The Linking, Learning, Leading (3LN) Workforce Development Network is a growing community of practice addressing the most pressing workforce challenges in the expanded learning field. Launched in July 2024 with 16 practitioners from youth-serving organizations, 3LN was co-designed as a hub for collaboration, learning, and innovation. The network strengthens members’ skills and knowledge through monthly sessions, tailored project support, and opportunities to connect with field leaders. By sharing best practices, testing new strategies, and engaging champions and partners across California, 3LN is building career pathways, improving job quality, and advancing a thriving, sustainable workforce that uplifts young people and their families.

 
network and leverage experiences, new resources and ideas, and national conferences
 

Deadline extended! Apply by end of day on Friday, 10/24.

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Resources:

2024-2025 3LN Program Recap

3LN Program Overview

OUTCOMES

Through this community of practice, participants will collaborate deeply to leverage each other’s expertise in order to test strategies to address the specific immediate and long-term workforce development needs of youth-serving CBOs in California. Participants will build relationships and collaborate with fellow workforce development professionals around new and best practices, implement these practices at their own organizations, engage in intentional professional development, and present their work at field events and conferences. Participants will also work collectively to develop a tool/resource that will be usable by the field. Ultimately, this work will lead to a stronger network of youth-serving CBOs rooted in collaboration, shared resources, and strong, standardized workforce development practices to support staff, youth, and their families.

GOALS

  1. Build community among workforce-focused professionals in expanded learning

  2. Promote collaboration and collective action for workforce development solutions by testing new strategies and innovations

  3. Share learnings and resources with the expanded learning field

TIMELINE

This cohort meets monthly. Most of these meetings are virtual, with one (1) in-person Kick-Off meeting in November, a regional session in February 2026, and a Culmination Ceremony in June 2026.

 
 

AUDIENCE

The 3LN cohort will include staff representatives from each CBO (20 members total) who hold workforce-related roles such as human resources, professional development, or staff development. We hope to encourage more holistic approaches to workforce development while fostering a community of expanded learning champions who share strategies, support colleagues, and grow together as professionals.

 

Program Scope

 
 

Member expectations

  • Attend at least seven (7) network meetings

  • Implement at least one new workforce development strategy or practice in own organization

  • Participate in and share learnings/updates of ongoing and new workforce development efforts at network meetings

  • Attend and present learnings from 3LN during at least one field conference/event (3LN will support in identifying and preparing for presentation. Presentations may be done in partnership with other 3LN members.)

  • Provide feedback on 3LN Monthly commitment: approximately 4-8 hours per month

MEET THE 2026 COHORT

 
 

OUR STORY

The Linking, Learning, Leading (3LN) Workforce Development Network launched its first cohort in July 2024 with 16 workforce development practitioners from youth-serving community-based organizations, including positions in human resources, talent acquisition, and staff development. This cohort will collaborate throughout the year around best practices, learn from experts, implement new practices, and work on culminating projects that can help the broader expanded learning field with solutions to workforce challenges.

Exacerbated by the pandemic, challenges that have traditionally impacted the youth development field, such as limited upward mobility, pay disparity, and job quality have become more prevalent. As a result, workforce development has become an emerging strategy for youth-serving community-based organizations (CBOs) in California. However, it’s become clear that there are currently gaps in several areas of this work. With numerous CBOs throughout the state, those who work in the field may not be aligned on best practices, funding to support their work, or thought-partnering around the future of a field that is vital to communities of youth and their families.

In March 2024, Daniel Monterroso (LA’s BEST), AJ Frigillana (San Francisco Beacon Initiative), and Aleah Rosario (Partnership for Children & Youth), came up with the idea for 3LN at the National AfterSchool Association Workforce Summit 3.0. Driven by the necessity to take action around workforce challenges for their own organizations’ success, alongside the recognition of the power and potential of a community of other workforce-focused professionals, the three quickly got to work designing the goals, timeline, and content for 3LN. 3LN is co-led by Daniel,  AJ, and Destiny Lopez from Partnership for Children & Youth, informed and co-designed by members, and serves as a hub to engage other champions, partners, and stakeholders who can contribute to building a thriving expanded learning workforce system.

CO-LEADS

AJ Frigillana, Workforce Development Program Manager, San Francisco Beacon Initiative

Daniel Monterroso, Director of Workforce & Staff Development, LA’s BEST

Destiny Lopez, Program Manager, Partnership for Children & Youth

Maria Ramirez, Senior Program Manager, Partnership for Children & Youth

Zak Papria, Director of Programs, California School-Age Consortium

Alumni

2024-2025 3LN Members

 

2024-25 Cohort Members

 

  • The sliding scale is an equitable registration model that allows participants to contribute based on their available resources. Our goal is to make participation in 3LN accessible while ensuring the sustainability of this community of practice.

    By paying at the level that most reflects your organizational or personal capacity, you not only secure your own participation but also help extend opportunities to others. Those who are able to pay at higher tiers directly subsidize reduced-rate participation for peers with fewer resources.

  • If you are seeking financial assistance, use the self-assessment tool to help determine which registration tier best matches your organization’s capacity and resources.

    The assessment takes into account factors such as:

    • Your organization’s annual operating budget

    • Availability of professional development funds

    • Size of your organization

    • Travel and participation related costs

For more information, contact 3lnworkforce@gmail.com