2026 Bridge Conference

Whether you're writing a grant proposal or sharing a social media post, stories are one of the most effective ways to demonstrate your organization's mission and impact—but not all stories are created equal. While some stories inspire audiences to think or act differently, others leave audiences unsatisfied, unmoved, or unsure of what to do next. In this workshop, we'll go through a step-by-step process for creating stories that resonate, build trust, and compel your audience to act. Participants will define their own storytelling goals and opportunities, explore ethical considerations, and practice using the 3 C's of storytelling (Challenge, Choice, Change) to craft stories with purpose.

Theatre is for everyone! In this hands-on workshop, we will be using the transformative power of the arts to bring fun into the classroom. Through theatre games with a focus on Social Emotional Learning (SEL) we will explore concepts while doing! By intentionally incorporating SEL into the classroom we offer students an opportunity to cultivate empathy and
examine their self-awareness. SEL studies have shown positive outcomes that tie socialization to the promotion of emotional understanding and empathy. These activities are suitable for ALL educators and classrooms/afterschool programs, and will provide tools and activities to:
• Cultivate empathy and community care within the classroom.
• Incorporate practices that support humanity.
• Foster student engagement and a brave space.

In this session, teaching artists and ensemble directors from Yakima Music en Acción (YAMA) will share practices that build belonging and leadership: student-led feedback loops that shape program design, assistant teacher roles, and community agreements. Participants will reflect on how these strategies can translate to their own expanded learning programs, regardless of content area. Focused on school-age youth in grades 3–12. YAMA is an after-school orchestra program serving youth in the Yakima Valley fosters cognitive and social development through high-intensity ensemble-based music training, widening access to the arts, and growing confident leaders throughout their community. By centering youth voices and designing intentional structures that invite students into leadership, YAMA creates a space where young people feel genuinely seen, heard, and in charge of their own experiences.

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.

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.