Professional Development
Grow as a youth worker through free professional development. Sprockets offers workshops for Saint Paul youth workers throughout the year on a wide variety of youth work topics like program planning, youth engagement, quality practices, and more.
March
SEL PQA in Practice with SQUAD-👉 Register Here
📆Wednesdays, March 11th 10:30-12:00📍North End Community Center
Sprockets Quality & Assessment Dream-team (SQUAD) is a cohort of youth workers trained as reliable external assessors. Join SQUAD and other youth workers to talk through what quality practices can look like and sound like in youth programs. Hear from others and share what it could look like in your context! Whether you’re interested in strengthening your skills to eventually become an external assessor or simply want to deepen your understanding of the tool’s scales - and what high-quality practice looks and sounds like - you’re invited to join our Winter 2026 SQUAD Sessions. Each session will include an overview of the items within the designated scales and interactive discussions to capture real world examples that can be incorporated into program planning.
Come for one session or join us for all three as we take a focused dive into specific scales of the tool!
Date TBD due to rescheduling— Emotion Coaching & Cultivating Empathy
Wednesday, February 18th — Fostering Teamwork & Promoting Responsibility
Wednesday, March 11th — Furthering Learning & Supporting Plans & Goals
Facilitators:: Jocelyn Wiedow, Sprockets
Quality Coaching -👉 Register HERE
The Quality Coaching Series is part of our Passion to Profession: Building Skills for Future Youthwork Careers offerings.
📆Fridays, March 13th, 20th, and 27th 9:30-12:00 (all days required) 📍North End Community Center
Build confidence in your role as a supervisor or coach during this three-session, hands-on training series. You’ll learn practical coaching tools to strengthen communication, give effective feedback, and support staff growth. Through real scenarios and guided practice, you’ll leave with simple, reliable strategies you can use right away to improve performance and foster a positive team culture.
Ideal for: New supervisors, team leads, and coordinators.
Gain skills in: Coaching conversations, feedback, improvement planning, conflict navigation, and decision-making.
Facilitators: Jocelyn Wiedow, Sprockets and Tabitha Mitchell, Saint Paul Parks and Recreation
Facilitator Training Series -👉 Register HERE
Facilitator Training Series is part of our Passion to Profession: Building Skills for Future Youthwork Careers offerings.
📆Wednesdays, March 25th, April 1st, and April 29th 9:30-12:00 (all days required) 📍Frogtown Community Center
This three-part training series equips new and experienced facilitators with the mindset, skills, and practical tools needed to lead engaging, inclusive, and meaningful sessions. Across three interactive 2.5 -hour modules, participants will explore facilitation fundamentals, practice core techniques, and apply their learning to real-world scenarios. Whether you’re facilitating workshops, team meetings, or community conversations, this series builds confidence and strengthens your facilitation presence.
By the end of the series, participants will be able to:
• Plan and facilitate sessions that are inclusive, engaging, and purpose-driven
• Use a variety of facilitation tools confidently
• Navigate challenging group moments with resilience and skill
• Reflect on their identity and style to facilitate with authenticity
• Build stronger connection, participation, and learning in any group they lead
Facilitator: Jocelyn Wiedow, Sprockets
April
Beyond limits: Creating impactful outdoor adventure-based experiences - 👉 Register Here
📆Wednesday, April 1st 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Online webinar
💥This workshop is provided through U of M Extension Youth Development
Explore eight key components for designing transformative and engaging outdoor learning experiences for all youth. Participants will learn to create safe, supportive environments, foster social connection and offer guided nature experiences that promote exploration, challenge and social-emotional growth.
Facilitator: Nicole Pokorney
SEL PQA External Assessor Training-👉 Apply Here
📆Thurs April 30th & Fri May 1st 9-5 (both days required)📍North End Community Center
Join the SQUAD - Sprockets Quality & Assessment Dream Team! *Previous familiarity with the tool or having attended the self-assessment training from the fall preferred.
This training offers youth workers the opportunity to build new skills, expand their professional network, and deepen their own quality youth work practices.
Participants are expected to dedicate approximately 10 hours during the 2026 school year to complete two observations for fellow Sprockets partners as part of the 2026 Activator cycle. These observations contribute to continuous program improvement across the network. Through the training, participants also build the knowledge and skills needed to conduct observations within their own organization, supporting internal quality improvement aligned with their role and organizational goals.
In addition, participants will take part in two meetings throughout the year as members of an ongoing professional learning community with both new and returning External Assessors (the SQUAD).
Participants interested in completing the SEL PQA External Assessor Training but who are not interested in providing observations for other Sprockets partners may purchase a training spot, if space allows, for $450.
Sprockets Learning Cohort-👉 Apply Here
📆3rd Fridays, 9:00am–12:00pm, Sept 2026–Jan 2028; no group meetings June–August 2027
Elevate Your Practice with the 2026–27 Sprockets Learning Cohort
Sprockets is excited to launch our next Learning Cohort designed for Saint Paul youth workers and new supervisors with 1–2 years of direct service experience.
This cohort centers collective healing and deepens understanding of identity, social and emotional learning, trauma, mental wellness, restorative practices, and how broader systems impact youth and youth work.
Facilitated by Julie Richards (Inquire, Decipher, Progress) with coaching support from Shaun Walsh (Co-Create Consulting).
Apply by April 13. Questions? Contact jocelyn.wiedow@ci.stpaul.mn.us
Participants will join a supportive community of peers committed to reflection, equity, collaboration, and continuous growth.
The cohort includes:
- Monthly cohort sessions (3rd Fridays, 9:00am–12:00pm, Sept 2026–Jan 2028; no group meetings June–August 2027)
- Cohort-centered learning grounded in community of practice
- Hands-on, interactive discussions and reflection
- 1:1 coaching sessions and reflection interviews
- A $1,000 stipend
Opportunities to build your professional network and strengthen your resume
Download the FLYER for more details
