California Safe and Supportive Schools

Proposals 101 Series | Session 4: Telling Your Compelling Story: Blending Data and Narrative

Stronger Connections

Proposals 101 Series | Session 4: Telling Your Compelling Story: Blending Data and Narrative

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Watch the webinar recording here:

View the transcript here.

View the slide deck here.

Proposals 101 Series Padlet

Description:

A strong proposal tells a clear and compelling story. This session will focus on weaving together quantitative data (like attendance rates) and qualitative data (like quotes from students or families) to highlight your vision, demonstrate your need, and show potential impact. Participants explore strategies for aligning their story with funder priorities while keeping it engaging and persuasive.

Objectives/Goals:

Learn how to balance numbers and stories in your proposal.

Align your narrative with both funder priorities and school and district goals.

Explore storytelling strategies that inspire reviewers and make your proposal stand out.

Wellness Mini-Session | Mindfulness for a Busy Mind

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Watch a recording of the webinar below:

Transcript

Slide Deck

Description:

Our minds are constantly working—planning, worrying, and solving problems. This can lead to stress and feeling overwhelmed. Mindfulness isn’t about stopping these thoughts; it’s about changing our relationship with them.

Mindful Breathing is your personal “reset button.” When your mind is racing, focusing on the simple sensation of your breath gives you a break from mental chatter. It helps calm your nervous system and improves your focus.

Mindful Listening trains your mind to be fully present by using sound as an anchor, rather than being carried away or distracted by sound.

Together, these practices help you create small pockets of peace and clarity, not by emptying your mind, but by learning to direct it.

Learn more about The Mindful Life Project
https://mindfullifeproject.org/resources/
[email protected]

Proposals 101 Series | Designing with Impact: Logic Models and Data Tools

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Watch the recording here:

View the transcript here.

Session 3 slide deck

Proposals 101 Series Padlet

Description:
Logic models are simple roadmaps that connect your resources, your planned activities, and the results you hope to achieve. In this session, we will walk through each part of a logic model, including inputs (resources like staff time or funding), activities (what you will do, such as tutoring or holding family workshops), outputs (immediate results like the number of students served), outcomes (short-term changes such as improved reading scores), and impact (long-term changes such as higher graduation rates). We will also show how logic models can connect to your school and district priorities (including LCAP and SPSA plans) and introduce practical tools for data collection. Don’t worry if this feels new. We’ll break it down step by step.

Objectives/Goals:

  • Understand the purpose and value of logic models.
  • Learn how to connect logic models with funding opportunities.
  • Explore simple data tools that strengthen proposals.

Proposals 101 Series | Getting Started and Setting Yourself Up for Success

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Watch the recording here:

View the transcript here.

Session 2 Slide Deck

Proposals 101 Series Padlet

Successful proposals begin with strong foundations. This session will focus on identifying your school’s or district’s needs, highlighting your strengths, and aligning opportunities with your strategic priorities. Participants will also explore how to gather the right data early, establish partnerships, and make sure proposals are sustainable and realistic.

Objectives/Goals:

  • Learn techniques for identifying both needs and strengths.
  • Identify key data to collect early for stronger alignment later.
  • Explore practical strategies for building partnerships and planning for sustainability.

Wellness Mini-Session | The Mindfulness Map: A Journey of Connection

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Need a quick break? Join a 20-minute Wellness Mini-Session to practice a strategy designed for education settings. These monthly sessions will feature wellness experts from throughout California sharing a variety of ideas that you can use and share to promote stress management. Together we will engage in a practice, process, and plan model to build confidence in leading mindfulness lessons, support self and student care through parallel processes, and set up for success in sustaining mindfulness practices across the school day and year. Participants will have the opportunity to explore social emotional learning aligned Mindfulness lessons through experiential learning.

Watch the webinar here:

View the recording transcript. 

View the slide deck.

View resources.

Facilitator:

Meade Williams is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in California specializing in mindfulness-based practices and is currently the Mindfulness Coordinator with Tulare County Office of Education’s Project AWARE. Meade is passionate about supporting youth through their unique journey while strengthening the communities that serve them. In addition to her work with Tulare COE, Meade maintains a private consultation practice— Garden House Therapy.