Bridge keynote speaker: Melannie Denise Cunningham

SOWA is excited to welcome Melannie Denise Cunningham to this year’s Bridge Conference, Forging Brighter Futures.

The Bridge Conference schedule is live!

Get a jump on planning your experience. Browse the 2023 Bridge Conference schedule. If you haven’t registered yet, don’t delay! Prices go up October 9 and registration closes October 23.

Bridge Conference 2023 registration is now open!

SOWA’s annual Bridge Conference brings together school-age care providers, youth development professionals, leaders, community organizers, funders, and policymakers from across the country.

We support the people and organizations who empower youth through expanded learning.

School’s Out Washington is working to ensure equitable access to high-quality, youth development programs across Washington state—especially for low-income youth and youth of color. Through advocacy, professional learning, and grants we have created a foundation of support and expertise that enables and enriches the critical work of youth-serving organizations.

Trainings & Workshops

September 28, 2023

(9:00 am — 3:30 pm)

September 18, 2023 — September 29, 2023

YPQ Method - Structure and Clear Limits

September 28, 2023 (9:00 am — 3:30 pm)

Format: In person

Topic: Prepares participants to conduct program self-assessment

STARS Credits: 6

Introduction to Quality (Staff)

September 18, 2023 — September 29, 2023

Format: Online, Self-Paced

Topic: Exploring the WA State Program Quality Standards

STARS Credits: 2

Trainings & Workshops

View All

Stories

VIEW ALL

Spotlight on BSK grantee, Bright Futures Creative Collective

August 31, 2023

By Nat Neville

Four incredible community-based organizations, each with different missions, have teamed up to provide a variety of enrichment and social-emotional learning opportunities to youth across central, south, and west Seattle under the name of The Bright Futures Creative Collective.

Continue reading

Community Feedback

News & Updates

VIEW ALL

September 27

Celebrating the legacy of YDEKC, a pivotal King County coalition and convener 

When Youth Development Executives of King County (YDEKC) was created in 2010, the youth development sector in King County was made up of loosely connected agencies, often competing for scarc...

August 22

Announcing Bridge keynote speaker: Melannie Denise Cunningham

SOWA is excited to welcome Melannie Denise Cunningham to this year’s Bridge Conference, Forging Brighter Futures. Melannie is a Tacoma-based thought leader and practitioner who has exc...

Get involved!

Join the Youth Development Strategy Table

learn more

The Youth Development Strategy Table is a coalition of public and nonprofit stakeholders working to establish a focused state-level youth development effort to sustain early learning gains, improve academic and social-emotional outcomes, and prevent deep end system involvement.

learn more

List your program and get on the map!

Check out Elevate Washington

Elevate Washington is a member-based youth program data system and public directory. It includes nonprofits, businesses, and agencies that offer afterschool enrichment, childcare, youth services, and a range of other opportunities and support for children and young people (ages 5 to 24).

SOWA created the Elevate Washington so that we have the tools and information needed to see where youth programs are operating in our state and better understand who’s being served. With this critical data, we’re able to advocate for resources and also provide families with an easy way to find programs in their area.

Learn more!
image