SPRINGFIELD, Mo., June 8, 2020 — The Drury University Nonprofit Leadership Conference will be held Friday, October 1 at the Oasis Hotel & Convention Center in Springfield. The event is hosted by the Drury Leadership Collaborative, which is now requesting proposals for presentations to be delivered at the conference.
The theme for this 10th annual event is “Resilient and Refocused,” spotlighting the ways in which nonprofit leaders and teams are re-examining their organizations’ missions, operations, financial goals and strategic plans following the pandemic.
“The past year has pressed nonprofits to learn, adapt and pivot to ensure survival,” says Dr. Regina Waters, conference co-coordinator. “The conference will see us sharing lessons learned over the course of the past year, celebrating the resiliency of nonprofit organizations and empowering attendees to refocus in a disrupted world.”
The keynote speaker will be Kim Becking, an attorney, entrepreneur, communications strategist and breast cancer survivor. She has been featured in national outlets such as People, SELF, The New York Times, and “Good Morning America” for her expertise on resilience and thriving amid change. Based in Columbia, Missouri, Becking helps her audiences develop a “momentum mindset” for pushing past limited thinking, getting unstuck and using change and adversity as fuel for moving ahead.
Drury alumna Abby Glenn is co-coordinator this year’s conference with Waters. Glenn was the longtime director of development for Habitat for Humanity of Springfield and is a highly engaged advocate for nonprofit efforts in the region.
Conference registration will open July 1. Although the conference will return to a largely in-person format, organizers expect some measure of virtual programming options to remain after last year’s all-virtual format allowed attendees from across the country to participate.
Seeking Presentation Proposals
Conference organizers are now seeking proposals. Presentations should provide timely and relevant information for the nonprofit community. Sessions may feature case studies, best practices, new or evolving frameworks, innovative campaigns, tools/resources, or any content that nurtures resiliency and adaptability in organizations.
Proposals may be submitted online at: www.drury.edu/nonprofit/forms/conference. Deadline for proposal submission is June 30.
Drury University’s commitment to professional development of nonprofit leaders extends to the Master of Nonprofit and Civic Leadership and Nonprofit Leadership Certificate. The Nonprofit Leadership Certificate is one of six graduate certificates that can be paired for a customizable Master of Integrative Leadership degree.
For more information about the conference, contact: Dr. Regina Waters at rwaters@drury.edu or (417) 873-7251.
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