information and resources that can be immediately used to support children living in adoptive, kinship, and foster homes in your afterschool programs.

The concept behind a World Café is straightforward enough. After all, why do you go to a café? To meet friends, share a bit of knowledge, perhaps get to know them better. You'll get the chance to casually engage with your peers in small groups and focus on different aspects of afterschool programs. This sessions enables attendees to share different experiences, viewpoints and to discover something new. Potential conversations around, managing behaviors, family engagement, alignment, relationships, and more.  

Do you want to run a seamless program with strong outcomes for kids while you and your team are growing together? This session will guide current and up-and-coming leaders through essential practices in communication, effective planning, and general best practices in building strong relationships and establishing the best team. Attendees will leave with strategies that can be implemented right away.