BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Next Step Fund, Inc. - ECPv6.16.3//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.nextstepnet.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Next Step Fund, Inc. REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20240310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20241103T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20270314T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20271107T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250908 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20251014 DTSTAMP:20260610T181622 CREATED:20250718T133354Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250718T133354Z UID:11265-1757289600-1760399999@www.nextstepnet.org SUMMARY:Next Step Songbook (Fall 2025) DESCRIPTION:Do you experience complicated feelings around life\, your medical journey\, connections with others? Are you struggling with your confidence and using your voice with your doctors\, at school\, work or in your social life? \nNext Step Songbook is about finding your voice and your story through songwriting. Kimberly\, Next Step Song Studio Director\, will help you tell the story you want to tell. Songbook is a safe space to be you – to live your life in the midst of challenge or joy. You can express yourself through writing song lyrics\, reflect on your life\, practice using your voice and tell the story you want to tell about yourself. \nProgram Description: \n\nFREE virtual program\nFind your voice\, develop your self confidence and learn other life skills\nFor young people\, ages 16-29\, living with a serious illness\n3-4 week session starting in September 2025\n\n\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\n \n \n\n \n\n \n2025 Fall Dates \nCycle 1: Mid-September to Mid-October \nCycle 2: Late October to Early-December \nQuestions? \nEmail Casey Casey\, Next Step Partnership Coordinator\, if you have questions about Next Step Songbook: casey@nextstepnet.org \n\n\n \n \n Next Step Songbook Application (Summer 2026)\n Please fill out the form below if you are interested in joining this online program. \n \n Name*\n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n NicknameHave you been to a Next Step Program before?*\n \n \n Yes\n \n \n \n Attended Introductory Event Only (e.g. Next Step Mobile at hospital\, community center\, etc.)\n \n \n \n No\n How did you hear about Next Step?*\n \n \n Next Step Outreach (Email or Event)\n \n \n \n Google/Internet Search\n \n \n \n Social Media (Instagram\, etc.)\n \n \n \n Family Member/Trusted Adult\n \n \n \n Another Participant\n \n \n \n Medical Staff\n \n \n \n \n Address* \n \n \n Street Address\n \n \n Address Line 2\n \n \n City\n \n \n State / Province / Region\n \n \n ZIP / Postal Code\n \n \n Country\n AfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBonaire\, Sint Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCabo VerdeCambodiaCameroonCanadaCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCongo\, Democratic Republic of theCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzechiaCôte d'IvoireDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island and McDonald IslandsHoly SeeHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKorea\, Democratic People's Republic ofKorea\, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacaoMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorth MacedoniaNorthern Mariana IslandsNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestine\, State ofPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairnPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRomaniaRussian FederationRwandaRéunionSaint BarthélemySaint Helena\, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint MartinSaint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint MaartenSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwedenSwitzerlandSyria Arab RepublicTaiwanTajikistanTanzania\, the United Republic ofThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluTürkiyeUS Minor Outlying IslandsUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaViet NamVirgin Islands\, BritishVirgin Islands\, U.S.Wallis and FutunaWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabweÅland Islands \n \n \n Phone*Alternate PhoneEmail*\n \n Preferred mode of contact?*\n \n Email\n \n \n Cell Phone (Call)\n \n \n Cell Phone (Text)\n Current Occupation*Employer or School*Age*Birthday*\n \n MM slash DD slash YYYY\n \n Race/Ethnicity*Gender*Pronouns (he/him\, she/her\, they/them)*What is the highest level of education you have received so far?*Hospital or Clinic where you receive medical care?*PARENT/GUARDIAN AND EMERGENCY CONTACTName*\n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Relationship*Phone*Email*\n \n Medical OverviewDiagnosis*Food Allergies & ReactionsEnvironmental Allergies (bee\, latex\, etc) & ReactionsDo you carry an Epi-Pen?\n \n \n Yes\n \n \n \n No\n Are there are any special accommodations you would need (dietary\, mobility\, equipment\, etc.)? Please explain:Are there any activity limitations?Community Agreement/Rules of Conduct*Let’s make a plan for when life or illness or school or work or family\, happens.* Thank you for making a commitment to yourself. In signing this document\, you are agreeing to work on your songwriting in collaboration with a Next Step Therapeutic Songwriter. This is such an empowering moment you are choosing to grow into\, and we want to encourage you to take care of your experience. Songbook only works if you put in the creative and expressive work. As you step into your stretch zone with songwriting and finding your voice\, at times there may be creative challenges. Just know that throughout the Songbook process\, you will be supported. Here are the guidelines and commitments that we are expecting from you:*\n \n 1. Participants commit to staying in Songbook for the full cycle(s)\n \n \n 2. Participants agree to communicate honestly and openly with their Therapeutic Songwriter - specifically\, during studios when collaborating on their song\, when they need to cancel or reschedule their studio for that week\, and if they have a medical\, family\, work or school event that conflicts with their Songbook studio or commitment\n \n \n 3. Participants agree to work on finding\, and listening to\, their voice\, and building up their self-confidence through their songwriting experience\n \n \n 4. Participants will meet with their Therapeutic Songwriter on a weekly basis\, virtually through zoom\, to advance their original song towards production and completion\n \n \n 5. Participants agree to come prepared to meetings to work on writing and developing their song – and all song parts – lyrics\, rhythm\, harmony\, melody and style\n \n \n 6. Participants agree to follow through on all songwriting and song-creating tasks needed to move towards song completion\n \n \n 7. Participants agree to be timely to all meetings and interactions with their Therapeutic Songwriter\n Please select as an indication that you will adhere to the code of conduct.The Following Behaviors are grounds for Immediate Dismissal:*\n \n 1. Physical confrontations or assaults. This means harming\, attempting to harm\, or threatening to harm another person\, with or without a weapon or dangerous object\n \n \n 2. Bullying. As defined as unwanted\, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated\, or has the potential to be repeated\, over time. Verbal bullying is saying or writing mean things. Social bullying involves hurting someone’s reputation or relationships and can include leaving someone out on purpose\, telling other’s not to be friends with an individual\, spreading rumors\, embarrassing someone.\n \n \n 3. Stealing or damaging property\n \n \n 4. Possession or use of drugs and alcohol\n \n \n 5. Sexual misconduct or sexual assault\n \n \n 6. Leaving without permission\n \n \n 7. The possession of any type of weapon\n Please select as an indication that you understand the behaviors that are unacceptable at the program. Please indicate:*\n \n \n I agree to the community agreement\n \n \n \n I do not agree to the community agreement\n PHOTO AND INFORMATION RELEASEI give Next Step permission to photograph and use pictures or visual and/or audiotapes of me in professional or fundraising activities. On occasion\, with this permission\, participant photographs may be included on the Next Step website\, on a bulletin board\, video\, newsletter\, campference album\, or in personal photographs. Next Step respects the privacy of participants and does not allow unauthorized visitors to photograph the campference or participants. In addition\, by signing below\, I give Next Step permission to give my name\, address and/or phone number to groups or individuals wishing to support Next Step by inviting me to an event or by sending me information related to Next Step. This list will not be sold or given to anyone else for any other reason.Please check appropriate box and provide your signature below:*\n \n \n I agree to the photo release\n \n \n \n I do not agree to the photo release\n Please SignBy signing below\, I hereby acknowledge that I have read and fully understand the terms and expectations of the program. All information provided is current and accurate to the best of my knowledge. Name*\n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Date*\n \n MM slash DD slash YYYY\n \n Please check this box to indicate that the above signature will serve as your electronic signature\n \n (Delegate or Legal Guardian if the Delegate is not over the age of 18)\n UntitledFirst ChoiceSecond ChoiceThird Choice\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Δ URL:https://www.nextstepnet.org/event/next-step-songbook-fall-2025/ CATEGORIES:Cancer,HIV,Program,Rare Genetic Disorder,Sickle Cell ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://www.nextstepnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Next-Step-Kyle-Klein-111-KKR55219.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250929 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260503 DTSTAMP:20260610T181622 CREATED:20250528T151041Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251119T192828Z UID:11114-1759104000-1777766399@www.nextstepnet.org SUMMARY:STRIVE (2025-2026 academic year) DESCRIPTION:Next Step STRIVE is a FREE weekly mentorship program for teens\, ages 13-18\, living with a chronic illness in Boston\, Washington\, D.C.\, New York City\, New Haven and Philadelphia. As a STRIVE student\, you’ll get one-on-one academic support and access to a community of peers in a safe and welcoming environment. Sound cool? Sign up below and join us! \n\nHere’s what you can do at STRIVE each week: \n1. Get Homework Help When You Need It\nAttend weekly virtual sessions with a dedicated mentor. \n2. Connect and Destress with Friends Who Get It\nAttend a bi-monthly in-person programs focused on community building and fun. \n3. Learn\, Collaborate and Give Back Together\nAnd once a month\, STRIVE students from Boston\, Washington D.C.\, New York City\, New Haven and Philadelphia meet online for some real talk—and action! You might hear from a panel of young adults living with a chronic illness\, learn tips for health management\, work together on a community service project to lift the spirits of kids in the hospital or maybe even write a song together. \n\nSign up to join Next Step STRIVE \nNext Step STRIVE groups meet from September 29th through May 2nd. Just hearing about STRIVE? No problem\, you can join anytime—there’s no deadline. Sign up by filling out the short form below and one of our team members will be in touch with more details to get you started. \nStill have questions? \nEmail Richard Martinez\, Next Step Mentorship Coordinator\, at richard@nextstepnet.org \n\n \n \n STRIVE Registration\n \n \n What city program are you applying for:*\n \n Boston Area\n \n \n New York City Area\n \n \n Washington D.C. Area\n \n \n New Haven\, CT Area\n \n \n Philadelphia\, PA Area\n STRIVE is for teens\, 13-18 year-olds\, living with a chronic illness. For more info please call Kepler at 617-864-2921Have you been to a Next Step program before?*\n \n \n Yes\n \n \n \n Attended Introductory Event Only (e.g. Next Step Mobile at hospital\, community center\, etc.)\n \n \n \n No\n How did you hear about the Next Step program?*\n \n \n Next Step Outreach (Email or Event)\n \n \n \n Google/Internet Search\n \n \n \n Social Media (Instagram\, etc)\n \n \n \n Family Member/Trust Adult\n \n \n \n Another Participant\n \n \n \n Medical Staff\n \n \n \n Other\n \n \n \n \n If medical staff\, please include name\, position and hospital:*Name of STRIVE Participant*\n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n NicknameAddress* \n \n \n Street Address\n \n \n Address Line 2\n \n \n City\n \n \n State / Province / Region\n \n \n ZIP / Postal Code\n \n \n Country\n AfghanistanAlbaniaAlgeriaAmerican SamoaAndorraAngolaAnguillaAntarcticaAntigua and BarbudaArgentinaArmeniaArubaAustraliaAustriaAzerbaijanBahamasBahrainBangladeshBarbadosBelarusBelgiumBelizeBeninBermudaBhutanBoliviaBonaire\, Sint Eustatius and SabaBosnia and HerzegovinaBotswanaBouvet IslandBrazilBritish Indian Ocean TerritoryBrunei DarussalamBulgariaBurkina FasoBurundiCabo VerdeCambodiaCameroonCanadaCayman IslandsCentral African RepublicChadChileChinaChristmas IslandCocos IslandsColombiaComorosCongoCongo\, Democratic Republic of theCook IslandsCosta RicaCroatiaCubaCuraçaoCyprusCzechiaCôte d'IvoireDenmarkDjiboutiDominicaDominican RepublicEcuadorEgyptEl SalvadorEquatorial GuineaEritreaEstoniaEswatiniEthiopiaFalkland IslandsFaroe IslandsFijiFinlandFranceFrench GuianaFrench PolynesiaFrench Southern TerritoriesGabonGambiaGeorgiaGermanyGhanaGibraltarGreeceGreenlandGrenadaGuadeloupeGuamGuatemalaGuernseyGuineaGuinea-BissauGuyanaHaitiHeard Island and McDonald IslandsHoly SeeHondurasHong KongHungaryIcelandIndiaIndonesiaIranIraqIrelandIsle of ManIsraelItalyJamaicaJapanJerseyJordanKazakhstanKenyaKiribatiKorea\, Democratic People's Republic ofKorea\, Republic ofKuwaitKyrgyzstanLao People's Democratic RepublicLatviaLebanonLesothoLiberiaLibyaLiechtensteinLithuaniaLuxembourgMacaoMadagascarMalawiMalaysiaMaldivesMaliMaltaMarshall IslandsMartiniqueMauritaniaMauritiusMayotteMexicoMicronesiaMoldovaMonacoMongoliaMontenegroMontserratMoroccoMozambiqueMyanmarNamibiaNauruNepalNetherlandsNew CaledoniaNew ZealandNicaraguaNigerNigeriaNiueNorfolk IslandNorth MacedoniaNorthern Mariana IslandsNorwayOmanPakistanPalauPalestine\, State ofPanamaPapua New GuineaParaguayPeruPhilippinesPitcairnPolandPortugalPuerto RicoQatarRomaniaRussian FederationRwandaRéunionSaint BarthélemySaint Helena\, Ascension and Tristan da CunhaSaint Kitts and NevisSaint LuciaSaint MartinSaint Pierre and MiquelonSaint Vincent and the GrenadinesSamoaSan MarinoSao Tome and PrincipeSaudi ArabiaSenegalSerbiaSeychellesSierra LeoneSingaporeSint MaartenSlovakiaSloveniaSolomon IslandsSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth Georgia and the South Sandwich IslandsSouth SudanSpainSri LankaSudanSurinameSvalbard and Jan MayenSwedenSwitzerlandSyria Arab RepublicTaiwanTajikistanTanzania\, the United Republic ofThailandTimor-LesteTogoTokelauTongaTrinidad and TobagoTunisiaTurkmenistanTurks and Caicos IslandsTuvaluTürkiyeUS Minor Outlying IslandsUgandaUkraineUnited Arab EmiratesUnited KingdomUnited StatesUruguayUzbekistanVanuatuVenezuelaViet NamVirgin Islands\, BritishVirgin Islands\, U.S.Wallis and FutunaWestern SaharaYemenZambiaZimbabweÅland Islands \n \n \n Phone*Child's Cell PhoneEmail*\n \n Preferred mode of contact?*\n \n Email\n \n \n Cell Phone (Call)\n \n \n Cell Phone (Text)\n Child's SchoolAt What Time Does Your Child Leave for School?How Does Your Child Get Home from School?Child's Homeroom TeacherChild's GradeAgeChild's Birthday\n \n MM slash DD slash YYYY\n \n Race/EthnicityGenderPronouns (he/him\, she/her\, they/them)Hospital or Clinic where your child receive medical care?What do you/your child hope to get out of the Next Step STRIVE experience?What topic(s) do you/your child most want to learn about at STRIVE?Environmental Allergies (bee\, latex\, etc) & ReactionsDo your child carry an Epi-Pen?\n \n \n Yes\n \n \n \n No\n Food Allergies & ReactionsWhat is your child's diagnosis?*Are there are any special accommodations your child would need (dietary\, mobility\, equipment\, etc.)? Please explain:Are there any activity limitations?PARENT/GUARDIAN AND EMERGENCY CONTACTName*\n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n RelationshipPhoneEmail\n \n INFORMED CONSENT FORMBefore my child can be accepted into the Program\, I understand that I must\n \n Discuss my child’s participation in the Program with his/her regular health care provider\n While my child is at STRIVE\n \n I understand that my child may undergo physical exertion while participating in the Program\, and that there are possibilities of injury or other complications associated with exercise\n \n \n I understand that no physician or medically trained individual will be present during the Program\n \n \n I understand that in the event physical injury occurs while my child is participating in the Program\, medical treatment and assistance will be available in the same manner and to the same extent available for injuries that my child may suffer were he/she not enrolled in the Program\n \n \n I understand that no compensation for the cost of the treatment or other losses that my child may suffer can be or is guaranteed\n \n \n In the case of an emergency or should your child have any complication from SCD while at the program in any way\, Program volunteers will seek immediate emergency medical assistance and promptly inform the Next Step's Mentorship Coordinator\, Richard Martinez\, of the incident\n \n \n I agree to waive and release all claims and causes of action that I may have or acquire against Next Step and/or any of their trustees\, officers\, employees\, agents or volunteers for injury\, loss\, or damage which I or my child may suffer which are in any way connected with participation in the Program.\n \n \n I hereby allow my child to participate in the Program. I understand that my consent will remain effective until either my child completes the Program\, or I withdraw my child from the Program.\n STRIVE QuestionaireHow much does your child know about sickle cell anemia?*\n \n Not much\n \n \n A little\n \n \n A lot\n What activities does your child like to do?How many school days has your child missed due to sickle cell?Are there challenges that your child has experienced at school that you would like to share with us?What subjects would your child like extra help on during tutoring time? Is your child taking any standardized tests this school year? If yes\, which one(s)?Is there an activity that you would be uncomfortable with or would prefer your child not to participate in?PHOTO AND INFORMATION RELEASEI give Next Step permission to photograph and use pictures or visual and/or audiotapes of me in professional or fundraising activities. On occasion\, with this permission\, participant photographs may be included on the Next Step website\, on a bulletin board\, video\, newsletter\, campference album\, or in personal photographs. Next Step respects the privacy of participants and does not allow unauthorized visitors to photograph the campference or participants. In addition\, by signing below\, I give Next Step permission to give my name\, address and/or phone number to groups or individuals wishing to support Next Step by inviting me to an event or by sending me information related to Next Step. This list will not be sold or given to anyone else for any other reason.Please check appropriate box and provide your signature below:*\n \n \n I agree to the photo release\n \n \n \n I do not agree to the photo release\n Please SignBy signing below\, I hereby acknowledge that I have read and fully understand the terms and expectations of the program. All information provided is current and accurate to the best of my knowledge.Name*\n \n \n First\n \n \n \n \n Last\n \n \n \n Date*\n \n MM slash DD slash YYYY\n \n Please check this box to indicate that the above signature will serve as your electronic signature\n \n (Delegate or Legal Guardian if the Delegate is not over the age of 18)\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Δ URL:https://www.nextstepnet.org/event/strive-2025-2026-year/ CATEGORIES:Program,Sickle Cell ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.nextstepnet.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Screenshot-2024-12-11-at-1.59.11 PM.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR