Alexandria Beyond the Classroom

09/30/2026

It was a full house at the Charles Houston Recreation Center today for our first Weikart Center for Program Quality Youth Work Methods workshop of the year: Structure & Clear Limits, facilitated by Dana Carr of The Creative Impact Group LLC!

This interactive workshop helps youth-serving staff find the balance between structure and freedom, giving young people the clear limits they need to feel safe, while still nurturing their voice, choice, and leadership within programs.

Huge thanks to Dana for a terrific session and to the incredible staff and volunteers from these organizations who showed up ready to learn: Alexandria Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Alexandria Seaport Foundation, Bridge to Hope Academy, Chrysalis Development Group Corporation, Community Lodgings, Department of Community & Human Services, City of Alexandria, VA, Recreation, Parks & Cultural Activities, City of Alexandria, VA, Inova Healthy Place Club, Liberty's Promise, Move2learnkids, Space of Her Own, Wilderness Kids Alexandria, and YMCA Alexandria!

Alexandria is so fortunate to have providers who care deeply and want to give their best to the children they serve. 💛

09/23/2026

09/22/2026

📢There's one month left to reserve lodging and register for VPOST's 17th annual conference!

📲 Registration link: https://bit.ly/VPOSTConf2026
📲 Lodging link: https://bit.ly/VPOSTLodging2026

Registration 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!

09/09/2026

Kids are back in school and routines are settling in. Is there a little more room on your plate to help your community this fall?

ALX Beyond is looking for a few more champions to join our Executive Committee. If you have been thinking about where to invest your time and expertise this year, this could be exactly the opportunity you have been looking for.

We are seeking new members with backgrounds in:
💰 Development & fundraising
📊 Finance

If you care about afterschool and expanded learning opportunities for Alexandria's kids and want to bring your expertise to the table, we would love to meet you!

Know someone in your network who has a little more bandwidth now that fall is underway? Share this post and help us find the right people to help ALX Beyond grow! 🙌

👉 Learn more and reach out: https://tinyurl.com/37f7cncr

09/05/2026

🎉 Happy Labor Day Weekend, Alexandria!

While you're enjoying the long weekend, take a few minutes to explore what's out there for your student this year. Sports, arts, STEM, music, tutoring, and more, the ALX Beyond Youth Program Locator makes it easy to find the right afterschool, summer, or expanded learning program for kids and youth ages 3-19, all in one place.

🔗 Start exploring: alxbeyond.org/programs

Available in 11 languages, with many free and low-cost options, so every Alexandria family can find a great fit.

Wishing you a restful Labor Day weekend! ☀️

09/04/2026

VPOST has been named by the Children's Funding Project as Virginia's Coordinating Organization for Fund IRL.

https://v-post.org/fund-irl/

This landmark multistate settlement with Meta is an important step toward addressing the harms children and teens experience through social media and an opportunity to invest in the safe, enriching environments young people need beyond the school day.

Under the settlement, Virginia is guaranteed $353 million, with additional funds possible. The agreement resolves claims brought by 47 states and other jurisdictions alleging that Meta's platforms exposed young people to serious mental health and safety risks.

08/29/2026

New routines, new teachers, and backpacks that already look a little more lived in - Alexandria families and students earned this weekend. Enjoy the break before week two.

🔗 When you're ready to plan what afterschool looks like this year: alxbeyond.org/programs

The ALX Beyond Youth Program Locator makes it easy to find the right afterschool, sports, arts, or enrichment program for your student, all in one place, in 11 languages, with many free and low-cost options. Share this post and get the word out to other Alexandria families!

Happy weekend, Alexandria! 🌤️

08/25/2026

Alexandria students are back in the classroom this week for the 2026-2027 school year! Backpacks are unpacked, new routines are taking shape, and if your family is anything like most, you're probably starting to think about what happens after the final bell rings too.

🔗 Find your student's next favorite afterschool program: https://tinyurl.com/w28hrt5x

Sports, arts, STEM, music, tutoring, and more, the ALX Beyond Youth Program Locator makes it easy to search 100+ afterschool, summer, and expanded learning programs across the city, all in one place. Available in 11 languages, with many free and low-cost options. Share this post with other Alexandria families!

Here's to a wonderful start to the school year! 🍎

08/23/2026

🎒 Tomorrow's the day, Alexandria! 🎉

To every student packing a backpack and feeling a few first-day butterflies: you've got this! To every family sending their child to school: thank you for everything you do to get them there. And to every ACPS teacher and staff member: thank you for showing up for Alexandria's kids year after year.

Here's to a school year full of curiosity, growth, and new friendships!

And remember, when the school day ends, the learning doesn't have to! The ALX Beyond Youth Program Locator can help you find the perfect afterschool, sports, arts, or enrichment program for your student. 🔗 alxbeyond.org/programs

Wishing every Alexandria student, family, and educator a wonderful first day! 🍎

08/18/2026

As we enter the back-to-school season, consider taking a moment to shout-out a colleague that shines a light on the OST field! We will recognize up to three nominees during our conference in November.

Nominate the OST Superstar from your program here: https://bit.ly/OSTAward2026