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Monday, October 26
 

10:15am PDT

Reimagining Resilience: Understanding Trauma & Creating Safer Environments
Monday October 26, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am PDT
As our communities and education system are more stressed, BELONG Partners
supports the critical need for us to come together and connect in ways that build resilience and
center young peoples’ (and all peoples’) needs. Our time will be spent not only learning about the
impact of trauma on our developing brains and bodies but will also focus on restorative, and
antiracist strategies that create environments for young people to truly thrive.
Speakers
avatar for Aaron Norikane (he/him)

Aaron Norikane (he/him)

Facilitator, BELONG Partners
Aaron Norikane (he/him) has been pushing to transform our education systems (both in schools and in our communities) for young people in the Seattle area for over 30 years. As a facilitator with the BELONG Partners team working with schools and community orgs all over South King County... Read More →
Monday October 26, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am PDT
Chambers Bay 1, Marriott (3rd Floor)

10:15am PDT

Building Knowledge Together: Data Equity from Early Learning to Early Adulthood
Monday October 26, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am PDT
Practitioners are often asked to collect data for funders rather than to build
knowledge for their own practice. This session reframes that relationship, treating every measure
as a mutually cultivated choice about what matters. We trace those choices across four phases of
the cycle of inquiry, each grounded in a current program: a community co-designed wage pilot for
engagement and co-design, a holistic measurement effort for data collection, a postsecondary
access program for mixed methods and learning cycles, and a housing pilot for storytelling.
Together, these examples surface what it takes to build data practices that hold rigor and humanity
at once. Rather than offering a finished framework, this session treats the room as a working
group: practitioners will discuss these examples, name what has strengthened trust and belonging
for the youth they serve, and contribute approaches worth exploring. Participants leave with
practical strategies and open questions to carry back into their own programs.
Speakers
DP

Diana Parades (she/her)

Evaluator, King County
Diana Paredes is an Evaluator on King County's Performance Measurement and Evaluation team, supporting youth development and community development programs. She brings a background in applied research and evaluation focused on equitable development, civic engagement, and leadership... Read More →
VQ

Vanessa Quince (she/her)

Senior Evaluator in Youth Services, King County
Vanessa Quince is a Senior Evaluator in Youth Services on King County's Performance Measurement and Evaluation team. She specializes in mixed-methods evaluation, integrating participatory approaches to center community voices and assessing outcomes, with a cross-sector background... Read More →
LG

Leah Grodinsky (she/her)

Senior Evaluator, King County
Leah Grodinsky is a Senior Evaluator on King County's Performance Measurement and Evaluation team, supporting youth development and out-of-school time strategies. She brings a cross-sector background spanning youth-serving direct service, community-based environmental and food systems... Read More →
LD

Lauren Dinsmore (she/her)

Senior Evaluator, King County
Lauren Dinsmore is a Child Care Programs Evaluator on King County's Performance Measurement and Evaluation team supporting the Children, Youth, and Young Adults Division. She brings experience evaluating programs that advance maternal and infant health equity, having worked on Solano County's Black... Read More →
Monday October 26, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am PDT
Room 317, Greater Tacoma Convention Center

10:15am PDT

Belonging: The Impact of Difference
Monday October 26, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am PDT
It is human and deeply rooted in us all to want to belong. Not surprisingly then, that when we first step into a new group, it is our differences that often bubble to the surface, sometimes manifesting difficult emotions and behaviors. Spotting this kind of pattern is part of how we show up fully for our students — as we support them with new vantage points that see, embrace and celebrate differences.
Speakers
SB

Sheryl Blessing (she/her)

Sheryl Blessing, a former parks and recreation supervisor and a youth development professional with over 22+ years of experience, is a community leader who managed public facilities and recreational programs. Sheryl specializes in youth engagement and staff management and coaching... Read More →
BH

Bao Huong Doan (she/her)

Bao Huong Doan is a passionate youth work professional committed to creating meaningful opportunities and experiences that empower young people to grow, connect, and thrive. With a background in Special Education and Psychology, she brings a relationship-centered approach to youth... Read More →
Monday October 26, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am PDT
Commencement I & II, Marriott (2nd Floor)

10:15am PDT

Serving Youth & Adolescents of Color Through Connection, Cultural Awareness, and Mental Health Support
Monday October 26, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am PDT
Black, Brown, and Indigenous youth often navigate layered stressors connected to
identity, community experiences, systemic inequities, and emotional wellbeing. These experiences can
directly impact behavior, academic engagement, relationships, and mental health outcomes. This
workshop examines how professionals can better serve youth by building authentic connections,
recognizing underlying stressors, and responding with culturally aware and supportive practices.
Through discussion, reflection, and practical application, participants will gain tools to
strengthen trust, support emotional regulation, and create environments where youth feel seen,
valued, and supported.
Speakers
TW

Toni Williams (she/her)

Mental Health Therapist
Toni brings extensive experience in K–12 education as both an educator and building leader, supporting students, families, and school communities through a lens of equity, belonging, and growth. With a background in mental health and youth development, Toni has worked to break down... Read More →
Monday October 26, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am PDT
Stadium, Marriott (2nd Floor)

10:15am PDT

LGBTQI+ Inclusive and Affirming Programs: Using an Intersectional Lens
Monday October 26, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am PDT
 LGBTQI+ people have always been here and come from all races, religions, geographies, and lived experiences. Currently the LGBTQI+ community in all its diversity is experiencing backlash. Now is not the time to back away from creating welcoming and inclusive programs. This session will help youth workers and advocates understand how to support healthy youth development and resiliency with strategies that work. Content will include data sharing, small
and large group work, and case studies to address the complexity of youths' lived experience and how to support them.
Speakers
avatar for Tracy Flynn (she/her)

Tracy Flynn (she/her)

Trainer, Facilitator, Coach, Welcoming Schools
Tracy Flynn, M.Ed., (she/her) has 30 years of experience as a leader in local and national health, child welfare, and education institutions. Tracy’s mission is to provide training and coaching to build healthy individuals, organizations, and communities. Her expertise includes... Read More →
Monday October 26, 2026 10:15am - 11:45am PDT
Chambers Bay 2, Marriott (3rd Floor)

12:45pm PDT

Weaving Without Erasing: Equitable Enculturation for Diverse Communities.
Monday October 26, 2026 12:45pm - 2:15pm PDT
What does it look like when a community truly makes room for everyone — not just at the edges, but at the center? This session explores the principles and practices of equitable enculturation: the intentional work of forming communities where diverse peoples are not merely welcomed but genuinely woven into the fabric of shared life.

We'll examine how power, identity, and belonging intersect in community formation, and offer practical frameworks for leaders navigating the complexity of cultural integration without succumbing to assimilation. Participants will leave with concrete tools for fostering dignity-centered community cultures that honor difference while building genuine cohesion.
Speakers
avatar for Richard Kim (he/him)

Richard Kim (he/him)

Racial Equity Consultant, Cultures Connecting
Richard D. Kim is a Racial Equity Consultant with Cultures Connecting. He is passionate about cultivating a person-centered approach and brings over a decade of experience teaching, consulting, leadership coaching and facilitation engaging race, culture and identity in various organizational... Read More →
Monday October 26, 2026 12:45pm - 2:15pm PDT
Room 316, Greater Tacoma Convention Center

2:30pm PDT

Art With, Not About: Building Ethical Art-Making and Storytelling Practices
Monday October 26, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm PDT
This workshop equips educators (arts and non-arts alike) with strategies for sociallyconscious art-making and storytelling for high-school aged youth. Through examining ethical considerations in place-based art, we'll explore how to respectfully engage with subject-matter and break down the power dynamic that can exist when creating artwork about others or subject matter outside the artist’s personal experience. During the workshop, participants will engage with challenging topics like cultural appropriation and power and privilege and consider activities for youth to learn and shape the narrative of what makes an "ethical" artist or storyteller. Participants will leave this session with activities that honor the humanity and dignity of an artist's subjectmatter and the confidence to support youth in shaping their own narratives and applying an ethical lens to their storytelling.
Speakers
JE

Jae Eun Kim (they/them)

Visual Arts Program Developer, foundry10
Jae Eun Kim (they/them) is an arts educator and creative project manager who strives to fill gaps in arts access for youth and community partners through program development, network support, and community building. They have previously used their curriculum development, facilitation... Read More →
Monday October 26, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 318, Greater Tacoma Convention Center

2:30pm PDT

Beyond Four Walls: Mapping Multidimensional Ecosystems and Black Girl-Led Geographies of Belonging
Monday October 26, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm PDT
Drawing on doctoral research with high school Black girls (ages 13–18) in Worcester, MA, this interactive workshop explores how Black girls act as architects of their own belonging across out-of-school-time (OST) programs and city spaces. Participants will examine "underground geographies of belonging" such as the informal networks of care, safety, and community Black girls create beyond institutional boundaries. Using a Black girl-centered mapping tool, attendees will analyze how belonging is shaped across micro (relationships), meso (organizations), and macro (city systems) levels. Rather than introducing a new model of belonging, this workshop centers the methods Black girls already use to create it and explores how organizational design, evaluation practices, and belonging metrics can be grounded in Black girls' existing ways of knowing, being, and building community. Participants will leave with a framework for rethinking how organizations define, measure, and cultivate belonging from the ground up.
Speakers
TT

Tiana (Tee) Freeman (she/her)

Doctoral Candidate, Youth Development Consultant and Practitioner
Tiana (Tee) Freeman is an advanced doctoral candidate whose research centers on Black girlhood, creative geographies, and spatial ecosystems of belonging in Worcester, MA. Her work examines how Black girls generate belonging through the ways they move, occupy, and transform space... Read More →
Monday October 26, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 407, Greater Tacoma Convention Center

2:30pm PDT

Designing Our Own Learning (DOOL): Building Belonging, Invigorating Student Voice and Practicing Shared Power
Monday October 26, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm PDT
Join middle school youth and educators, as they share insights from DOOL, a schoolbased program that builds inclusive communities, shifts power-dynamics and inspires communitycentered change. This is an engaging, interactive, and inspiring workshop that models shared power and youth leadership. Prepare to leave with new tools that can help you to transform your youth program communities and systems for the better.
Speakers
avatar for Alan Wong (he/him)

Alan Wong (he/him)

Facilitator, BELONG Partners
Alan Wong (he/him) is a lifelong Seattleite who has dedicated his life to helping youth, educators, and communities to grow. Alan began his career in education, working as a reading tutor at Sanislo Elementary, in the very same South Seattle neighborhood where he grew up. Over the... Read More →
Monday October 26, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm PDT
Chambers Bay 3, Marriott (3rd Floor)
 
Tuesday, October 27
 

9:30am PDT

Table Talks
Tuesday October 27, 2026 9:30am - 10:15am PDT
Want to take advantage of this rare opportunity to connect with fellow Bridge attendees around critical topics impacting the Washington Expanded Learning community?

Participants will have the chance to do just that during Table Talks, a 45-minute, unfacilitated group discussions for those seeking connection around a specific topic of interest. Topics will be determined by Bridge attendees through an online voting process.

Table Talks is an opportunity to share ideas, successes, challenges, and connect with others across the state who may be navigating similar experiences.

Not quite ready to dive into a group conversation? Consider joining one of the 30-minute sessions happening from 9:45 - 10:15 AM instead.
Tuesday October 27, 2026 9:30am - 10:15am PDT
Ballroom, Greater Tacoma Convention Center

9:45am PDT

A Global Perspective on Aftershool and Democracy
Tuesday October 27, 2026 9:45am - 10:15am PDT
In June, 2026, Extended Education researchers, policy-makers and practitioners from at least 15 countries convened at the Global Extended Learning and Youth Development (GELYDA) International Conference in Seoul, South Korea to discuss projects, activities, and experiences focused on democracy and civil engagement in the out-of-school hours. In this session, I will share some of the key insights from this convening, as well as links to the research and other resources that were shared.
Speakers
avatar for Krista Galloway (she/her)

Krista Galloway (she/her)

Consultant, AYD Geek
Krista is an internationally recognized Afterschool and Youth Development (AYD) geek. She’s served children and families as an afterschool teacher, director, multi-site supervisor, and STEM enrichment educator. After over a decade of work with children, she was inspired to share... Read More →
Tuesday October 27, 2026 9:45am - 10:15am PDT
Room 407, Greater Tacoma Convention Center

9:45am PDT

Developing Evaluation Frameworks: Youth-led Community-wide Impacts of Out-of-School STEM Programs
Tuesday October 27, 2026 9:45am - 10:15am PDT
This workshop brings together funders and evaluators with out-of-school time (OST) program leadership to collaborate on a vision for designing, funding, and evaluating youth-led projects that bring wide-ranging impacts to their broader communities - expanding the focus of program efficacy from the individual learner to the communities and places they are situated within.

This session will workshop possibilities for evaluating community-wide impacts of youth-led OST STEM programs. We will begin with an introduction of our own research from a nationwide look at OST STEM programs pursuing community-level outcomes. In this overview, we will provide examples of programs from across the United States describing their projects as pursuing goals at community-scale. A goal of this session will be to connect like-minded programs, funders, and evaluators that are doing, or seeking to do, more work at community scale. We will ask participants (e.g., funders, evaluators, program providers) how their own work falls within preliminary categories our research team has developed, and if existing themes are sufficient or require expansion and/or refinement. Participants will co-develop a draft evaluation framework to elevate this kind of work and assist programs with describing their impacts that move beyond the individual learner.
Speakers
EA

Emily Anderson (she/her)

Graduate Research Assistant, University of Washington
Emily is a PhD student in the Learning Sciences and Human Development program at the University of Washington, Seattle. Her research interests are centered on community education, artificial intelligence in education and its impact on adolescent development. As the Founder of Evo... Read More →
EH

Emily Howard (she/her)

Graduate Research Assistant, University of Washington
Emily Howard is a Ph.D. candidate and Graduate Student Research Assistant in Learning Sciences whose research focuses on ethical and community-engaged approaches to data science education. She earned her M.Ed. in Learning Sciences from the University of Washington and previously spent... Read More →
Tuesday October 27, 2026 9:45am - 10:15am PDT
Room 317, Greater Tacoma Convention Center

9:45am PDT

Walking Hart’s Ladder: Strengthening Authentic Youth and Adult Partnerships for Lasting Engagement
Tuesday October 27, 2026 9:45am - 10:15am PDT
Youth-adult partnership is often treated as the ultimate goal—but is it always the most appropriate way to work with youth? In alignment with the theme "The Art of Being Water," this interactive session invites participants to explore the fluidity of Hart’s Ladder of Youth Engagement. We will move beyond the rhetoric of "youth voice" to examine the full continuum of involvement, from adult-led to shared leadership. Through an experiential "gallery walk," participants will physically navigate the eight rungs of the ladder, identifying where their programs currently sit and how to move intentionally toward more authentic engagement. Drawing on field examples from Tacoma to the Pacific Islands, we will explore how to match challenge and responsibility to developmental readiness. Attendees will leave with a toolkit of reflective exercises and action plans to reduce tokenism and foster equitable, high-impact partnerships in their programs.
Speakers
avatar for Brian Brandt (he/him)

Brian Brandt (he/him)

Professor, Youth Development, Washington State University
Professor Brian Brandt is an Associate Professor of 4-H Youth Development with over 30 years of experience supporting youth programs through engaging experiential education. Maintaining the "heart of a child," he believes play is a powerful tool for building active, resilient teams... Read More →
Tuesday October 27, 2026 9:45am - 10:15am PDT
Chambers Bay 3, Marriott (3rd Floor)

10:30am PDT

The Art of Facilitation: Leading through Emotions in Discourse about Race
Tuesday October 27, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Schools are not neutral spaces. Every day, educators are asked to lead, mediate, and hold space for conversations that carry the weight of generations. The current political context contributes to heightened emotions and racial tensions. And you, no matter how experienced, bring your own history too. When a student says something harmful, a colleague dismisses a lived experience, or a systemic issue needs examining, the most powerful thing you can do is to know yourself well enough to stay present and grounded, even when every instinct tells you to fight, flee, or freeze. Through honest storytelling, self-reflection, and hands-on practice, you'll learn to recognize what activates you, strategies to respond instead of react, and ways to hold space for the emotional responses of others.
Speakers
DC

Dr. Caprice Hollins (she/her)

Co-Founder, Facilitator, Cultures Connecting
Caprice was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. She received a B.A. in psychology from Seattle University and M.A. and Psy.D. degrees in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Multicultural and Community Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology―LA. She became... Read More →
avatar for Ilsa Marie Govan (she/her)

Ilsa Marie Govan (she/her)

Co-Founder, Facilitator, Cultures Connecting
Ilsa Govan, Co-Founder of Cultures Connecting, believes we stifle children’s innate sense of justice when we tell them, “Life’s not fair.” As a child, she questioned why girls were supposed to like pink and boys like blue, why her parent’s LGBTQIA+ friends were targets of... Read More →
Tuesday October 27, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 317, Greater Tacoma Convention Center

10:30am PDT

The Journey of Transcreation: SOWA Case Study - Adapting the School Age Basic Training into Spanish
Tuesday October 27, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
This session shares the journey of transcreating the School Age Basic Training into Spanish, from the initial needs assessment to the development of the final product launching in Fall 2026. Presenters will offer an honest look at the multilingual collaborative process, highlighting the successes, challenges, detours, and key realizations that shaped the work. Participants will learn how decisions were made, how diverse perspectives informed the adaptation, and why transcreation was chosen over direct translation. Through this case study, attendees will gain insight into the complexities and opportunities of adapting training content across languages and cultures, as well as the commitments made to support inclusiveness, cultural responsiveness, and racial equity throughout the project.
Speakers
PM

Paola Mizrahi Kaplan (she/her/ella)

Spanish Childcare and School Age Program Owner and Director, Jump On Languages
Paola Mizrahi Kaplan is an education leader, social worker, researcher, and entrepreneur originally from Caracas, Venezuela. She has more than 15 years of experience in early childhood education, family engagement, mental health, and community-based programs. As Founder and Executive... Read More →
Tuesday October 27, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 407, Greater Tacoma Convention Center

10:30am PDT

Being Water in Practice: Supporting Newcomer Students & Families Through Adaptability, Access, and Belonging
Tuesday October 27, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
This workshop explores how school and expanded learning systems can better support newcomer students and families through adaptability, language access, and intentional relationship-building. Grounded in real experience as a Newcomer Student Family Liaison, the session highlights practical strategies for removing barriers, strengthening family engagement, and creating systems that foster belonging. Participants will examine how youth development principles
and culturally responsive practices can be applied to improve communication, trust, and collaboration with multilingual families. The content focuses on K–12 students, with an emphasis on newcomer and multilingual youth across elementary and secondary levels. Attendees will leave with actionable tools to create more equitable, responsive, and human-centered systems.
Speakers
avatar for Milagros Alarcon Casafranca (she/her)

Milagros Alarcon Casafranca (she/her)

Language Access Coordinator, Puyallup School District
Originally from Peru, Milagros has spent over 14 years bridging language and cultural gaps with heart and purpose. She holds a degree in International Business from San Martín University and continued her education at Spokane Community College.

As a certified interpreter and notary in Washington State, Milagros is deeply passionate about making multilingual communication accessible and inclusive. Her commitment has earned her the Excellence Award for Staff Support in the Puyallup School District, along with a nomination... Read More →
avatar for Nataliia Ledchak (she/her)

Nataliia Ledchak (she/her)

Newcomer Student Family Liaison, Puyallup School District
Nataliia Ledchak is a Ukrainian/Russian Interpreter and a Newcomer Student Family Liaison with the Puyallup School District, where she supports multilingual students and families in building strong connections to school systems and expanded learning opportunities. With a background... Read More →
Tuesday October 27, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Stadium, Marriott (2nd Floor)

10:30am PDT

Finding the Current: How Black Male Mentor-Educators Build Trust, Brotherhood & Belonging
Tuesday October 27, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Educators and case managers know that shared racial or cultural identity alone does not guarantee a strong mentoring relationship. What turns a classroom into a space of trust and brotherhood is something more specific, and it shows up in small, repeatable practices. This session draws on a multi-year, mixed-methods evaluation of a culturally responsive Black studies elective and mentorship program, including a collaborative program evaluation and an in-press, peer-reviewed qualitative study, to name those practices. Findings identify the relational and programmatic elements, including individualized care coordination, identity-affirming curriculum, and consistent relational routines, that young people and their mentor-educators credit with building trust, brotherhood, and engagement, along with the conditions of school and district leadership required to sustain this work. Participants will leave with evidence-based strategies they can adapt within their own culturally responsive mentoring programs.
Speakers
avatar for Kristian Jones (he/him)

Kristian Jones (he/him)

Assistant Professor, University Of Washington
Dr. Jones’ program of research examines how youth mentoring can be utilized to promote positive outcomes for Black youth. As part of his commitment to serving diverse youth, families and communities, his scholarship examines how community-based interventions, such as mentoring... Read More →
SC

Shelby Cooley (she/her)

Data and Evaluation Lead, King County
Shelby Cooley leads the evaluation team at King County's Children, Youth and Young Adults Division, where she oversees internal evaluation, community collaborative research, and accountability reporting on regional investments in child care, youth development, and reconnection to... Read More →
Tuesday October 27, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Point Defiance, Marriott (3rd Floor)

10:30am PDT

Moving Beyond Labels
Tuesday October 27, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Young people engaged in high-risk or harmful behaviors are often defined by labels rather than understood through the lens of trauma, attachment, and missed developmental experiences. As an educator and social worker, I recognized a gap in mental health programming for adolescents who were struggling and created a curriculum to respond to their needs. Rather than viewing behaviors as problems to control, I learned to see them as communication and opportunities for connection.

This interactive workshop focuses primarily on adolescents (ages 12–18) and explores how our own experiences, assumptions, and biases influence the way we show up for youth. Participants will learn how adaptive, trauma-informed practices can transform programming, strengthen relationships, and create spaces where young people feel seen, supported, and empowered. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for responding to emerging needs and building programs that honor the humanity of both youth and staff.
Speakers
avatar for Elisia Sanchez (she/her)

Elisia Sanchez (she/her)

Social Worker, Thurston-Mason Behavioral Health Organization
Elisia Sanchez is a dedicated social worker with deep roots in youth advocacy, mental health, and racial equity. With a Master of Social Work from Baylor University and a BA in Social Welfare from the University of Washington, Elisia has served in diverse roles supporting at-risk... Read More →
Tuesday October 27, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Room 315, Greater Tacoma Convention Center

10:30am PDT

Who Taught Us That? Unpacking the Messages That Shape Us
Tuesday October 27, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Every day, youth development professionals make decisions shaped by beliefs about respect, success, leadership, behavior, belonging, and care. But where did those beliefs come from?

Through reflection, dialogue, and interactive activities, participants will explore how socialization influences the way we see ourselves, one another, and the young people we serve. Together, we will examine the messages we inherited from family, schools, communities, media, and society, and consider how those messages show up in our programs, policies, and practices today. This session invites participants to move beyond judgment and toward curiosity as we explore what it means to learn, unlearn, and intentionally create environments where both young people and youth workers can thrive.
Speakers
avatar for September Clark (she/her)

September Clark (she/her)

JEDI Educator and Facilitator, Heartfelt Horizons
September Clark is an educator, facilitator, and consultant with over eleven years of experience advancing Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) initiatives in educational, nonprofit, and public sector settings. Through Heartfelt Horizons, September partners with schools... Read More →
Tuesday October 27, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Chambers Bay 2, Marriott (3rd Floor)

10:30am PDT

The Water We Don't See: Building Belonging Across Race, Culture, Ability, and Identity
Tuesday October 27, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Many youth-serving organizations serve increasingly diverse communities, yet not every young person experiences the same sense of belonging. When young people feel seen, valued, and included, outcomes improve across engagement, well-being, leadership, and learning. This interactive workshop explores how race, culture, disability, language, socioeconomic status, and lived experience shape belonging. Drawing on experiences working with youth in the United States and Nigeria, participants will learn to identify barriers to belonging, conduct a belonging audit, and implement equitable, inclusive practices. Through case studies and reflection, attendees will leave with practical tools to create environments where every young person can participate, contribute, and thrive.
Speakers
EP

Eseosa Paula Ajala (she/her)

Executive Director, The Esther Foundation
Eseosa Ajala is an educator, youth development practitioner, and Founder and Executive Director of The Esther Foundation. Her work spans childcare, after-school programs, mentoring initiatives, faith-based programs, and community-based education in both the United States and Nigeria... Read More →
Tuesday October 27, 2026 10:30am - 12:00pm PDT
Union, Marriott (3rd Floor)

2:30pm PDT

The River of Liberation: Connecting Past, Present, and Future Through Healing and Action
Tuesday October 27, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm PDT
What if liberation is not a destination—but a river?

In this interactive session, participants will be introduced to The RISE to Liberation, a framework that connects history, wellness, and systems navigation as tools for individual and collective transformation.

Through immersive storytelling, shared visual experiences, creative reflection, dialogue, and experiential activities, participants will journey from past to present to future. They will explore how history can build action and resilience by learning from the knowledge, choices, and resistance of those who came before us; how the Eight Dimensions of Wellness can support collective care and healing; and how understanding the systems around us can help us thrive while navigating barriers.

Participants will engage in a shared immersive visual experience and interactive activities designed to spark reflection and action, asking: How does what we see, remember, and imagine influence how we lead, heal, navigate systems, and create change?

Together, we will explore what it means to be like water—to adapt without losing ourselves, move through barriers, and create new pathways toward healing, resilience, and liberation.

Participants Will Leave With:
  • An understanding of The RISE to Liberation framework and its three liberation tools.
  • Historical knowledge and strategies for using the resilience of those who came before us to inform action in the present.
  • Collective care and healing strategies grounded in the Eight Dimensions of Wellness.
  • Systems-navigation tools to help identify barriers, find pathways forward, and thrive.
  • Practical tools, strategies, and resources to use personally and professionally.
  • Ideas and resources to share with their communities, extending the impact beyond the workshop.
  • A vision for action toward more liberated and thriving communities.

Speakers
avatar for Theresa Az'Lee Romance (she/her)

Theresa Az'Lee Romance (she/her)

Founder & CEO, BRAVE and The RISE to Liberation
Theresa Az'Lee Romance is the Founder and CEO of BRAVE (Building Resilience Awareness & Variations of Excellence) and Founder of The RISE to Liberation, two organizations dedicated to advancing healing, liberation, leadership, and opportunities for Black, Indigenous, and People of... Read More →
Tuesday October 27, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 318, Greater Tacoma Convention Center

2:30pm PDT

Community Data in Practice: Who Owns Your Story?
Tuesday October 27, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm PDT
Data sovereignty — the right of communities to control data about themselves — is not just a concept. It’s a practice.

Drawing on the work of the Coalition of Communities of Color (CCC) in Portland, OR, this workshop introduces participants to a framework for assessing and strengthening community data stewardship practices in their own organizations. Who currently controls your data? Who benefits from it? And how can youth, parents, and community members become genuine co-owners of the stories data tells? Participants will work through a guided framework to map their current data sovereignty model and develop a concrete action plan for shifting power back toward the community. This session is for leaders and staff ready to move beyond data compliance and toward data self-determination.
Speakers
LW

Leah Wainman (she/her)

Epidemiologist
Leah Wainman has spent over a decade working at the intersection of data and equity in public health. She has overseen data-sharing agreements federally recognized Tribal Nations in Washington State, building governance structures that respect Tribal data sovereignty rather than imposing... Read More →
MS

Maayan Simckes (she/her)

Epidemiologist and Consultant, Wellspring Public Health Strategies
Dr. Maayan Simckes is an epidemiologist with over 15 years of public health experience, including ten in the Pacific Northwest. She earned her PhD and MPH in epidemiology and solves complex health problems through practical, innovative, and collaborative solutions. Dr. Simckes leads... Read More →
Tuesday October 27, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm PDT
Union, Marriott (3rd Floor)

2:30pm PDT

Flow Forward: Help Youth Build Identity, Belonging, and Career Pathways
Tuesday October 27, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm PDT
Young people do not begin preparing for their future when it is time to fill out a job application. It starts much earlier. It starts with helping them understand who they are, where they belong, what they are capable of, and what possibilities exist beyond what they may see around them every day.

Flow Forward is an interactive workshop focused on helping middle and high school youth connect identity, belonging, life skills, and career exposure to their future. We will explore practical ways youth development professionals can help young people recognize their strengths, build confidence, expand what they believe is possible, and begin connecting everyday experiences to education, leadership, training, and career pathways.

Participants will also take part in reflection, small-group discussion, and a hands-on pathway-mapping activity that can be adapted and used with the young people they serve. My goal is for participants to leave with more than information. I want them to leave with practical strategies and tools they can actually take back to their programs and use.

Speakers
SD

Sophia Downs (she/her)

Brighter Horizons Career & Development Services
Sophia Downs, also known as Simply Sophia, is a Certified Career Coach, Certified Master Life Coach, Missouri Rule 17 Mediator, speaker, author, entrepreneur, and workforce development leader. She is the founder of Brighter Horizons Career & Development Services and Executive Director... Read More →
Tuesday October 27, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm PDT
Room 315, Greater Tacoma Convention Center
 
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