Category: News

Liz Dozier will kick off our Bridge Conference!

By School's Out Washington

For our Opening Keynote Speaker for our 2021 Bridge Conference, we wanted a strong storyteller who would anchor us in our theme as we begin our learning journey together. From Seedlings to Stardust asks us to disrupt inequitable systems and persist through change to transform how we support young people and Liz Dozier, Founder & CEO of Chicago Beyond, has just that experience. We are honored to announce that Liz Dozier will kick off this year’s Bridge Conference as our Opening Keynote Speaker!  From education to activism, Liz Dozier has spent her career working tirelessly to disrupt the culture of inequity that is often pervasive in urban neighborhoods. In 2016, Dozier launched Chicago … [ ]

Hollis Wong-Wear will close out our Bridge Conference!

By School's Out Washington

As we embraced our 2021 Bridge Conference theme, From Seedlings to Stardust, our Bridge Planning Team determined we were looking for a speaker with Washington state ties, roots in youth development, and an innovator who moves from imagination to transformational action. Hollis Wong-Wear embodies all aspects of this vision. We are thrilled to announce that she will be our Closing Keynote Speaker!   Hollis Wong-Wear (she/her) is a Grammy-nominated recording artist, songwriter, content producer and strategic facilitator who works at the intersection of creativity, community organizing and public policy. With her roots in spoken word and slam poetry through the nationally recognized Youth Speaks program, Hollis is … [ ]

Our program quality team is growing! Meet Kimmy, Sergio, and Valerie.

By School's Out Washington

Since 2008, School’s Out Washington has led the effort to build and sustain a quality improvement system for expanded learning programs in Washington state. It is at the heart of all we do. As our work continues to grow, our team does too! We are thrilled to introduce our two new Program Quality Administrative Assistants and our new Pierce County Program Quality Manager.

2021 Bridge Conference

For our second virtual conference, we will come together to celebrate, influence, and learn in community with the expanded learning field on October 26-29, 2021. Join us for a Systems Leaders Pre-Conference, inspiring keynote speakers, up to 28 workshops to choose from, and unique opportunities to connect with your peers from across Washington State and beyond. About our 2021 theme Across time and cultures, humans have found comfort, guidance, and knowledge amongst the stars. Before we had the technology to tell us what was out there, we were grounded and deeply connected to this unknown we reached for it. The … [ ]

Best Starts for Kids  renewal  headed to the August 2021  ballot in King County! 

By School's Out Washington

Holistic community support for youth and families. This is the overarching purpose of King County’s Best Starts for Kids Initiative. As we’ve seen with the inaugural Best Starts Out-of-School Time grant—led by School’s Out Washington—increasing the availability of high-quality, culturally relevant youth programs means that our region’s kids grow academically, socially, and emotionally. And this August, voters will have the opportunity to ensure that life-changing youth programs stay strong.  With the support of King County voters, we’ve provided funding, coaching, program quality support, and capacity building for more than three years to 35 organizations and partnerships. SOWA focused on two important models for this … [ ]

Welcome to the team, Sevan!

We are thrilled to welcome Sevan Bussell to our team as the new Spokane coach-trainer. Sevan (they/them) has been a youth worker for the last eight years, and a public speaker/workshop facilitator for the last twelve years. Their passion is creating and supporting accessible and equitable spaces for people to learn and thrive. They really enjoy creating educational opportunities for all ages and developmental levels of people. When not working they are spending time with their wife, dog, and cats. They enjoy sewing clothing and quilting as well as assorted other crafts. They enjoy tending their house plants as well … [ ]