Building Changes

WEBINAR 5/7: Building Changes is launching a new webinar series, Beyond the Numbers, to share how community-driven insights, data, and partnerships can drive real systems change.

Join us on Thursday, May 7 for "Beyond the Numbers: Turning Learnings into Lasting Protections for Students"

In this webinar, we will share how Building Changes used learnings, data, and reports from our education work to help shape legislation that strengthens protections for students experiencing homelessness. Through legislative partnership and support, this effort moved from research and community-informed advocacy to systems change in Washington State with the passage of SHB 2594, a new state law that strengthens protections for students experiencing homelessness across Washington.

The session will feature a conversation with the lawmakers who championed this legislation and helped move it into law. We hope attendees will hear how this work moved from learnings to advocacy to lasting change, and what it takes to turn evidence and partnership into action.

REGISTER:

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: Beyond the Numbers: Turning Learnings into Lasting Protections for Students. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. In this webinar, we will share how Building Changes used learnings, data, and reports from our education work to help shape legislation that strengthens protections for students experiencing homelessness. Through legislative partnership and support, this effort moved from research and community-info...

"When crisis hits, mobilizing our community of advocates fuels tangible change. Last summer, as federal funding for McKinney-Vento (MKV) came under threat—an already underfunded federal mandate that protects the educational rights of students experiencing homelessness—Building Changes convened partners across Washington State to understand the risks and chart a path forward.

"Thanks to the people power of our coalition, more than 400 advocates signed in support of the bill during legislative session. After powerful testimony from school staff, nonprofit leaders, and Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos and bill sponsor Representative Kristine Reeves, the bill moved forward with overwhelming support."

Read about how we drove action to secure a major step forward for students experiencing homelessness in our new blog post by Building Changes Strategic Advisor of Housing and Education Kayla Blau:

Advocacy Matters: Coalition-Building In Action - Building Changes In a major step forward for students and families across Washington, SHB 2594 has officially...

What if we responded to youth homelessness before it starts?

A new blog post from our Senior Policy and Research Strategist Devin Noel-Endres highlights the impact of the Youth Diversion Infrastructure Project (YDIP). Devin outlines the importance of YDIP and shares key findings from our latest report.

By combining flexible funding with community-based support, YDIP shows what’s possible when we invest in young people and their futures.

Read the blog post here:

A Pathway to Stability: The Impact of the Youth Diversion Infrastructure Project (YDIP) - Building Changes What happens when young people create their own housing solutions in a crisis? How can...

Want to better understand how Washington funds education and how to advocate for a more equitable system? Join us for Understanding the State Budget with the Washington Budget & Policy Center and Mary Fertakis.

🗓 Wednesday, February 25
⏰ 10:00am–12:00pm PT

Mary Fertakis brings decades of experience advancing equity in Washington’s education system, including 20+ years on the Tukwila School Board. She’ll break down how the state education budget works and share practical ways we can take action together for a fairer funding formula.

If you care about educational equity and want to better navigate the budget process, this training is for you! Register here: https://ow.ly/iEo650Yj0Lf