Media Center
October 25, 2011 Linea Abierta: Estudiantes Contra Los Abusones. Uno de cada cuatro niños latinos han sido acosados por sus compañeros en la escuela. En comparación con los niños blancos, el doble de los niños latinos temen ser agredidos en la escuela. Una programa de radio de la lengua española. A Spanish language radio program on bullies featuring Jacque Larrainzar from the Seattle Office of Civil Rights.
October 24, 2011 Event Spotlights Valley after-school activities. Yakima Herald. More than 500 students, parents, school officials and community members gathered at the Yakima Convention Center on Monday to celebrate the wide range of after-school opportunities offered in the Yakima Valley.
October 21, 2011 After School Programs Highlighted Monday In Yakima News Talk 1280 KIT Northwest Community Action Center and Yakima School District are partnering to host a Lights On Afterschool celebration on Monday, October 24 from 4:30-7:30pm.
October 20, 2011 WA Communities Work to Keep "Lights On Afterschool" Public News Service
"People at more than 50 events today in about 35 Washington communities are observing "Lights On Afterschool," an annual event celebrating programs that keep children safe and learning in the hours after the school day."
October 17, 2011 "Bridging the Gap Between School and Life" Public News Service
Our own Zach Wilson and Heather Carter with the Youth Suicide Prevention Program and interviewed in this news story highlighting the Bridge Conference and session focused on bullying prevention.
August 31, 2011 State Budget Cuts Reduce WA Families' After-School Options Public News Service, included in The Mason County Daily News
Fewer afterschool programs will be available this year, says School's Out Washington, "and lack of funding is the problem, with state budget cuts affecting both child care and education."
July 19, 2011 School districts, community groups work together to ensure low-income kids get meals Yakima Herald
Our partners at Within Reach, Children's Alliance and Yakama Christian Mission address the need for summer meal programs. "The need to feed low-income kids in the Yakima Valley is increasing every year, even as budget cuts make it harder for schools to meet that demand."
July 19, 2011 Toppenish Safe Haven kids grow produce for food bank Yakima Herald
Youth at Safe Haven, an afterschool and summer program operated by the Yakima Valley Farmworkers Clinic, are learning about gardening and giving with the help of our Healthy Youth Healthy Futures Mini-Grant.
July 5, 2011 WA Groups Work to 'Dish Up' More Summer Meals for Kids Public News Service
"Fewer than one in 10 Washington kids from lower-income families takes advantage of free summer meals available in their area. The numbers are down almost 2 percent from last summer, a trend that concerns children's advocates..." Article also available in Spanish.
June 22, 2011 Pullman mayor speaks to benefits of an active youth Moscow-Pullman Daily News
Excerpt: "Pullman Mayor Glenn Johnson said he sees a direct correlation between maintaining a healthy city and offering after school and summertime programs that supplement a child's education.
"'We always want to have the opportunity for youth to be involved in the community,' he said. 'You have different things to challenge them because you're not going to reach every child the same way.'"
June 22, 2011 WA Mayors Share Ideas to Keep Kids Busy, Learning Public News Service
Mayors Marilyn Strickland, Mary Verner and Glen Johnson discuss the value of supporting and investing in afterschool programs through collaboration and better coordination of services. Janet Frieling, Schools Out Washington's Network Director, moderates the panel. Article also available in Spanish.
June 21, 2011 SOWA Calls for Active Summer Environments for Kids Partners in Action
"Children gained weight two or three times faster during the summer than during the months they were in school, according to recent studies. SOWA is working to reserve that trend," writes Partners in Action, a website and quarterly e-newsletter related to the Washington State Nutrition & Physical Activity Plan.
June 7, 2011 Nine States Selected to Host Mayoral Summits on Afterschool Learning Opportunities National League of Cities
Washington Afterschool Network is one of nine statewide afterschool networks from across the country chosen by the National League of Cities’ (NLC) Institute for Youth, Education and Families (YEF Institute) to host mayoral summits on expanding access to afterschool programs and building citywide out-of-school time (OST) systems.
April 21, 2011 Day care feels pinch of state's cuts The Spokesman-Review
The Northeast Youth Center in Spokane is highlighted in this article talking about the impact of cuts to the Working Connections Child Care program and how families and afterschool programs can no longer afford to serve families who fell off the program when the state reduced the eligibility level from 200% to 175% FPL.
April 7, 2011 Communities Can Pitch In for Family Fitness Public News Service (the story can also be accessed in Spanish)
Robert Joyce with Little Village Child Care in Tacoma talks about the upcoming Health Carnival to promote the importance of afterschool and other community programs in supporting healthy youth behaviors.
March 31, 2011 KBCS 91.3 fm Radio Interview
Listen to Pang Chang discussing SOWA's documentary film "Starting Again: Stories of Refugee Youth" (interview starts at minute 33) and mention of Feed Your Brain.
March 25, 2011 A Financial Challenge: Keeping WA Kids Fed and Learning this Summer Public News Service (the story can also be accessed in Spanish)
Mary Schilling with Grand Coulee Dam School District shares struggles and opportunities in providing summer learning opportunities to young people this summer and highlights the Feed Your Brain grant which closes on Friday, April 1st.
March 2, 2011 Attorney General Sets Sights on Curbing Gangs Tri-City Herald
As part of his effort to curb student involvement in gangs, WA State Attorney General Rob McKenna has proposed that some of the money his office wins from lawsuits, which now goes into a general state fund, be set aside for afterschool program grants.
February 24, 2011 Voces de Nuestro Mundo
Nationally syndicated show "Voces de Nuestro Mundo", a Spanish language talk radio show, interviewed Phil Koestner with Spokane Public Schools about working with refugee youth highlighting SOWA's recently distributed film "Starting Again: Stories of Refugee Youth".
February 21, 2011 The Liveliest Spot in Olympia? Tuesday's Youth Caucus Public News Service (the story can also be accessed in Spanish)
On Feb. 22nd, hundreds of Washingtonians rallied to advocate for kids including over 75 youth from the Seattle area as part of Have a Heart for Kids Day. This story highlights the youth caucus and issues of concern to young people as we face a growing budget deficit this legislative session.
January 28, 2011 It is never late to 'Start Again'/Nunca es tarde para tener un ‘Nuevo comienzo’ Tu Decides
Phil Koestner with Spokane Public Schools in interviewed in this Spanish language newspaper on how School's Out Washington's film 'Starting Again: Stories of Refugee Youth' is helping educators and community members understand the challenges refugee youth face in transitioning to their new home in the United States.
January 20, 2011 Local Afterschool Program Awarded Funding GoSkagit.com
Early Learning Center at Crossroads announces $3,000 Quality Enhancement grant award and how these funds will help support a quality improvement project for their afterschool program.
January 14, 2011 Walla Walla Students Take the Bully by the Horn Walla Walla Union Bulletin
JJ Harrison, professional rodeo clown, visited the Walla Walla Camp Fire USA program as part of a new anti-bullying effort funded in part by School's Out Washington's Quality Enhancement Grant. Learn more about how this program is addressing the issue of bullying among young people.
January 12, 2011 KYRS Thin Air Community Radio, Interview on PTE Project
Interview on Spokane community radio station with our own Louie Praseuth on the Pathway to Excellence professional development project and how it supports afterschool and youth development professionals and the young people served in programs.
January 6, 2011 Teens Hope for Better Future in WA Public News Service (the story can also be accessed in Spanish)
An interview with Phil Koestner with Spokane Public Schools, one of SOWA's Refugee School Impact Grant recipients, highlighting the recently released documentary film of refugee youth telling their stories of "Starting Again" and how he is using the film as a tool for educators.
January 3, 2011 Bellingham after-school care program receives $3,000 grant School Days Blog, Bellingham Herald
One of our Quality Enhancement grantees is highlighted in this blog post from the Bellingham Herald.
December 31, 2010 Public Education Should be the Last Program Targeted for Budget Cuts The Olympian
A great article speaking to the importance of ensuring all children and youth have equal access to a high-quality education, including afterschool programs that provide important opportunities to support learning and school success.
November 30, 2010 Puget Sound Somali Community Fears Backlash from Terror Cases King 5.com
King 5 News did a story on the Somali community and some of the negative press that they have been receiving. It includes clips of School's Out Washington's film “Starting Again: Stories of Refugee Youth.” The film can be viewed on our website by clicking here.
November 10, 2010 Plans to End Childhood Hunger in WA by 2015 Public New Service
School's Out Washington is exciting to be a partner in this collaborative effort to end childhood hunger in Washington State by 2015. Check out this news article highlighting the work and learn more on the Children's Alliance website at www.childrensalliance.org.
October 21, 2010 Lights On Afterschool: The Antidote to "Home Alone" in WA Public News Service
An interview with Sherrie Belt, Afterschool Ambassador for Washington State and School's Out Washington Training and Resource Specialist on our Lights On Afterschool event and the importance of highlighting and celebrating the importance of programs in supporting young people's school and life success.
September 30, 2010 Urgent education needs demand bold new thinking The Seattle Times
This opinion piece authored by Tom Stritikus, Dean of the UW College of Education, references an innovative project that School's Out Washington is involved with placing teaching students in community based organizations as part of their teacher training.
September 15, 2010 Too many kids are kept out of after-school activities The Province
A recent study conducted in Vancouver B.C. found that 60 percent of kids do not participate in any afterschool activities and highlights the benefits of such programs.
September 9, 2010 Afterschool Programs Nationwide and Overseas Gear Up to Celebrate Eleventh Year of Lights On Afterschool PR Newswire
Thousands of communities across the country will celebrate Lights On Afterschool this year on October 21, 2010. Afterschool Alliance will release new data from their America After 3pm report as part of this year's Lights On Afterschool celebration.
August 31, 2010 Tests show Mixed Results for Washington Students Northwest Cable News
Washington State Superintendent Dorn acknowledges the critical role of afterschool and summer programs in supporting the most at-risk students and attributes state test results in part to cuts to these services.
August 18, 2010 State Child Care Cuts Put More Working Families at Risk Public News Service
Gov. Gregoire recent cuts to the state budget will directly impact school-age programs serving lower income families. To qualify, families will need to be e