On October 20-21, Nicole Yohalem presented four workshops at The Bridge From School to Afterschool and Back Conference, sponsored by School's Out Washington. Nicole's sessions focused on Assessing and Improving Youth Program Quality. She also co-led two Youth Work Methods workshops with Monica Jones from the Center for Youth Program Quality, focused on the importance of planning and reflection and youth voice and choice. A participant in the Ready by 21 Quality Counts initiative, School's Out Washington has, over the past two years, surveyed youth workers across the state about professional development needs, conducted a statewide after-school supply/demand study, and trained individuals from four communities around the state to implement program observations using the Youth Program Quality Assessment.

The keynote speaker for the Bridge Conference was Donna Klein. Donna is executive director of Corporate Voices for Working Families, an active member of the national Ready by 21 Partnership. Donna's speech focused on the challenge of workforce readiness; the important role that out-of-school time programs can play in preparing young people for college, work and life; and the role of the business community in supporting the OST sector.