Tuesday, August 6 | 10:00 - 11:30 AM Workshops

Creative Facilitation: Deepening The Ways We Engage • Teresa DeFlitch, Elizabeth Crawford, and Simona Simpson-Thomas | Leadership Rhode Island
Session Room: South County

Facilitating a group of people towards a goal in any situation can be a complex and challenging task. More than ever, we need to bring diverse perspectives together and to do so, we need more nuanced, creative, and vulnerable facilitation practices. In this workshop, participants will explore emerging ideas in creative facilitation, practice several techniques, and develop a question set intended to help them deepen their facilitation practice, whether they lead programs, events, community gatherings, or team meetings. 

About the Speakers: Teresa DeFlitch is the Director of Leadership Development at Leadership Rhode Island. She has decades of experience in experiential learning, project and program management, and training. A leader in education innovation, she began her career in museums and public history and has consulted with several organizations on projects that explore new boundaries in teaching and learning. She holds a BA in History from Saint Vincent College and an MA in History from the Syracuse University Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. 

Elizabeth "Liz" Crawford is an enthusiastic generalist who was once called the "Swiss Army Knife" of art museum educators. She currently serves as the Educator, Public and Academic Programs at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Museum. For the past decade, she has worked across higher education and non-profit sectors, focusing on lowering barriers to education. Motivated by educational philosopher John Dewey, she continually seeks new opportunities to inspire wonder.

With over 15 years in education as a teacher, district leader, and building administrator, Simona Simpson-Thomas is an advocate for racial and educational equity. She believes strongly in the power of the collective and remains a champion for improving outcomes for Black and Brown students. Her efforts have allowed urban students to have increased access to dual enrollment, work-based learning, and college and career opportunities. Most recently, Simona was selected to be a 2023 Deeper Learning Equity Fellow, and in 2020, she was named the New England Secondary School Consortium Champion for the State of Rhode Island by Great Schools Partnership. She earned her bachelor’s degree in history from Howard University and her master’s degree in teaching from Brown University. Simona is a 2022 graduate of Leadership Rhode Island.

When recruiting board members, many organizations focus on how much money candidates can contribute. However, when we intentionally ensure diverse representation in these important decision-making positions, board members can play a key role in securing various resources that grow organizations' sustainability. In this interactive workshop, we will identify gaps in resources and identity representation and explore a tool that can help us address both to strengthen our organizations and communities.

About the Speaker: Rebecca Hutton serves as President & CEO as well as the Program Director for the Stanley K. Lacy Executive Leadership Series at Leadership Indianapolis. Prior to her involvement with Leadership Indianapolis, she served as the CEO of Theater of Inclusion, a company that develops and implements community engagement projects using the arts. Throughout her career, Rebecca’s work has focused on developing programs that engage people on the issues of creative place-making, leadership, and legacy. Rebecca’s community leadership has included serving on the Love Indy committee as a part of Plan 2020: The Bicentennial Plan for Indianapolis, the board of the Indiana Repertory Theater, and the planning committee for TEDxIndianapolis. She was named an Indianapolis Foundation Fellow in 2016 and an Arts Council of Indianapolis Creative Renewal Fellow in 2009. She has also been honored with the Indiana Governor’s Award for Tomorrow’s Leaders and was named to the Indianapolis Business Journal’s Forty Under 40 in 2005. Rebecca graduated Magna Cum Laude with a B.A. in Dance from Point Park College in Pittsburgh and, upon graduation, danced with The Repertory Project in Cleveland before returning to Indianapolis. She is a proud graduate of SKL Class XXXVII.

Handling Live Wires: The Psychological Hazards Of Leading Others • Allessandria Polizzi | Verdant Consulting
Session Room: Providence II & III

The World Health Organization recently published global guidelines for addressing the "second pandemic" of mental health crises at work. In their policy, they identified common hazards in business that are detrimental to emotional well-being and accelerate burnout. One of them was leading others. Being a manager often seems attractive and is commonly perceived as necessary for career advancement. Most managers strive to be inspirational and supportive and help their team thrive. Yet, according to Gallup, 70% of managers are not effective. Further, surveys show that nearly 70% have not been trained on HOW to lead others.

Being unaware of these threats is akin to an electrician not being trained on the hazards of electricity. We are handling live wires without the equipment or knowledge to avoid getting zapped. In this session, we will review the known hazards for people leaders, discuss the business impact of not addressing these risks, and share established tactics that can be applied immediately to help managers and their teams flourish.

About the Speaker: Dr. Allessandria Polizzi (or Dr. Al) is an award-winning and globally recognized thought leader and top-rated speaker on workplace mental health, psychological health and safety, and building resilient organizations. A former HR executive with experience in 20+ industries, she is now the CEO of Verdant Consulting, a top 20 workplace wellness provider of 2022, as well as the ISO global liaison for occupational health and safety. She also serves as a psychological health and safety expert for professional associations, media, and the National Safety Council. Her entertaining and informative talks inspire audiences while providing practical tactics based on decades of scientific research. Dr. Al weaves data, stories, audience interaction, self-reflection, and her quirky sense of humor to create memorable and actionable experiences that can transform our work.

AI With Heart: Designing Responsible, Community-Centric, Leadership Programs • Tim Sarrantonio | Neon One
Session Room: Providence I & IV

Do you want to learn how to unleash the potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to not only supercharge your communities but also do so with heart and ethics at the forefront? In this session, you will learn how to:

• Unlock the Power of AI for Community: Explore AI's magic in community engagement with real-world success stories. Dive into the ethical nuances and potential pitfalls of using AI to strengthen bonds.
• Implement Ethical AI Strategies: Infuse your marketing, revenue operations, and technology strategies with responsible AI principles. Roll up your sleeves in collaborative coaching sessions to conquer ethical dilemmas.
• Cultivate Cross-Discipline Harmony: Learn the art of cross-discipline collaboration and bridge the communication gaps between marketing, revenue operations, and tech teams. Together, craft an AI-driven, community-building masterpiece.

You'll leave this workshop with knowledge and a spark to lead with compassion, intelligence, and a shared mission for better, community-focused leadership in the age of AI.

About the Speaker: Tim Sarrantonio is an internationally renowned speaker on generosity, technology, and trends in the social good sector. After helping various causes raise over $3 million, he moved into providing support for thousands of nonprofits through his work at Neon One. He has spoken at AFPICON, NTC, and TEDx and holds a Certificate in Philanthropic Psychology from the Institute for Sustainable Philanthropy. He lives in Niskayuna, New York, with his wife, three daughters, and has a deep love of the Adirondacks.

It's Election Season! How To Instill Civil Discourse In A Time Of Division • Sara Emhof | Sara Emhof Leadership
Session Room: Newport/Washington

Feeling unsure how to navigate political conversations locally or nationally? Can our Community Leadership Programs help to bridge divides and encourage civil discourse? In this session, we will explore what forms our civic identity, how to engage in healthy conversations with those whose opinions differ from our own, and examples of activities that can invite the larger community into civil discourse. Participants will take part in experiential activities that can be integrated into programming.

About the Speaker: Sara Emhof, a three-time graduate of Community Leadership Programs, started her leadership journey at 16 in Leadership Buffalo's Youth program. She went on to a 16-year career with the Close Up Foundation, the nation's largest youth civic education program. Having facilitated hundreds of discussions on controversial issues, she saw the power of civil discourse in a healthy democracy. Today, as an executive coach and trainer, Sara helps organizations build trust, purpose, and belonging.

Expanding Education and Talent Development Initiatives for Youth • Laura Brogdon-Primavery | Wilmington Chamber of Commerce
Session Room: Bristol

As the talent wars loom on the horizon, it has become imperative to introduce the next generation to the skills and career opportunities available to them in their own backyard! The Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with New Hanover County Schools, is pioneering an initiative to address career exploration earlier and more often.
 
Join us for a session on "Expanding Education and Talent Development Initiatives" through the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce's 7th Grade Career and Leadership Development Academy. This session will delve into the innovative strategies and programs designed to foster career awareness and leadership skills among middle school students.
 
Learn how our collaborative efforts can shape the future workforce by:
Implementing career exploration activities tailored for 7th graders.
Integrating leadership development into the standard curriculum.
Providing students with hands-on experiences and interactions with industry professionals.
Encouraging students to explore a diverse range of career paths early in their education journey.

About the Speaker: As the Vice President of Leadership Development at the Chamber, Laura Brogdon-Primavera spearheads a suite of influential programs including Leadership Wilmington, Encounter Wilmington, Interns Encounter, and the Career and Leadership Development Academy. Laura's academic foundation includes a BSBA in Hospitality and Tourism Management from Appalachian State University and an M.Ed. in Higher Education from UNCW, underpinning her multifaceted approach to leadership and program management. Her commitment to community impact and leadership excellence has earned her accolades such as inclusion in the prestigious Wilmington Biz 100 as a community Connector in 2023, 2021, and 2020. She was honored with a 40 Under 40 Award from the StarNews and Wilmington Chamber of Commerce in 2019. 

Beyond her professional endeavors, Laura is a devoted mother of four, cherishing time with her husband, two cats, and engaging in various community-oriented activities. She actively contributes to the cultural tapestry of Wilmington, volunteering with the Cucalorus Film Festival, Thalian Association Community Theater, and Wrightsville United Methodist Church.