Adam Fletcher
Speaker Packet
April 30, 2015
Engage Everyone, Everywhere, All the Time!
Politicians say… “Adam is a fast driver into the next millennium.” —Harris Wofford, Former US Senator and CEO of the Corporation for National Service
Academics Say… “Adam Fletcher’s work is especially relevant in getting young people to participate in the realms of politics and critical education.” —Henry Giroux, Global Television Network Chair in English and Cultural Studies, McMaster University
Exciting, Engaging Expertise In the last 15 years, Adam Fletcher has worked with almost 1,000,000 people to change the world. The founder of more than 50 social change projects, today Adam is an internationallyrecognized expert on engaging people.
Youth Say…
His writing has been cited repeatedly in academic literature, while young people and adults rave about his warm, personal style.
“Listening to Adam was like listening to a friend. I liked his stories and the points he made. I’m definitely going to do something in my town.”
Speaking on his experience and research, all of his work also features Adam’s uniquely useful models. Participants leave excited, engaged and empower to make change in their lives and in the world!
—High School Student, Bellevue, Washington
Learn more… Videos, publications, blog, background, expertise and more: adamfletcher.net
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Adam Fletcher
Speaker Packet
April 30, 2015
He Started Young… Beginning when he was only 14, Adam’s career in youth work led him from small local nonprofits to the hallways of Washington, D.C. In 2001, he led a group of youth and adult allies in founding an international effort focused on engaging young people in social change called The Freechild Project—freechild.org.
Past Conference Keynotes (abbreviated) Alberta Ministry of Education Student Engagement Conference; North Carolina Rural Economic Development Forum; Building Better Communities Conference; Washington State Recreation and Parks Association Policy Conference; Pierce County Youth Prevention Summit; Seattle Penny Harvest Youth Rally; Pennsylvania Youth and Family Leadership Institute; Sumner Community Summit; American Institutes of Research Youth Involvement in Systems of Care Meeting; Washington Prevention Summit; National Service Learning Conference; Imagine Miami: Meaningful Youth Engagement Summit; New York State Student Support Services Center Conference; Service Learning Seattle Summit; Partnerships for Healthy Youth Conference; Pinnacle Charter School Rally Inspiring Student Expression; Washington State Youth Leadership Summit; Power of Youth Rally; University of Washington College of Education Quarterly Learning Congress; National PTA Legislative Conference Youth Leadership and Policy Institute… adamfletcher.net
After working in the U.S. education system, Adam launched a program called SoundOut to promote meaningful student involvement in schools—soundout.org. Since then, he has written more than 50 publications, including curricula, manuals, how-to guides and more. His book The Guide to Student Voice (2014) is widely recognized as a vital book in school reform. Today, Adam is president of CommonAction Consulting in the Pacific Northwest. His most recent book is the Meaningful Student Involvement Handbook (2015, SoundOut).
Now Booking For samples, more testimonials, and booking information, please contact Adam by visiting adamfletcher.net.
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Adam Fletcher
Speaker Packet
April 30, 2015
Biography Adam Fletcher is a dynamic writer and speaker focused on engaging young people in changing the world. He is the author of six books; has launched more than 50 social change projects; and has served more than 500 organizations as a consultant and trainer since 1997. Today, he travels around the world sharing his empowering message that we can engage everyone, everywhere, all the time! As a child, Adam faced family homelessness as his father struggled with post traumatic stress disorder from his service in the Vietnam War. Born in Calgary, Canada, alcoholism haunted Adam’s family and they were frequently homeless. When he was ten, Adam’s family moved to the Midwestern United States, where he spent the next decade growing up in a working class African American neighborhood. After working as a newspaper boy and mowing lawns, Adam took his first job in the youth development field when he was 14. That summer he worked in a program based on Theatre of the Oppressed, and decided that he wanted to work with youth for the rest of his life. Working in midnight basketball programs and summer camps, Adam also taught adult living skills to local homeless teens and worked in a drug treatment facility for youth gang members. He launched a youth center and served two terms of AmeriCorps, the United States’ civilian national service program. In 2000, Adam began working across the U.S. through a fellowship with the Points of Light Foundation where he served as a Youth Ambassador for the state of Washington. In October 2001, Adam catalyzed a group of youth and adults across the country to start The Freechild Project. Freechild, which provides training and tools supporting social change led by and with young people, is internationally popular, despite never taking foundation funding. In 2002, Adam launched SoundOut to promote meaningful student involvement throughout education. Through this work, Adam has served more than 300 schools in North America to support meaningful student involvement throughout the education system. After graduating from The Evergreen State College with a bachelor's degree focused on popular education and creative nonfiction writing, Adam conducted graduate studies in educational leadership and policy studies at the University of Washington. Today, Adam lives in Olympia, Washington, with his daughter Hannah and their cat named Mailbox.
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Adam Fletcher
Speaker Packet
April 30, 2015
Curriculum Vitae Adam Fletcher is a highly motivated leader in youth development and education reform with fresh ideas and deep experience. Honed abilities in public speaking, writing, and capacity building. Strong drive to promote best practices, help others grow professionally, and build effective outreach through a deliberately relaxed leadership style using strategic thinking and deft organizational methods.
Motivational and Expert Speaker AdamFletcher.net, Olympia, WA (1997-present) A self-owned small business offering presentations to international, national and local audiences. • Utilized word-of-mouth marketing strategy through to build client base and generate consistent revenue stream, including a social media stream of 10,000 followers. • Subjects focus on increasing the ability of anyone to engage everyone, everywhere, all the time.
Recent Keynote Appearances (abbreviated) • 2015 - Alberta School Boards Association Student Voice Conference - Red Deer, Canada • 2015 - Youth Community Capacity Building Event, Lincoln, NE • 2015 - Race to the Top Conference, Lexington, KT • 2015 - Service Learning Seattle Symposium, Seattle, WA • 2014 - kid FRIENDLy Summit, Bowling Green, KT • 2014 - Seminário Internacional de Educação Integral, São Paulo, Brasil • 2014 - United Way of Allegheny County Afterschool Conference, Pittsburg, PA • 2014 - Washington College Access Network Conference, Parkland, WA • 2014 - City of Bellevue YouthLink Summit, Bellevue, WA • 2013 - North Carolina Rural Economic Development Forum, Raleigh, NC • 2012 - Washington State Recreation and Parks Association Policy Conference, Seattle, WA • 2012 - Washington State 21st Century Community Learning Centers Summer Institute, Yakima, WA • 2012 - Arizona Coordinated School Health Conference, Tucson, AZ • 2011 - Northeast Action for Healthy Kids Regional Conference, Nashua, NH • 2011 - Alberta Ministry of Education Student Engagement Conference, Edmonton, ALTA • 2010 - National PTA Legislative Conference Youth Leadership and Policy Institute, Arlington, VA • 2010 - American Institutes of Research Youth Involvement Summit, Washington, DC
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Adam Fletcher
Speaker Packet
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President and Managing Consultant CommonAction Consulting, Olympia WA (2005-present) A self-owned small business working internationally to support youth engagement. • Founded and managed consulting business serving 50 organizational clients annually in 35 states nationwide and in Canada generating $125,000 annually and employing 10 sub-contractors.
Consulting Projects (abbreviated) • Study, evaluate and recommend changes to the youth programs of the American Jobs Center (NE) in order to more closely align projects to new federal legislation. (2014-present) • Facilitate technical assistance for K-12 classroom teachers in the Green River Regional Educational Collaborative (KT) implementing student-driven learning strategies. (2014-present) • Develop and coordinate a City of Olympia (WA) project to increase positive public sentiment by 75% towards youth by engaging six nonprofits as programming partners in order. (2012-2014) • Mobilize a five-county educational collective impact project for Educational Service District 113 (WA) to address duplication of services and meet unmet needs by uniting 150 organizations and 300 individuals through facilitation, strategic planning and leadership. (2011-2014) • Increasing student engagement in high-needs schools by 75% by developing a 250-page, 26-session, curriculum for Catalyst Miami (FL) used in large urban high schools with 100 students annually and facilitated professional development activities for 20 staff and 100 community partners. (2012-2013) • Designed, promoted, and facilitated 50 hours of youth engagement training activities for 25 professionals for Seattle Public Schools (WA) and developed 100-page curriculum presented at 15 events and downloaded 5,000 times. (2011-2013) • Facilitated professional growth in the Alberta Ministry of Education (Canada) on a new student engagement strategy, including facilitating a research review and identifying international best practices; and consulted on the development of a province-wide student engagement program affecting 20,000 high school students. Facilitated professional development for provincial officials on meaningful student involvement theory and practice. (2012-2013) • Facilitated development of a citywide children’s health coalition with 50 partners for the City of Cheney (WA), including writing a 5-year strategic plan utilizing research, including identifying main 150 main data points and conducting 100 key informant interviews; and presenting the plan to the city council and key staff , trained 20 key members on strategies, and led a daylong communitywide implementation event for 125 participants. (2012-2013) • Increased local mental health systems of care outcomes by 25% by creating “first-of-its-kind" youth engagement program for the American Institutes of Research to use nationwide offering a complete suite of solutions instead of a-la carte activities. (2011) • Consulted the Seattle Youth Engagement Zone/Service Learning Seattle’s citywide program affecting app. 40,000 K-12 students in 50 schools by co-creating and facilitating two ten-hour symposia for 150 attendees; and designing and managing an 80-hour summer learning program focused on Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) with four staff members serving 20 students. (2011-2013)
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Adam Fletcher
Speaker Packet
April 30, 2015
• Developed and delivered a North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center program to motivate, educate, and support 150 communities statewide on engaging youth in economic development initiatives, including writing a 50-page manual and facilitating multiple professional development sessions. (2011-2013) • Developed and piloted two programs for the National PTA including a Summer of Service program and guide used by 500 local PTA chapters; and a youth-led policy advocacy program and train-the-trainer program used by 10 state PTA chapters. (2010-2013) • Youth and Entrepreneurship Coordinator. Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council, Olympia, WA (2013-2014) A regional nonprofit organization building economic opportunities in a fivecounty area. • Re-invigorated a $1,000,000 federal contract program increasing successful outcomes by 20%. • Increased program participation by 75% by devising and implementing a new grant making program and executing new four new subcontracts with local nonprofits. • Supervised a regional AmeriCorps team in six agencies serving 300 youth and secured ongoing $35,000 investment to sustain the positions. • Led volunteer management efforts to increase leadership committee participation through proactive communication and mission based facilitation. • Planned, trained and graduated 60 participants in an empowerment through entrepreneurship program for dislocated worker.
Coordinated School Health Program Manager Washington State Department of Health, Olympia, WA (2008-2010) A large state agency promoting public health. • Lead member of a five person team that co-managed a $750,000 annual Centers for Disease Control and Prevention grant to develop statewide network of 1,500 school-based health professionals. • Created and co-facilitated a multi-agency coordinating committee to liaison on school health issues including more than 25 state agencies and statewide nonprofits. • Developed and facilitated training programs for 1,000 participants from 200 school districts focused on creating strategic approaches to coordinating school health activities. • Implemented a streamlined federal and state policy analysis process for more than 100+ legislative proposals addressing school health annually. • Achieved 100% compliance with state, district, and local building level results towards CDC objectives.
Founder and Executive Director SoundOut, Olympia, WA (2002-present) An international nonprofit promoting student voice in K-12 schools across the US and Canada. • Secured 501c3 status and founded a nonprofit education organization promoting student voice in school reform by raising $250,000 in starting resources, shepherding a six person board of directors, and securing resource commitments from local and national partners. adamfletcher.net
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Adam Fletcher
Speaker Packet
April 30, 2015
• Managed eight staff ensuring delivery of a national program that served 5,000 students and 750 educators in 100 K-12 schools across eight states. • Reached more than 1,000,000 individuals by authoring 50 publications and 300 articles, including guides, reports, plans, blogs, and articles, cultivating 45 media hits and 1,000 academic citations.
Student Engagement Specialist Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Olympia, WA (2001-2003) A state education agency overseeing K-12 education. • Designed and implemented a statewide research project in 50 K-12 schools focused on examining student engagement. • Created and facilitated professional development workshops for 500 educators highlighting research findings focused on student engagement.
Youth Engaged in Service (YES) Ambassador Fellowship Points of Light Foundation, Washington, DC (2000-2001) A large national nonprofit promoting volunteerism to strengthen communities. • Selected for a highly competitive fellowship and completed 250 hours of train-the-trainer activities led by international experts. • Advocated for youth involvement in 60 government entities statewide, including state government agencies, local communities, and nonprofits.
Additional Related Professional Experience • Teen Center Coordinator. City of Tumwater Parks and Recreation. Tumwater, WA. • Ropes Challenge Course Director/AmeriCorps. Washington Service Corps. Tacoma, WA. • Refugee Youth Mentor/ AmeriCorps. Good Neighbor Community Center. Lincoln, NE. • Ropes Challenge Course Facilitator. Boy Scouts of America. Humboldt, NE. • Independent Living Skills Instructor. YWCA/Planned Parenthood. Lincoln, NE. • Youth Drug Treatment Attendant. CentrePointe, Inc. Lincoln, NE. • Teacher/Naturalist. City of Lincoln Pioneers Park Nature Center. Lincoln, NE. • Summer Camp Nature Director. YMCA Camp Kitaki. South Bend, NE. • Afterschool Program Worker. United Ministries of Northeast Omaha. Omaha, NE. • Drama Program Teacher. You’re The Star! Theatre. Omaha, NE.
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Adam Fletcher
Speaker Packet
April 30, 2015
Education • Graduate Studies—Education Leadership and Policy Studies. University of Washington, Seattle, WA (2005-08) • Bachelor of Arts—Education/Community Development. The Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA (2002)
Publications • Author. (forthcoming) Youth Work for the Genius. Nashville, TN: CharityChannel Press. • Author. (2012) New Generation Initiative Youth and Young Adult Engagement Guide. Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Rural Economic Development Center. • Author. (2012) Let’s Move, Cheney! 5 Year Strategic Plan. Cheney, WA: City of Cheney. • Author. (2010) Youth Leadership and Policy Institute Guide. Arlington, VA: National PTA. • Author. (2009) United We Serve: PTA Call to Service Toolkit. Arlington, VA: National PTA. • Author. (2007) The Washington Youth Voice Handbook. Olympia, WA: Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction and CommonAction. • Co-Author. (2006) 15 Points to Successful Youth Involvement in Decision-Making. Boston, MA: Youth On Board. • Author. (2005) SoundOut Student Voice Curriculum. Bothell, WA: HumanLinks Foundation. • Author. (2001) Firestarter Youth Empowerment Curriculum. Washington, DC: Points of Light Foundation. • Author. (forthcoming) Meaningful Student Involvement Handbook. Olympia, WA: SoundOut. • Author. (2014) The Practice of Youth Engagement. Olympia,WA: The Freechild Project. • Author. (2014) The Guide to Student Voice. Olympia, WA: CommonAction. • Author. (2014) SoundOut Guide to Students on School Boards. Olympia, WA: SoundOut. • Author. (2013) Ending Discrimination Against Young People. Olympia, WA: CommonAction. • Author. (2013) The Freechild Project Youth-Driven Programming Guide. Olympia, WA: CommonAction. • Author. (2013) The Freechild Project Youth Action Guide. Olympia, WA: CommonAction. • Author. (2013) Meaningful Student Involvement Deep Assessment. Olympia, WA: CommonAction. • Author. (2012) Student Voice and Bullying: A SoundOut Focus Paper. Olympia, WA: CommonAction. • Author. (2012) The Freechild Project Youth Voice Toolkit. Olympia, WA: CommonAction. • Author. (2011) The Freechild Project Youth Engagement Workshop Guide. Olympia, WA: CommonAction. adamfletcher.net
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Adam Fletcher
Speaker Packet
April 30, 2015
• Author. (2007) The Freechild Project Guide to Social Change Led By and With Young People. Olympia, WA: CommonAction. • Author. (2005) Meaningful Student Involvement: Guide to Students as Partners in School Change. Olympia, WA: CommonAction. • Author. “Meaningful Student Involvement,” in (2012) Strategies to Build the Skills and Dispositions to Support Youth Success in Schools. Seattle, WA: Roadmap Project. • Author. “Student/Adult Partnerships: Students as allies,” in (2004) School Culture Triage-School Culture: An Introduction.” Seattle, WA: Gates Foundation Small Schools Project. • Author. “Meaningful Student Involvement,” in (2004) School Improvement Planning Process Guide. Olympia, WA: Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Journal Articles • Author. (2013) “Cascading Leadership Among Students,” Connect Magazine, 201. • Author. (2013) “Full Personhood for All,” Connect Magazine, 200. • Author. (2013) “51 Ways to Tokenise Student Voice,” Connect Magazine, 199. • Author. (2012) “Convenient or inconvenient Student Voice?” Connect Magazine, 197. • Author. (2012) “Student Voice and Engagement as Trojan Horses,” Connect Magazine, 194-195. • Author. (2011) “Keeping An Eye Out: How Adults Perceive Students,” Connect Magazine, 189. • Author. (2011) “Typical Engagement? Students on School Boards in the U.S.” Connect Magazine, 189. • Author. (2010) “Rules of student engagement,” Connect Magazine, 188. • Author. (2010) “Meaningful Student Involvement in the USA and Canada,” Connect Magazine, 187. • Author. (2004) “The Architecture of Ownership,” Educational Leadership. 66(3).
Publication Consultancies • Consultant. (2011) Integrating “Youth Guided” and “Cultural Linguistic Competence” Values into Systems of Care. Washington, DC: American Institutes of Research Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health. • Consultant. (2011) Youth Adult Partnerships in Systems of Care. Washington, DC: American Institutes of Research Technical Assistance Partnership for Child and Family Mental Health. • Consultant. (2008) Environmentalism: How You Can Make a Difference. Mankato, MN: Capstone Press. • Consultant. (2008) Social Justice: How You Can Make a Difference. Mankato, MN: Capstone Press. • Consultant. (2008) Animal Rights: How You Can Make a Difference. Mankato, MN: Capstone Press. • Consultant. (2008) Political Activism: How You Can Make a Difference. Mankato, MN: Capstone Press.
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Adam Fletcher
Speaker Packet
April 30, 2015
Professional Web Stream • Author. (2003-present) Professional website, adamfletcher.net • Blogger. (2013-present) Afterschool Pittsburgh/Allegheny Partners for Out-of-School Time (APOST). blog.afterschoolpgh.org • Guest Blogger. (2010-2012) Our American Generation Blog. oag.org • Guest Blogger. (2009-2012) ASCD Whole Child Blog. wholechildeducation.org/blog • Founder, Editor and Author. (2002-present) SoundOut website, soundout.org. • Founder, Editor and Author. (2001-present) The Freechild Project website, freechild.org. • Twitter: @bicyclingfish, @soundoutorg, @commonactionorg • Facebook: fb.com/AdamFCFletcher, fb.com/freechildproject, fb.com/soundout
Awards and Honors • Innovation Award. SOAR-King County Coalition for Children and Youth (2012) • Youth Engagement Award. Catalyst Miami (2011) • Healthy Schools Hero Award. Action for Healthy Kids (2010) • Be The Change Award. Hampton, Virginia Uth Civic Engagement (2008) • Volunteer Service • Contributing Editor. Review of Education, Pedagogy & Cultural Studies, Taylor and Francis. (2003present) • Board of Directors. Generation YES (2007-present) • Senior Editor II. Wikipedia (2004-present) • Founding Advisor. Institute for Democratic Education in America (2009-present) • Co-Chair. Washington Action for Healthy Kids (2008-2010) • Advisory Board Member. Patchwork School, Leadville, CO (2008-2012) • Director Emeritus. National Youth Rights Association (2002-2010) • Advisory Committee. Service Learning Seattle, Seattle, WA (2001-2014)
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