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Now in its 19th year, School’s Out Washington’s annual Bridge Conference brings together school-age care providers, youth development professionals, leaders, community organizers, funders, and policy makers from across the country.

Attendees hear from thought-provoking presenters and learn new strategies to build strong programs and equitable systems for young people, in and out of school. Reflected in all aspects of the Bridge Conference are the values of equity, belonging, leadership, nourishment, change, innovation, and community. Our attendees and presenters represent the diverse communities we work with across the state. In 2021, for our second virtual conference, we will come together to celebrate, influence, and learn in community with the expanded learning field.

We gather to:
  • Engage with a diverse range of knowledge, people, and perspectives
  • Identify the ways that racial inequities impact youth, expanded learning opportunities, and educational outcomes
  • Experience a sense of belonging to nourish social connection and professional networking
  • Learn how to implement tangible practices that promote an equitable expanded learning opportunity ecosystem
  • Strive to recognize power dynamics throughout programs and systems and begin to strategize how to co-create stronger partnerships across sectors

2021 Bridge: From Seedlings to Stardust
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 stars can be said to be our first home, the first dreamscape of humankind. We have only just begun our rupture – the shattering and deconstruction of—individual and collective realities. This change has brought exhaustion—with no clear path in sight. Yet, we cannot stifle ourselves in normalcy. 2021 Bridge: From Seedlings to Stardust dares us to dream and to pour into the tenaciousness of transformation. The seeds have been sown—now, how do we shape this change?

Systems Leader Cohort
For 2021, the Systems Leader Cohort will include a Pre-Conference on October 26 and a series of recommended workshops for funders, policymakers, and community leaders. This cohort will focus on advancing equity through a well-supported expanded learning system in this profound moment of change.

Bridge Conference Registrants: Once you register, participants will receive an email from Sched inviting you to create and/or log into your Sched account so you can create your personalized schedule and prepare to attend the event. Check out our Attendee Guidance Checklist for more info on "how" to show up to this virtual event or contact our Customer Service team at bridge@schoolsoutwashington.org if you have any challenges navigating the platform. 
Back To Schedule
Tuesday, October 26 • 9:00am - 12:00pm
Systems Leaders Pre-Conference

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Join us for an interactive full morning (9-12 a.m. Pacific Standard Time) pre-conference to envision a future in Washington that harnesses this moment of unprecedented opportunity for systemic change in our sector as we begin to emerge from the pandemic. Seeds that have been planted over the past decade have really taken root over the past 18 months, growth that could result in a thriving and more equitable ecosystem of expanded learning opportunities for our young people. However, the ecosystem is still fragile. We must tend the soil, care for new growth, and prune what’s not serving us. Come learn about these growing opportunities and help us to envision a thriving ecosystem. We will begin by grounding us in what expanded learning system building has looked like in Washington State and invite you to share your part of the story. We will then hear about local, regional and statewide system building efforts that need to be tended. Using breakout groups and interactive virtual tools, you will have a chance to share your vision and commitment to building this ecosystem. We will end with an inspirational closing that will set you up to engage with the rest of the Bridge Conference over the following days.

Session Survey

Tuesday October 26, 2021 9:00am - 12:00pm PDT
Zoom- Meeting