Greetings YDEKC Members and Friends –
Happy New Year! I hope you were able to rest and reflect over the last few days (or weeks) and are starting 2016 refreshed and committed to improving our communities. The “graphic recording” from our 5th Annual Member Summit in November is reminding me of the opportunities we have before us to truly build an equitable ecosystem of supports for youth and families. We are still taking applications through Friday for our first Advocacy Manager at YDEKC. The Washington Legislature starts session next Monday, and we hope to see you at our Legislative “Pre”view on January 15th (next Friday). Read on for more on these opportunities and others to get engaged in advocacy this month!
In case you missed it…YDEKC is hiring an Advocacy Manger!
We are thrilled to be bringing on a dedicated lead for our advocacy work! The Advocacy Manager’s responsibilities are to implement the shared advocacy agenda for YDEKC members as developed under the leadership of the YDEKC Advocacy Committee, full YDEKC Membership and approved by the board. We engage in advocacy in order to:
- Speak in a common voice on the cross-cutting issues that affect young people
- Build public will to ensure stable funding for high-quality direct service programming
- Increase awareness of youth development programs and services so that all children and youth can have their holistic needs met
YDEKC is a member-led organization that advocates on behalf of the sector as a whole, and the children and youth we serve. We are guided by the advocacy and policy operating procedures developed by our members (for more information, see http://ydekc.org/what-we-do/advocacy/. Click here for how to apply.
YDEKC Member Annual Legislative Preview
Friday, January 15th, 12:30pm – 2:00pm
Location: Equity in Education Coalition Offices
605 SW 108th Street, Seattle WA 98146
Come get a preview of the 2016 Washington Legislative Session and hear from our partners and members about critical opportunities to engage in this short but important session. We will also share our collective YDEKC 2016 Legislative Agenda at the event. Lunch will be provided. To RSVP email Andrea at alopezdiaz@ydekc.org.
Panelists include:
Sharonne Navas, Equity in Education Coalition
David Beard, School’s Out Washington
Jon Gould, Children’s Alliance
Erin Shea McCann, Mockingbird Society, Washington Coalition for Homeless Youth Advocacy
Additional Opportunities to Engage
School’s Out Washington: Expanded Learning Fair in Olympia
Tuesday, January 19th, 11:00am-1:00pm
Location: Legislative Building, Colombia Room
416 Sid Snyder Ave SW, Olympia, WA
Make sure to check out School’s Out Washington’s Expanded Learning Fair to see amazing students from afterschool and summer programs all over Washington as they show off their robotics, movie making, skateboarding, and more… and get lunch! Members, aides, and legislative staff encouraged to attend! Join them to celebrate their work and to learn more about Expanded Learning Opportunities Afterschool and in the Summer. Lunch will be provided. Click here to RSVP.
League of Education Voter’s: Access, Equity & Excellence
Saturday, January 23rd, 9:00am-4:00pm
Location: Highline College
2400 S. 240th St. Des Moines, WA 98198
Join the League of Education Voters and a host of community partners follow the money and ask the question on everyone’s mind: Is Funding an Equity Issue? Get the knowledge and the tools you need to speak up and start this important conversation in your own community, all among the company of like-minded education advocates. RSVP here.
Thank you for continuing to work together to advance the youth development field. Hope to see you soon!
The YDEKC Team
Jessica Werner, Executive Director
Sarah Terry, Data & Outcomes
Andrea Lopez-Diaz, Member Engagement & Communications