Thought Leadership Conference 2025

This session explores the critical interdependence of education and workforce development, emphasizing the intentional strategies needed to align the two for maximum impact. Dive into the challenges posed by unmet social and emotional needs, particularly for students who often go unseen—the quietly disengaged. Learn how their struggles affect future workforce readiness and economic development. Discover how nonprofits serve as vital catalysts for bridging gaps between education and employment. Through actionable insights and real-world examples, we’ll explore how partnerships between schools, businesses, and community organizations can create meaningful, long-term solutions for empowering students and building stronger communities.

Are you feeling overwhelmed? Do you feel like the ground you stand on is in constant flux? Is there so much information coming at you that you are becoming dizzy? We live in fractious times, making leadership complex. These challenges require us to have a firm grounding into who we are and our purpose. We need to develop the deft ability to dance with the chaos that surrounds us. Personal Leadership (PL) is school of self-leadership that offers both principles and practices to support you in finding & maintain your highest & best self.

By the end of the session, attendees will:

1. Learn how to use their whole selves when responding to challenges in their communities
2. Create a Personal Vision Statement
3. Practice deep reflection to uncover their ‘right-action’ in complex situations

In this session, we will explore the transformative power of the arts in shaping the lives of young people. Participants will gain deeper insights into how the arts can foster confidence, creativity, and community among youth, especially in underserved areas. We'll discuss the importance of cross-sector collaboration and how partnerships between organizations, schools, and communities can increase access, inclusion, and sustainability in the arts. Attendees will also receive practical tools for designing arts programs that promote leadership, empathy, entrepreneurship, and positive youth development. Through interactive discussions and real-world examples, we will demonstrate how creating access to the arts can positively impact youth, enhance academic outcomes, and equip them with essential life skills.

By the end of this session, attendees will:

1. Understand the transformative impact of the arts on youth and their development.
2. Recognize the importance of cross-sector collaboration in creating access and inclusion in the arts.
3. Gain practical tools and strategies for designing arts programs that foster leadership, empathy, and positive youth outcomes.

Somethings Up! Leadership Begins with You
Are you feeling overwhelmed? Do you feel like the ground you stand on is in constant flux? Is there so much information coming at you that you are becoming dizzy? We live in fractious times, making leadership complex. These challenges require a firm grounding in who we are and our purpose. We need to develop the deft ability to dance with the chaos surrounding Leadership (PL), a school of self-leadership that offers principles and practices to support you in finding and maintaining your highest and best self.

Learners will:

• Learn how to use their whole selves when responding to challenges in their communities
• Create a Personal Vision Statement
• Practice deep reflection to uncover their ‘right-action’ in complex situations