Washington Afterschool Network Panel of 50

The Washington Afterschool Network (WAN) is our statewide mobilizing effort that builds upon and supports work to strengthen the afterschool and youth development field. WAN was designed with the idea that folks from multiple arenas are needed to advance its goals. As part of WAN’s governance structure, the Panel of 50 was created to provide the perspective and influence needed to change statewide policies and increase resources available to communities.

The Panel of 50 is a group of prestigious and well-connected business and community leaders, funders, educators and public officials who lend their name and influence to the issue of afterschool. This group is called upon as needed to help the network secure funds and resources, build public will and influence public policies that focus on afterschool quality and sustainability. They may be called upon by workgroups of the WAN Partnership Group to provide expert advice on specific topic areas.

Some of the ways that Panel of 50 members can help us achieve are goals for the upcoming year would be to:

  • Assist School’s Out and WAN in establishing a good working relationship with the Governor, state legislators, local policymakers and state agency leaders;
  • Contact organizations that they belong to (i.e. Rotary Club, Kiwanis, Soroptimists, Chamber of Commerce, and other service clubs) to find out if they are interested in hearing a presentation about WAN;
  • Author or co-author an op-ed piece on the issue of afterschool as key in preventing juvenile crime, drug use and other risky behaviors;
  • Participate in a local Lights On Afterschool event in October or a Summer Learning Day event to help raise the profile of out-of-school time issues in our state;
  • Participate as part of a planning group and/or attend Achievement Project Sector Events aimed at raising awareness among educators and community leaders around the importance of afterschool programs in supporting young people;
  • Provide ideas on how to increase investments in afterschool and youth development programs;
  • Sign up to receive afterschool advocacy alerts from the Children’s Action Network;
  • Provide advice and counsel on specific topics as they emerge;
  • Provide entrée into policy meetings at the local, regional and state level as appropriate;
  • Lend their name on public will building materials and other related documents for School’s Out and WAN as appropriate.

For more information contact the Network Director, Janet Frieling, or call her at 206.323.2396 or 1.888.419.9300 (toll-free in WA State).