School's Out Washington

10/13/2026

Thank you to Kaiser Permanente for sponsoring !

Sponsors help SOWA offer the broad range of activities, speakers, learning opportunities, and accommodations that make this conference meaningful and impactful for youth development professionals from across the sector. When gathered, our attendees and presenters work toward a collective vision of more equitable systems for young people, including community care, best practices, and advocacy—all of which our sponsors help make possible through their support!

Make sure to get your Bridge tickets by October 16! Visit bridgeconference.org for more information.

We're so excited to see you in less than 2 weeks!

10/09/2026

We're excited to be a partner for the implementation pilot of the National Youth Development Foundational Practices Credential from the National AfterSchool Association (NAA)!

This credential is an important milestone in a multi-year national effort to strengthen and recognize the youth development workforce, and we're grateful and proud to participate in its pilot.

SOWA was one of five organizations chosen from across the nation, alongside:

Camp Fire
California School-Age Consortium - CalSAC
The Andy Roddick Foundation's Learn All The Time Network
Expanded Learning Alliance - ExpandLA

Stay tuned for more information about the pilot! Visit naaweb.org to learn more.

10/08/2026

Initiatives like EngageIRL answer an important question in the effort to reduce screen time among youth: What healthy alternatives are we offering young people?

From the article:

Ben Small, a former Central Valley School District superintendent and the executive director of LaunchNW, said engaging students outside of the classroom is an investment in the community.

"This is what Engage In Real Life is all about: how is it that we create a more authentic childhood, a more authentic opportunity for our kids to engage with each other and be healthy, and it's not always easy," he said.

One way to invest in kids, he said, is to make sure they have spaces to gather with no barriers.

In the classroom and on the mound, Cris Coffield observes the impact of getting kids off their phones.

10/07/2026

Youth development providers often work in siloes competing for the same dollars that serve similar populations. Collaboration between youth program providers can feel difficult during economic uncertainty and increased stress and pressure.

While providers have been conditioned to operate with a scarcity and competitive mindset, it is also what keeps the youth development sector fragmented.

Convening is a necessary strategy to think and act collectively for the well-being of youth, communities, and youth program providers themselves.

Read our full story, "The Power of Convening the Youth Development Sector," in our 2025 Annual Report here: https://schoolsoutwashington.org/resource/2025-annual-report/

10/06/2026

Thank you to the Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families (DCYF) for sponsoring 2026 Bridge Conference at the $25,000 Equity level!

By sponsoring Bridge, DCYF is paving the way for hundreds of youth development professionals to convene with peers from the field, share insights, build collaborative relationships, learn from experts, and gain applicable strategies for improving youth outcomes in their communities.

We've curated an incredible conference experience for our attendees this year. The level of intention and care that we provide during the conference is possible thanks to our sponsors.

Make sure to get your tickets for 2026 Bridge Conference before October 16! bridgeconference.org

10/02/2026

The Youth Development Strategy Table (YDST) is seeking applicants for our second Youth Advocacy Subcommittee (YAS) cohort!

Apply here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=OHPEPKXve0etCQ03i8-2WwlZmgevA1pGpxBH3yLBxY5UQjZNM0NFUkw3SzBKRkVPOU1VODQ5QU1CUC4u

This is a great opportunity for young people to learn more about public policy, Washington state politics, and how to expand youth programs in their community. Participants will gain hands-on experience in leadership development, project management, strategic thinking, and civic engagement.

We're looking for young people who are:

• Between the ages of 16-24
• Living in Washington state
• Current or recent participants in a youth development program
• Interest in policy, advocacy, and civic engagement work

The subcommittee will convene at the beginning of November and meet through the end of April 2027. All participants will be compensated with a $500 stipend and will be offered lodging and transportation support for one mandatory in-person convening.

Applications are due by 5:00 PM on October 16. Learn more at ydstrategy.org

10/02/2026

Today is the last day to take advantage of our best prices for 2026 Bridge Conference registration! Rates go up starting tomorrow, October 3—so make sure to get your tickets before 11:59 PM PST today!

Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-bridge-conference-the-art-of-being-water-tickets-1989928403422

Don't miss out on our group (4 or more registrants) and licensed school-age childcare provider discounts, which will also go up tomorrow but still offer lower rates. Visit bridgeconference.org for more information about registration rates, important dates, our keynote speaker Sangita Kumar, and more.

We can't wait to see you in Tacoma at the end of the month!

09/30/2026

October is packed with opportunities to invest time in professional learning, connect with peers in the field, and earn STARS credits!

In addition to our annual Bridge Conference on October 26 & 27, we have trainings and workshops throughout the month to help you improve the quality of your program and outcomes for youth.

Explore our calendar and register anytime at sowa.my.salesforce-sites.com/sowaevents

09/24/2026

👏 Thank you to Mary Bridge Children's Hospital for being a Belonging sponsor for 2026 Bridge Conference!

The generous support of our sponsors helps us provide an elevated experience for conference attendees that sparks meaningful conversations, deepens relationships, and fosters long-lasting connections.

Our sponsors also help us lower barriers to professional learning for youth development professionals across our state, ultimately contributing to the workforce, state, and field as a whole. Thank you!

09/22/2026

In honor of African Immigrant Heritage Month, we're spotlighting organizations dedicated to serving African immigrant and refugee youth and families in King County! Click through to learn more about these organizations' programs, which are supported by the Best Starts for Kids Expanded Learning Initiative.

Featured organizations:

Communities of Rooted Brilliance
rootedbrilliance.org

Diaspora Family Healing Network
dfhn.org

East African Community Services
eastafricancs.org

Eritrean Association In Greater Seattle
eritreanassociation.org

First Five Years & Beyond
firstfivebeyond.org

Horn of Africa Services
hoas.org

OurHope
ourhope.us

Somali Health Board
somalihealthboard.org

Washington West African Center
wawac.org

To learn more about all of our grantees, visit schoolsoutwashington.org