Leaders Gather at Wingspread toAdvance System-Level Change

In mid-July, 35 out-of-school time leaders from communities and states across the country gathered at the historic Johnson Foundation at Wingspread in Racine, Wisconsin for A Convening on Advancing System-Level Job Quality in Out-of- School Time. 

Hosted by the National AfterSchool Association with support from the Johnson Foundation, the invitation-only convening brought together intermediary leaders and cross-sector partners to focus on one of the field’s most pressing opportunities: strengthening the OST workforce through more intentional, aligned approaches to job quality. Organizations from across the country were invited to apply as a small team representing the work and interests of their local or state community. 

Across the country, momentum around job quality is growing. States and communities are developing standards, expanding professional learning, and exploring how workforce strategies can be embedded into policy, funding, and systems change. Yet many of these efforts are unfolding independently. The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread was designed to create the  time and space for  leaders to step back from their daily work, learn from one another, and think strategically about how to move promising initiatives toward lasting, system-level impact — and this proved to be the ideal setting for this high-level job quality work. Over two and a half days, participants explored practical strategies for advancing job quality within their own contexts while strengthening connections across the field. Rather than promoting a single model or solution, the convening centered on collaboration, peer learning, and shared problem-solving. Teams were encouraged to reflect on their current work, identify opportunities for greater alignment, and leave with a clearer path forward, whether they are just beginning to build job quality strategies or are already leading mature initiatives.

By the conclusion of the convening, participants were equipped to:

• Advance their work with a clear goal, understanding of impact, and path forward, regardless of where they are in their job quality journey
• Strengthen their leadership capacity to drive meaningful, system-level impact
• Apply practical tools to align partners and accelerate change
• Build relationships with a national network of peers while helping shape NAA’s future workforce strategy

While the conversations at the Johnson Foundation at Wingspread were intentionally designed for a small group of leaders, the work does not end there. In the coming weeks and months, NAA and NJSACC will continue the conversation by sharing key takeaways from the convening, highlighting innovative work underway in participating states, and exploring how leaders are translating strategy into action in their own communities. Together, we can continue building an OST workforce where professionals and the young people they serve can thrive.