MidYear Conference 2025
UNITY THROUGH COMMUNITY
January 23rd - January 27th in Baltimore, MD
The annual MidYear Conference is an opportunity for Notre Dame AmeriCorps members to connect, collaborate, and create with other members, NDMV staff, board members, and the Sister of Notre Dame de Namur. This year’s theme, Unity Through CommUnity, reminds us that we all thrive when we are seen, supported, and valued within a community. Through building and nurturing connections, we create safe spaces where individuals feel empowered and diverse voices come together to uplift one another. Our commitment is to foster the communities we need—spaces that inspire courage, empathy, and shared purpose—so that together, we can drive meaningful change.
MidYear Conference Agenda
Keynote Speakers
Ted Miles
Executive Director, NDMV
Ronald Smith & Gwen Brown
Life Coaches & Nonviolence Practitioners
Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet
Executive Director, Hope Community Center
The 5 W’s of MidYear
Workshop Presenters
BRIAN BACKE
Finding your Job (Passion) in the Nonprofit Sector
As an NDMV member, you are clearly passionate about making a difference in the world. Join our workshop to explore finding your next role in the nonprofit sector. This workshop will provide you with a framework approaching the search process (it starts now by the way), and helpful knowledge about the scope and range of the sector. You'll learn about the various roles available, the skills required, and how to effectively communicate your passion and qualifications to potential employers. Throughout the workshop, you'll engage in interactive sessions with experienced professionals from the nonprofit sector. They will share their personal insights and challenges, offering perspective on how to build a successful career in this widely diverse field. (Did you know that nearly 10% of US workforce are employed in 1.8 million nonprofits.)
Whether you're interested in fundraising, program management, advocacy, leadership, or any other aspect of nonprofit work, this workshop will increase your confidence and knowledge as you prepare for life and a meaningful career after NDMV/AmeriCorps.
SARAH CRAKE
Team Building Through Games
Indoor Recess: Team Building Through Games
You don’t need to be outside to play. "Indoor Recess" is an engaging and dynamic workshop designed to strengthen team cohesion through the power of games and improvisation. This interactive session will guide attendees through fun and challenging activities emphasizing communication and collaboration. Through improv exercises and team-building games, participants will enhance their problem-solving skills, build trust, and develop a deeper understanding of each other’s strengths and working styles. NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. INTROVERTS WELCOME.
SAM ALLEN
Teaching Skills That Matter: What Adult Students Want and Need to Know
When teaching adults, you must consider what they need to know in addition to what they want to know. Incorporating real-life knowledge and transferable skills into classroom content bridges that gap of interests and needs. Teaching Skills That Matter is a Federal Initiative that provides curriculum and lesson plans for Adult Educators who do just that. This workshop will teach you about these resources, show you how to use them, and emphasize the importance of incorporating real-life, transferable skills into the adult classroom.
DWAYNE HESS
Engaging the Adult Learner: Activities and Techniques to Make the Classroom Interesting
This is a hands-on workshop where the presenter will share and demonstrate techniques for engaging the adult learner in GED, ESOL, or literacy classes. It can be challenging to reach adults who often have busy lives or special needs. Participants will leave with ideas for keeping the classroom interesting and meaningful.
PAT KERRIGAN
Bridging the Digital Divide
The nature of the Digital Divide and the steps necessary to bridge it, particularly how AmeriCorps volunteers can help, not only in their volunteer assignments, but in everyday life and after AmeriCorps.
RONALD SMITH & GWEN BROWN
While You’re Here
Exploring the legacy that we leave while we are here. The power of suffering that is transformative and redemptive.
DENISE CURRY
The Better World Shopping Guide, Ellis Jones
Shop and vote with your dollars. Buy products from companies that really care about the environment, people and the Earth. As a citizen you might vote once every four years. As consumers we vote every single day, Let's learn how to make these votes count.
ZACH YOCUM
Introduction to Nonviolent Communication
On Day 1, Participants will explore the foundational steps of the Nonviolent Communication process, using exercises, handouts, and group activities.
On Day 2, This workshop will build on the 'Intro to Nonviolent Communication' workshop from Saturday, expanding into applying these skills when working with children, whether in educational settings, in the home, or in our communities.
KAREN BORTVEDT ESTRADA
Sustaining Ourselves Through Self Care
Does life just feel heavy and hard for you at this moment? When we work in a field where we are surrounded by need, trauma, and the constant ‘one more thing’ mentality, we can burn ourselves out of the very same fields we entered with great passion. This session will be 90-minutes to practice some self-care, to look at some of our own unmet needs, and to reflect on ways we can integrate more of these practices into our lives.
MARISSA GUTIERREZ-VICARIO
Using the Visual Arts to Understand Human Rights and Unify Community
In this workshop, participants will delve into a deeper understanding of how the visual arts are being utilized to bring awareness to pressing human rights issues and unify communities. Specifically, participants will learn about visual artivists (artist + activists) who have created art around specific social issues in the United States. Lastly, participants will have an opportunity to create a piece of their own collaborative artwork inspired by these artivists and consider how they might bring it to their own communities.
NATALIE REINA
Trauma and the Body: What is Trauma and How Do We Heal It?
This interactive workshop will guide participants through an exploration of trauma and its effects on the body. You’ll learn what trauma is, how it develops, and how it impacts us biologically. The session will include embodiment exercises to deepen your connection with yourself and those around you. This workshop promotes mindfulness through music, self-reflection, movement, and rest—feel free to dress comfortably and come as you are!
JARAH BOTELLO
CHERITA CUNNINGHAM
Building Belonging: Creating Spaces Where Everyone Thrives
This interactive workshop is aimed at helping members and managers cultivate inclusive team environments where everyone feels respected, valued, celebrated, and empowered to succeed. Participants will learn strategies to foster collaboration, enhance diversity, and create a culture of belonging. Through practical exercises and reflective discussions, attendees will leave with tools to build supportive, thriving teams with room for everyone!
FELIPE SOUSA
FINN SPENCER
Tools for LGBTQIA+ Education and Safe Space Creation
This workshop aims to level the playing field for educators through an understanding of basic vocabulary, then expanding their tools for education through safe space creation and an educated approach to queer youth inclusion through safe space creation.
GUY BURNEY
Effective Classroom/Behavior Management Strategies
Community Builders: Effective Classroom/Behavior Management Strategies
Join us for an engaging and interactive workshop designed to equip volunteers with the essential tools to foster positive community connections while managing classroom environments effectively. This session will explore practical strategies for building strong relationships with students and adults, creating inclusive spaces, and promoting constructive behavior. Through hands-on activities and real-life scenarios, participants will gain confidence in navigating classroom challenges, setting expectations, and reinforcing positive behavior. Whether you're new to volunteering or looking to enhance your skills, this workshop will empower you to make a lasting impact both in the classroom and in the broader community.
LISA SATTUCK
Alternatives to Violence Project: Building Community Based on Honesty, Respect, and Caring
This workshop will discuss what AVP is and guide participants through a few group exercises geared toward the theme of Community.
KRISTIN MATTHES
Imperfect, Talent and Valued: Building CommUnity with Clifton Strengths
Our greatest talents—those ways in which we most naturally think, feel and behave—represent our innate power and potential. When we tap into this source of wisdom and power, we act with more confidence, direction and hope; we are more efficient and productive; and we are happier! Having insight into our natural talents frees us up to create a strengths-based team, a group of imperfect but talented contributors who are valued for their strengths and who need each other to realize individual and team success. In our session we will deepen our understanding of our natural talents through interactive processes. We will explore ways to recognize the talents of those with whom we work and how we can bring our talents to our teams and our communities. If you have taken the CliftonStrengths (formerly StrengthsFinder) assessment, be sure to bring your report. If you would like to take the assessment before the session, visit the Gallup website (store.gallup.com)
YVONNE MCNEIL
An Introduction to Financial Empowerment: From the Inside Out!
My workshop will focus on financial empowerment through the lens of financial literacy as it relates to our money and our emotions. Topics will include: Budgeting and Saving; Banking; Credit/Loans.