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Conference Schedule

Logistics & Participation

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Location:

Harrah’s Ak-Chin Hotel and Casino
15406 North Maricopa Road, Maricopa, AZ 85139

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Details coming soon...

Overview & Keynote Speakers

7:00 am - 8:00 am | Registration & Check-in, Prefunction South

7:00 am - 8:30 am | Breakfast & Networking, B2

8:30 am - 9:00 am | Welcome - 60 Years of Community Action, B1
9:00 am - 10:30 am | Opening Keynote Speaker: Karen Walrond, B1
10:30 am - 10:45 am | Break 
10:45 am - 11:50 am | Breakout Session I, 
see below for rooms

11:50 am - 1:30 pm | Awards Luncheon, B1

1:30 pm - 2:35 pm | Breakout Session II, see below for rooms

2:35 pm - 2:50 pm | Break 

2:50 pm - 3:55 pm | Breakout Session III, see below for rooms

4:00 pm - 5:00 pm | Looking Back Panel - North Star for Community Action, B1

5:00 pm | 60th Anniversary Reception - 60s Theme, B2

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Karen Walrond

Author of “The Lightmaker's Manifesto: How to Work for Change Without Losing Your Joy,” which beckons readers towards lives of integrity, advocacy, conviction and joy. She is also the author of Radiant Rebellion: Reclaim Aging, Practice Joy & Raise a Little Hell, an investigation in how we can resist ageism and live a gratifying, meaningful life along the way. A leadership coach, activist and attorney, Walrond's writing and coaching have helped thousands of people around the world find meaning and purpose in their lives. By exploring the ways in which our assumptions might be made on false premises, Walrond shows us how we can tap into the lessons of past successes to create futures full of light.

10/24: Breakout Session Details

History of Community Action & Leadership

Presented by Terry Bearden with National Community Action Partnership (NCAP)

Room B3

About the Session:

As Community Action celebrates its 60th anniversary, this session will focus on recognizing and valuing the Network’s rich history of helping people and changing lives while challenging attendees to consider approaches and strategies for addressing the causes and conditions of poverty as they exist in their communities today. This session will inspire today’s Community Action professionals to strive for excellence, equity, and impact.

Bio:

Terry Bearden is the Project Director – Organizational Capacity Building for the National Community Action Partnership. She began her Community Action career as a frontline worker and mid-level manager at a local Community Action Agency in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, 25 years ago. Her 18-year tenure at the Arkansas Community Action Agencies Association culminated in her serving as the executive director during which time the Association brought in more than $10 million dollars in CARES Act funding for Arkansas CAAs. She is a Certified Community Action Professional (CCAP) and Nationally Certified ROMA Advocate (NCRA) after serving for many years as a Nationally Certified ROMA Master Trainer and as a founding board member, including several terms as vice president and president, of the Association of Nationally Certified ROMA Trainers (ANCRT). Within the Community Action network, Terry has served on numerous task forces, work groups, coalitions, commissions, and boards of directors. She has spoken and led workshops at many local, state, regional, and national conferences. Terry is a graduate of the University of Central Arkansas Community Development Institute, board member of the Arkansas Coalition of Housing and Neighborhood Growth for Empowerment (ACHANGE), and member of the Arkansas Public Policy Panel Citizens First Congress Economic Justice Caucus. Terry holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the University of Arkansas – Grantham. She and her husband, Nathan, are rearing their biological granddaughter, Karmyn, whom they adopted following the loss of their daughter, Samantha, to domestic violence in 2014.

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Reframing and Understanding Difficult Behavior

Presented by Patricia Martinez

Room B4

About the Session:

Bio:

Developing the ability to identify and comprehend challenging behaviors, enhancing self-awareness, and cultivating intentional responses to mitigate irrational thinking.

Patricia is a Licensed Professional Counselor and clinical supervisor based in Arizona. She entered the mental health sector in 2003. Her training encompasses working with couples and families, addressing chronic pain, trauma, complex trauma, and suicidality, among various other mental health issues. I employ a holistic methodology that integrates mind-body connections, emotion-focused and body-based techniques, developmental understanding, as well as systemic and trauma-informed practices.

Connecting SNAP Outreach with Children Nutrition Programs

Presented by David Robinson

Room B4

About the Session:

SNAP not only supports households with children to help provide food for that family but can also benefit schools through their federal Child Nutrition Programs. The goal of this session is to increase awareness of how SNAP and federal Child Nutrition Programs relate to each other and to promote collaboration with schools for effective SNAP promotion. This presentation will explore how SNAP interacts with the Community Eligibility Program (CEP) to provide free meals to all students and will highlight additional benefits that K-12 students can receive by being part of a SNAP household. Participants will learn about best practices, tools, and resources available to establish successful partnerships with schools. As families often see schools as safe and trusted resources, partnering with them offers a valuable opportunity to expand your reach as a SNAP-O partner.

Bio:

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David Robinson has worked within the child nutrition program space over the last six years in varying roles and capacity. At AZFBN, he oversees the organization's statewide child nutrition support work, which includes assisting schools and community organizations to add additional programs or providing support to help locations increase participation of programs. Prior, David worked at St. Mary's Food Bank's Flagstaff office for community engagement and child nutrition program expansion.

Utility Information for YOU

Presented by Erica Guttierez (TEP), Jim Holbrook (APS), & Jackie Castrellon (SRP)

Room B6

About the Session:

Representatives from Arizona's major electric utility providers will share resources and programs available to support the community. They will also share information on the disconnection moratorium and resources to assist clients as it ends.

Erica's Bio:

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A Tucson native, Erica Gutierrez brings over 18 years of experience in the utility industry. With a deep-seated passion for supporting vulnerable customers, she has dedicated her career to enhancing service delivery and advocating for those in need. Erica's extensive background in the industry underscores her commitment to making a meaningful impact and driving positive change. She holds a master’s degree in organizational leadership with an emphasis in leadership. Erica manages the low-income portfolio for Tucson Electric Power & Unisource Energy, where she continuously works to improve access to essential services for the community's most disadvantaged customers.

Jim's Bio:

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Mr. Holbrook has a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Economics and a master’s degree in Regulatory Economics from New Mexico State University. He began working in the utility industry in 1993 for Sierra Pacific Power Company in Reno, Nevada. Since then, he has worked for the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, Northern Indiana Public Service Company, and Arizona Public Service Company (APS) in various roles related to state and federal electric and natural gas rates and regulation. In 2006, he moved to the APS Marketing Dept. to run the APS Residential AC Rebate program. In 2012, he was promoted to Supervisor of the APS Residential Energy Efficiency programs which also included the Customer Assistance and Weatherization programs. Currently, Mr. Holbrook is the Supervisor of the APS Customer Assistance programs.

Jackie's Bio:

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Jackie Castrellon, is one of two, Community Relations Program Managers at Salt River Project (SRP) focused in programs and services for SRP’s limited-income customers. Programs include, the SRP Bill Assistance, SRP’s monthly discount, Economy Price Plan and the administration of weatherization. Jackie serves as a liaison between SRP and various community partners to help strengthen relationships in the communities served by SRP. Jackie is an active member on the Wildfire board and has a passion for serving her neighbors. She holds a Bachelors in Professional Communication from Western International University.

Thank you to our sponsors!

Platinum

Diamond

Gold

Silver

Bronze

City of Phoenix

Morgan Stanley

Snell & Wilmer

Trico Electric Cooperative

A New Leaf

Northern Arizona Council of Governments

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