Published on Alliance1 (http://www.alliance1.org)
100 Highlights from the 2011 National Conference
After yearlong observances, the centennial celebrations of both the Alliance for Children and Families and United Neighborhood Centers of America (UNCA) came to a close at the joint 2011 National Conference, Oct. 17-19 in Washington, D.C. With more than 600 attendees, the conference was the largest in Alliance history and the largest in recent UNCA history.
Peer Networking
Knowledge
- Knowledge was delivered over three days through three general sessions, 54 workshops corresponding to 14 areas of interest, and numerous individual networking experiences.
- “I was pleasantly surprised by the wealth of practical information presented in the workshop,” says Sarah Hurley, director of research at Alliance member Youth Villages, Memphis, Tenn., who attended one of the two pre-conference sessions, offered the afternoon before the conference formally began.
- Several workshops were structured to provide forums for roundtable discussions.
-
Added Value
- One of two pre-conference sessions presented during the afternoon before the conference formally began discussed the provision of services to military families. “I found Col. Sutherlands’ presentation most helpful as we prepare to serve increasing number of children from military families in Montana. I appreciate his simple message of connecting military families to community resources as they get established back into their community,” says Shawn Byrne, COO of Alliance member Yellowstone Boys and Girls Ranch, Billings, Mont.
- About 10 percent of attendees took advantage of the opportunity to earn continuing education credits through the National Association of Social Workers.
- Attendees had the opportunity to learn about the products, services, and solutions offered by 34 different companies, organizations, and programs featured in the exhibit hall.
Nation’s Capital
- Cecilia Fiermonte, director of child welfare policy
for the Alliance for Children and Families, spoke about the future of broad-based child welfare finance reform during
the public policy update, which was part of the closing general session.
“On both sides of the aisle, there is a recognized need for child welfare finance reform. But, reform means different things depending on your perspective. The Alliance Public Policy Office is actively participating in reviewing and providing feedback on reform proposals. Our goal is to ensure finance reforms avoid unintended consequences that could eventually harm our members’ efforts to provide quality services to children and families. We want reform efforts to support our members in their mission-driven work.”
- During selected workshops, attendees received
updates about federal policy initiatives directly from the source. Government representatives who presented included Diedra Henry-Spires of the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, Mark Greenberg of the U.S. Administration for Children and Families, Larkin Tackett of the U.S. Department of Education, and John O’Brien of the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
- “We had the opportunity to see many of the different monuments, such as the new MLK monument, which was inspiring being in the field of human services and social work; the Korean War memorial at night; and the Lincoln, Vietnam War, and WWII memorials. We also walked past the White House while discussing the impact of the conference and how we are going to implement what we learned back to our organizations,” says Jonathan Szolna, teacher/counselor and Turning the Tide fellow at Alliance member Pressley Ridge, Pittsburgh.
Celebration
- Angela Blanchard, president and CEO of joint Alliance and UNCA member Neighborhood Centers Inc., Houston, was recognized for receiving the 2011 ARAMARK Building Community Leadership Award.
- Winners of the 2011 ARAMARK Building Community Innovation Awards were recognized: UNCA member Gary Comer Youth Center, Chicago; Alliance member Northern Virginia Family Service, Oakton, Va.; and Alliance member Pathfinders, Milwaukee.
- Three Alliance Agency of the Year awards were presented to Family Services of Montgomery County, Eagleville, Pa.; Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles; and The Family Partnership, Minneapolis.
- Five Alliance members received plaques recognizing their Power of Mentoring Showcase Awards: Alpert Jewish Family & Children’s Service, West Palm Beach, Fla.; Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Sarasota-Manatee, Sarasota, Fla.; Oakland Family Services, Pontiac, Mich.; Family Service Madison, Wis; and Secret Harbor, Burlington, Wash.
- Maureen Peterson, therapist at Alliance member HopeSparks, Tacoma, Wash., received the Spirit of the Alliance Award.
Solutions
- “I had the opportunity to engage and learn from colleagues from across the country. I appreciate that both Alliance and UNCA agencies were in attendance. I was able to learn and develop ways to support the transformational changes in communities served by our agency,” says Raphael Holloway, COO of Alliance member Families First, Atlanta.
- “The Alliance conference is an incredible value.
I take away lots of new ideas for my organization to help determine what is next for us. Part of being here is to
generate new ideas and innovative ways to move our
sector forward, not just in the day-to-day technical sense,
but the big picture,” says Josh Reynolds, director of
planning, research, and evaluation at joint Alliance and UNCA member Neighborhood Centers Inc., Houston.
- “The military families pre-conference workshop was excellent. Col. Sutherland was exceptional in presenting the compelling need to provide support and services for military families. I have shared some resources we learned with our staff. I hope this story will change soon, since we have learned about the significant need for military families,” says Colleen Jones, executive vice president and COO of Alliance member Metropolitan Family Services, Chicago.
Preparation for New Futures
- Glen Hiemstra, futurist and founder of Futurist.com, provided the closing keynote address. He focused on four primary drivers of revolutionary change—technology, demographics, community, and the economy—and told attendees, “The future creates the present. Your image of the future—the future that you
fear, that you expect, that you prefer—exerts a powerful influence over your choices today.”
- The Alliance and the national accounting and management consulting
firm Baker Tilly released a report that identifies and assesses six disruptive
forces predicted to significantly affect the nonprofit human services sector
during the next 3-5 years. The report, Disruptive Forces: Driving a Human
Services Revolution, also identifies the competencies and strategies necessary
for organizations to capitalize on each disruptive force or, in some cases, to themselves become the forces that dramatically reshape the sector.
- UNCA concluded the yearlong Our Neighborhood 2111 contest, which encouraged youth across the country to use art to define what their neighborhoods will be like in 100 years. Representatives from the four winning groups attended the conference: Neighborhood Centers Inc., Houston; Neighborhood House, Portland, Ore.; Total Community Action, New Orleans; and Ellis Memorial & Eldredge House, Boston, and United South End Settlements, Boston.
Staff and Board Development
- “I was able to attend a session on board management. In my discussions with colleagues and through this session, some of my beliefs about board membership were confirmed and strengthened. All nonprofits should require board commitment levels—both financial and through involvement in board meetings and committees,” says Frank Modica, board director for joint Alliance and UNCA member Hamilton-Madison House, New York.
- Presenters’ slides and other resources have been posted to the post-conference website, alliance1.org/nc11. Staff at all levels can view workshops by area of interest to find resources related to their professional area of focus.
- “I enjoyed networking with everyone and hearing what insight they could give
me as far as furthering my career. Additionally, I attended two sessions focusing
on the older adult population. It heightened my interest in working with older adults.
As a result, I feel excited to continue my graduate coursework toward my geriatric
social work certificate,” says Akirah Wyatt, master teacher/counselor and Turning the Tide Fellow at Alliance member Pressley Ridge, Pittsburgh.
Energy and Motivation
- “The conference connects us to other organizations around the country that are doing similar work and facing similar challenges. It is energizing to be here, talk about the work, and learn strategies that other organizations are using to address nonprofit challenges,” says John Till,
vice president of family and community programs at joint Alliance and UNCA member The Family Partnership, Minneapolis.
- “Being around other people who are like-minded and just as passionate as I am, it’s such a huge motivation to do the work that we do on a regular day-to-day basis. At some point, that work can get tough and challenging, but you know you are struggling with other people along the way and you are making this world a better place,” says Emiliano Herrera III, leadership and engagement manager at joint Alliance and UNCA member Neighborhood Centers Inc., Houston.
- “The conference is a great wealth of information. I learned a lot, and I can share these ideas with my organization to brainstorm and implement new solutions that will enrich the youth that we serve in the community,” says Demonte Dismuke, program manager for Alliance member My Home, Your Home, Milwaukee.
Uniquely 2011
- For the first time, the Alliance and many attendees live tweeted using the hashtag #AllianceUNCA11. Photos also were posted to the Alliance’s Flickr photostream. “Attendees seemed to enjoy the real-time interaction, and it was a good way for people who were unable to attend the conference to also engage in the experience. I think you’ll see more of this at future conferences,” says Nicole Klaas, content and production manager for the Alliance for Children and Families.
- The Alliance Intellectual Capital Division’s Making Connections Contest kept attendees buzzing about who would win the grand prize, an iPad 2. Ultimately, the iPad went to Joshua McCann, a Turning the Tide fellow at Alliance member Children’s Home + Aid, Chicago.
- Attendees celebrated the life and legacy of the late Peter Goldberg, president and CEO of the Alliance for Children and Families and CEO of United Neighborhood Centers of America, during a memorial service the evening before the conference formally began. An outpouring of supporters were in attendance, including numerous friends and colleagues of Goldberg.
Source URL (retrieved on 5 am GMT): http://www.alliance1.org/
Issue 4 – 2011
Cover Photo: A youth participant in the Hillside Work-Scholarship Connection (HW-SC) program of Alliance member Hillside Family of Agencies, Rochester, N.Y., receives mentoring support from a local businessperson. HW-SC is a nationally recognized dropout prevention program proven to dramatically increase graduation rates for at-risk youth by offering employment training, career exploration, skills development support, and financial literacy education. Photo by Paul Van Hoy II
Post new comment