2024 Bridge Conference

Data is not objective. It is influenced by Perspective, Motivation and Data Source. The perspective and motivation of data collection has been based within predominantly white institutions. Participants will explore how biases, including racial bias, influence collection and use of data in continuous quality improvement practices and systems.

Audience: Individuals who assess programs including program/site managers and directors, funders, external assessors.

Ensuring refugee and other newcomer students and families feel welcome in their school environments is foundational to their academic success and their longer-term economic and social success. While newcomers have their own agency and resiliency factors that affect their successful resettlement, schools and community-based organizations (CBOs) have their own vital role in creating a sense of welcome to facilitate integration. This workshop will aim to equip schools and community-based organizations with skills and strategies for creating welcoming spaces responsive to the cultural and social-emotional needs of refugees and other newcomers.

In this wonderful workshop, we will address philosophies surrounding restorative practices. Participants will then walk through challenges as well as easy-to-discuss topics in a step-by-step process while they learn to facilitate circle activities by doing them. We will introduce a framework for asking inquiry-based questions for facilitation. By adopting these concepts educators will be ultimately helping students to build positive shifts in: Attitudes toward academics and school culture. Improved class attendance. Handling of face-to-face bullying and cyberbullying. Creative solving of discipline problems.

Education's power lies in its ability to embrace diversity. This session will empower out-of-school (OST) time professionals to create culturally affirming curricula and activities for historically underestimated youth. It emphasizes the transformative impact of cultural affirmation and provides practical strategies for recognizing and addressing biases. Through inclusive pedagogical approaches and continuous evaluation, participants learn to foster an educational environment that reflects and respects diverse perspectives. By joining, OST professionals become catalysts for inclusive, equitable, and empathetic education, shaping a brighter future for all learners.

Join One Village & Journeymen directors in "Transform Together," a dynamic workshop exploring the profound impact of play on our humanity. Discover cutting-edge strategies that fuse play with practical applications to foster healing, enhance connections, and celebrate life. This session delves into innovative, play-based methodologies that empower individuals and communities to overcome grief, embrace joy, and drive transformative change in educational and professional settings.

Participants will explore how integrating language arts and art expression into STEM empowers diverse student populations. They will gain practical strategies to enhance student achievement and holistic development in educational settings. By the end of the session, attendees will feel inspired and equipped with actionable insights to implement inclusive practices that foster student success. This approach is incredibly transformative for newcomers, including refugees and immigrants, as it enriches their learning experience by making traditionally challenging subjects more engaging and accessible.

In the PBS's Learn & Grow Together workshop, participants will explore a series of interactive, hands-on activities designed for families with young children. This session will focus on implementing social-emotional learning, character development, and executive function skills through creative play and exploration. Emphasizing family engagement, attendees will learn how to use and adapt flexible, modular resources to involve families deeply and support their children's development in various community settings. By the end, participants will be equipped with practical tools and strategies to foster meaningful, multi-generational learning experiences that promote racial equity and inclusivity.