The list below is designed to support you through the RFP application process. We recommend following the steps outlined below:  

1. Review the Frequently Asked Questions below. 
2. Review the PDF of the Workshop Proposal Form before completing the form. 
3. Sign up for SOWA emails to receive announcements
4. If you would like support with the RFP application or workshop development, please make an appointment for RFP Application/Workshop Development via this booking form. 
5. Complete and submit the RFP using this form. 

• The Request for Workshop Proposals is being released on May 30, 2023.
• The deadline for proposal submissions is July 20, 2023. 
• All applicants will be notified of the status of their proposal by August 25, 2023. 
• If selected to present, you will be required to confirm your plans to present by September 6, 2023. 
• If selected, we require all presenters to attend a virtual Presenter Orientation Meeting during the week of October 9 –13
• The Bridge Conference will take place November 6-7, 2023 at Greater Tacoma Convention Center and Marriott Tacoma Downtown in Tacoma, WA. 

• Share your expertise with leaders in the expanded learning opportunity field from Washington State and beyond 
• Opportunity for professional development via our offer up to 2 complimentary registration (value of $600) to each presenting team selected through the RFP
• Promotion of your session and organization through social media and our public-facing Conference agenda on Sched 
• Share your contact information with attendees who may be interested in inviting you to share your expertise with their own organizations 
• Receive workshop survey feedback to support your development as a presenter, with the potential for a testimonial 
• Opportunity to join our list of potential trainers for paid contracts with School’s Out Washington 

Please review the event description and learning objectives.  

2023 Bridge Conference: Forging Brighter Futures – Reflect. Connect. Reimagine. November 6-7

SOWA’s annual Bridge Conference brings together youth program professionals, community leaders and organizers, funders, and policymakers from across the country. Many of our attendees work in grassroots youth programs with limited resources. For those attendees, Bridge serves as an important connection to the broader youth development field, relationship building, and knowledge to help them sustain and grow their impact. Reflected in all aspects of Bridge are the values of equity, belonging, leadership, nourishment, change, innovation, and community. Our conference actively centers diverse BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) voices and youth program providers throughout the event and planning process.  

When gathered, our attendees and presenters work toward a collective vision of more equitable systems for young people that includes community care, best practices, and advocacy. 

We gather to: 

• Learn how to implement tangible practices that promote high-quality programs and an equitable expanded learning ecosystem
• Identify and address the ways that racial inequities impact youth, expanded learning opportunities, and educational outcomes
• Highlight strengths and inequities in programs and systems and begin to strategize how to co-create stronger partnerships across sectors.
• Experience belonging and personal/professional nourishment through social connection and networking. 

2023 EVENT THEME: FORGING BRIGHTER FUTURES – Reflect. Connect. Reimagine.

We have often heard that there is a “brighter future,” but what does that mean and how do we get there? For young people, that future is dependent on our collaborative effort to make change. At this year’s Bridge Conference, we will:

• Reflect on our biases while learning and unlearning how to create more holistic and supportive environments for young people. 

• Connect to build our collective power and hold space for restoration.  
• Reimagine our systems and create a foundation for a stronger youth development field. 

Together we will forge ahead in our pursuit of more sustainable systems that elevate and empower young people and their communities. 

Check out previous examples of Bridge workshops.

• Race and Equity: While we are seeking sessions across all strands that incorporate race and equity, this strand is focused on sessions where topics of race and/or equity are the focus. Examples include the intersections of race and _____ (e.g. class, disabilities, access to food and housing, adultism, racial literacy, white privilege, structural racism, social justice, or sex, gender, gender identity, or supporting specific populations such as immigrant and refugee youth and families).
• Youth Development Programming: What do high-quality afterschool and summer programs for youth, especially low-income youth and youth of color, look like? What practices, curriculum, and environments will provide the opportunities youth deserve in order to thrive? Examples include cultural responsiveness, social and emotional learning, trauma-informed and restorative practices, STEM, sense of belonging, relationships, identity development, creativity, safety and wellness, youth leadership and engagement, and program development.
• Capacity and Systems Building: What does it look like to invest in our staff and our field? How do we strengthen the formal systems (policies, institutional practices, and funding) and the informal and cultural systems (communities of practice, beliefs, and youth and family voice) to advance equity? Examples include practice and policy change that promote racial equity within organizations; staff and volunteer development; leadership and management practices; fundraising; workforce development; Advocacy; research and evaluation; assessment, planning, and improvement; and connections between family, school, and community.
• Emerging Issues: What does the future of youth development look like? How do we reimagine our education and youth development systems to build an equitable expanded learning opportunity system for all? Examples include youth activism, creative or restorative justice, youth voice, aligning actions with organizational values, or shared power in cross-sector partnerships. 
• Multi-Sector Partnerships & Collaboration: What does it look like to build strong partnerships in youth development and education that last over time? What types of partnerships, and the way the people and organizations within them work together, help us build a more equitable expanded learning opportunity system? Examples include sharing power in cross-sector partnerships, managing the effects of turnover in partnership relationships, authentic partnerships with youth and families, applying community centric fundraising principles, and seeking funding for cross-sector partnerships. 

When submitting a proposal, we will ask you to indicate which days you are available to present at the conference. Because there are a limited number of workshops in each Period, your availability may influence our decision-making as we finalize our menu of workshops. Please note that there is only one period when 135-minute sessions will be offered (Period D). 

• Monday, November 6, 10:15 -11:45 AM PST (90-minute session), Workshop Period A 
• Monday, November 6, 1:15-2:15 PM PST (60-minute session), Workshop Period B 
• Monday, November 6, 2:30-3:30 PM PST (60-minute session), Workshop Period C 
• Monday, November 6, 1:15-3:30 PM PST (135-minute session), Workshop Period D 
• Tuesday, November 7, 9-10:30 AM PST (90-minute session), Workshop Period E 
• Tuesday, November 7, 10:50 AM-12:20 PM PST (90-minute session), Workshop Period F 
• Tuesday, November 7, 2:15-3:45 PM PST (90-minute session), Workshop Period G 

The maximum number of people per room will vary, from about 32 to 80. We cannot estimate exactly how many people to expect in your assigned room, as so many factors influence how many people choose each session. Rooms may be set up with round tables or school room or theatre style.

SOWA will prioritize the following criteria in the workshop selection process: high quality and compelling workshop (e.g. clarity of title, description, style and delivery), conference alignment and relevance (with theme and event learning objectives), racial equity alignment, and providing a balanced, diverse program including a majority of presenters identifying as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color and workshops from across Washington state, and an array of choices and topics for attendees with different roles and levels of experience and expertise. English grammar is not part of our criteria.   

Required Presenter Orientation: If selected, all presenters are required to attend the Presenter Orientation meeting via Zoom on one of the following days/times:   

• 10/10/23, 4:30-6:00 PM PST 
• 10/13/23, 10-11:30 AM PST 

Room Host & Pre-Workshop Check-In: Presenters must arrive 30 minutes prior to their workshop start time, check in at registration, and check in with the room host at the assigned room at least 20 minutes prior to session start time.  

Complimentary Registration: We encourage you to attend the rest of the Bridge Conference and offer up to 2 complimentary registration (value of $600) to each presenting team selected through the RFP. Co- presenters are welcome to purchase a ticket if they wish to attend. If you are selected, you will receive information about how to register as a presenter and we strongly encourage you to register at that time in order to reserve your spot.  

Products: We encourage you to share free resources, tools, curriculum, etc. in your workshop session. If you are interested in promoting a product or service that is not free or widely available to the public, we offer you the opportunity to become a sponsor or exhibitor for Bridge. Please see our current Bridge website for more information.

Photos & Video: School’s Out Washington may take photos and video of the 2023 Bridge Conference, including speakers, attendees, and other activities to use in marketing and other materials. Conference attendees waive any rights and any claims regarding the taking and publishing of such photos, video, etc.  

Important Dates & Timeline:  

• The deadline for proposal submissions is July 20, 2023.  
• All applicants will be notified of the status of their proposal by August 25, 2023.  
• If selected to present, you will be required to confirm your plans to present September 6, 2023. 

If you have specific questions related to the workshop proposal, please email our team at bridge@schoolsoutwashington.org or visit our Bridge website for more information.

Before you complete the Proposal Form, please view this PDF to review the full list of the questions we ask.