nFocus Solutions’ 4th annual Communities for Change leadership symposium will be held October 23-25 in Omaha, Nebraska. Each year, leaders from nationally recognized public sector organizations convene at Communities for Change to explore ways to get to the bottom of the complex social problems affecting their citizens today.

Since its inception, Communities for Change has attracted a diverse audience with attendees and presenters hailing from cities across the country. Premier speakers have included Collective Impact author John Kania and representatives from the National League of Cities, Search Institute and the U.S. Department of Education. Additionally, Communities for Change serves as a one-of-a-kind networking opportunity with thought leaders and decision-makers from city governments, nonprofits, schools, educational institutions and community improvement initiatives.

Why Should You Attend?

Communities for Change 2013 will feature a variety of accomplished speakers who will address top-of-mind education and youth development issues. Click here for information about and highlights from last year’s Communities for Change event.

You will hear from internationally known speaker Donna Beegle on the problems – and possible solutions – surrounding generational poverty, as well as executives from Building Bright Futures, an Omaha-based community-wide initiative aimed at improving academic performance, raising graduation rates and helping students become prepared for post-secondary education. Dr. Samuel Meisels, one of the nation’s leading authorities on early childhood development and the recently named Executive Director of the University of Nebraska’s Buffett Early Childhood Institute, will present on the crucial role early education plays in ensuring that all children – regardless of their circumstances – have an opportunity to succeed in school and beyond. With more than 200 local affiliates serving more than 1.25 million students nationwide, Dan Cardinali, Communities in Schools’ Chief Executive Officer, will share how the organization is building a community of support for children by embedding resources they need within their school.

To view the Communities for Change 2013 agenda to date, please see below. Come back to this site often to view updates to the speaker conference!

Register Today!

Register Now!

2013 Conference Rates & Deadlines

• Regular rate: $399/person
• Early Bird rate (must register before Aug. 15, 2013): $350/person
• For groups of 3 or more: $300/person

*The Day in the Life Tour on October 23 is included in the conference rate. It is a first-come, first-served opportunity, so email marketing@nfocus.com today if you would like to reserve your seat.

Hotel Information
Reservation Info

Communities for Change 2013 is taking place at the Hilton Omaha – just a few blocks away from the City’s historic Old Market! Enjoy close proximity to restaurants, boutiques and entertainment. Hotel reservations are handled separately from event registration. Please click on the link below to book your room today.

Special Event Rate: $139 per night before September 23

Hilton Omaha
1001 Cass Street
Omaha, NE
Phone: 1.402.998.3400

Email info@nfocus.com to learn more.

Wednesday, October 23

Collective for Youth: A Day in the Life Tour

This first-come, first-served activity will open up several Collective for Youth sites to visitors who would like to tour their facilities and see how they are using data to shape programs and activities. Collective for Youth is the out-of-school-time division of the Building Bright Futures community collaborative in Omaha. Collective for Youth focuses on providing high-quality out-of-school programs that inspire and engage youth, as well as stimulate academic and personal growth. Five sites will participate in this Day in the Life Tour. Participants will board one of five buses to take them to their site of choice. Pick-up will be at 2:30 p.m. at the Hilton Omaha. Drop off is estimated at 5 p.m. at the same location.

*Registration for this pre-conference activity has not yet opened up. More information about the Day in the Life sites will be shared as soon as possible. Please email marketing@nfocus.com today if you are interested and would like to be put on the list to participate in this first-come, first-served Day in the Life Tour.

Thursday, October 24

• Creating a Strong Foundation for Educational Excellence through Community Partnerships

  Speaker: Representative from Omaha Public School District (Invited)

• Building Bright Futures – Integrating School Data with Community Services to Support Omaha Youth

  Speaker: Representative from Building Bright Futures

• Workshop: Transitioning to a Data-Driven Culture to Increase Funding

  Many funders are asking for evidence showing the impact and the value of nonprofit community work. Organizations who have embraced data-driven cultures are able to increase revenues, positive press, staff morale, efficiency and impact. Transitioning to a data-driven culture comes with challenges, but the investment of time, money, staff and developing the expertise will pay off in multiples. Most importantly, it will have the greatest influence possible on children’s lives. In this presentation, you will learn how every organization can begin using a data-based approach to the work they are doing.

  Speaker: Dr. Anne Herman, Senior Vice President, Analytics, United Way of the Midlands

• Workshop: Breaking the Iron Cage – Helping People in Poverty Move Forward

  Stereotypes of people living in poverty in America are deeply embedded in our society. Before we can move forward with fighting the war on poverty, we must take a collective effort to examine personal beliefs and open our minds to new interpretations of the behavior of those struggling without basic needs. In this workshop, Donna Beegle, author of See Poverty…Be the Difference, will examine the nuances of different types of poverty and will provide strategies to help break poverty barriers and set the stage for helping people move out of poverty.

  Speaker: Dr. Donna Beegle, Chief Executive Officer, Communication Across Barriers

Friday, October 25

• Communities in Schools: Providing Students with the Resources They Need Both Inside and Outside the Classroom

  Speaker: Dan Cardinali, Chief Executive Officer, from Communities in Schools

• Why the Early Years of Life Matter: The Role Early Education Plays in Youth Development

  If you think you know everything about how a child grows up, think again. Developments in early brain studies show a clear path to better behavior and learning by beginning at birth when we are capable of absorbing more information than we will ever be able to again. Yet many children, because of poverty, abuse or other challenges, enter school unprepared to learn and thrive. During this session, Dr. Samuel Meisels, the recently named Founding Executive Director of the University of Nebraska’s Buffett Early Childhood Institute, will explain how early education can significantly improve the likelihood of success for all children.

  Speaker: Dr. Samuel Meisels, Executive Director of the University of Nebraska’s Buffett Early Childhood Institute