Author: School's Out Washington

Youth Development Advocacy Week

By School's Out Washington

Now is the time to showcase Youth Development to policymakers! In partnership with the Youth Development Strategy Table, we’ll be meeting youth, providers, and other stakeholders to educate and advocate for our legislative priorities from February 6 – 10.  Here’s how you can participate.  Before Advocacy Week (January 11 – February 2): During Advocacy Week (February 6 – 10): Please reach out to David Beard with any questions or concerns. Youth make Washington better and it’s time for the state to support youth development!

Winter Workshop: The Journey Continues

By School's Out Washington

The Out of School and Summer Learning Network, in partnership with School’s Out Washington welcomes you back from winter break by offering a refresher on YPQ Methods and mental health workshops as recommended by youth-serving partners! On February 3, you’ll have a chance to refresh on some best-known practices, connect with peers, co-learn with partners, and get reading for some great youth programming. In this workshop, participants will:

Pierce County Out-of-Schooltime Leader to Join SOWA 

By School's Out Washington

School’s Out Washington (SOWA) is thrilled to announce that Fahren Johnson will be joining SOWA as the new Strategy & Partnerships Director. Her first day in the new role will be January 3, 2023. This new senior leadership position is responsible for leading SOWA’s policy and systems-level efforts to advance equity for youth of color and youth in poverty through an equitable and high-quality expanded learning ecosystem in Washington state. In this role, Fahren will oversee strategic partnerships with SOWA’s state agency partners, lead SOWA’s expanded learning system-building strategy, and oversee SOWA’s Policy and Advocacy team working to strengthen our … [ ]

Conversación, Cuentos y Cultura

By School's Out Washington

Conversación, Cuentos y Cultura School’s Out Washington (SOWA) is launching a series of sessions in Spanish that invite all who have an interest to share virtual space on various challenging or emerging topics that affect the children and young people with whom we work. We would love your virtual presence! Each session is gently guided by Maria Pia Johnson Barreto, SOWA’s Learning & Design Manager, and Clara Rosebrock, SOWA’s Learning & Design Coordinator. We will host this open space via Zoom during each season of the year: Fall: December 08 , 2022 10 AM -11:30 AM Winter: February 28, 2023 … [ ]

Best Starts for Kids and the celebrations of 2.0 (so far)

By School's Out Washington

In summer of 2022, School’s Out Washington launched the second iteration of the Best Starts for Kids (BSK) Expanded Learning initiative. We celebrated the distribution of over 16 million dollars in funding awarded across 62 different community programs throughout King County, and an in-depth guided experience of the Youth Program Quality Intervention (YPQI) process. Each incredible program provides high quality expanded learning opportunities for youth, ages 5-13, who are BIPOC and/or living in poverty in King County.   The 62 grantees hit the ground running with school and programs starting shortly after the funding announcement. The BSK Expanded Learning initiative is a … [ ]

2022 Bridge Conference Reflections

By School's Out Washington

Conferences are a time to learn, reconnect, and dream a little bigger. At this year’s Bridge Conference, there was an undeniable hum of excitement in the air. We were back together, in-person, after two years of connecting virtually. Youth development leaders, community workers and organizers traveled from across the state and beyond to hear from one another. Lines formed at registration as early as 7:30 AM and groups gathered with their pastries and coffee waiting for the first plenary to begin. Tanaya Winder grounded the crowd of over 530 in intentionality and the hard work of the “heartwork.” From there … [ ]