PROGRAM

Now in its sixth year, C3KC has quickly become a cornerstone of change, presenting relevant and cutting-edge topics focused on social innovation. Panel discussions led by local and national thought leaders provide attendees an opportunity to engage, exchange ideas, and network.

Opening Panel—National Trends, Local Significance

Panelists:

      • Moderator: Tyler Nottberg, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, US Engineering
      • Gloria Jackson-Leathers, Vice President, Kansas City Civic – Kauffman Foundation
      • Neal Sharma, President, dentsu shop, Co-Chair KC Rising
      • Brent Never, Associate Professor, Director of Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership, University of Missouri-Kansas City

Early Care and Education—It Starts with Childcare

Quality childcare is not just for families. Issues of pay, safety, and stress—all present pre-pandemic—have accelerated since 2020 resulting in a decrease in the number of caregivers and creating serious shortages in available childcare “slots”. The session will cover challenges and their impact.

Panelists:

      • Moderator: Joni Wickham, Co-Founder, Wickham James Strategies & Solutions
      • Deidre Anderson, Executive Director, EarlystART KC
      • Paula Neth, Chief Executive Officer, The Family Conservancy
      • Jovannah Rohs, Director of Early Learning, MARC

Early Care and Education – New Thinking for Age-Old Dilemmas

The lack of quality childcare not only affects families but creates challenges for employers and inhibits economic development. Across the nation, city, county, and state governments, as well as business organizations, are finding creative solutions. Similar discussions are underway in Kansas City to address this issue.

Panelists:

      • Moderator:  Scott Hall, Senior Vice President for Civic and Community Initiatives, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
      • Erin Brower, Senior Director of Government Affairs, Hallmark Cards, Inc.
      • Sarah Haberberger, Founding Executive Director, GreenLight Fund Kansas City
      • Linda Rallo, Vice President, Aligned

Enabling Economic Inclusion – Building Wealth through Education and Entrepreneurship

Give a man a fish and he will eat for the day. Teach him to fish and he will fish for life. Time has taught us that when given opportunities, more people will succeed just by getting the opportunity. There are tools and resources available in the metropolitan area to help people of all backgrounds bridge the wealth gap and build equity.

Panelists:

      • Moderator: Jocelyn Evans, Associate Dean and Henry W. Bloch Endowed Chair of Finance, University of Missouri-Kansas City
      • Vince Clark, Vice President of Business Development, Creative Planning, LLC; Co-Founder and Vice Chair, Pathway Financial Education
      • Terrell “TJ” Jolly, Founder, Integrity Capital Management
      • Pedro Zamora, Executive Director, Hispanic Economic Development Corporation

The Reskilling Revolution – Long-Life Training and Learning

In today’s rapidly changing work environment, adaptability is key to keeping pace as an employee and an employer. There are new strategies to help employers both retain the employees they have and recruit talent for the skills and jobs of the future.

 Panelists:

      • Moderator: Tammy Edwards, Senior Vice President Community Engagement and Inclusion, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City
      • Lesley Elwell, Chief Human Resources Officer, Evergy
      • Dr. Leigh Anne Taylor Knight, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, DeBruce Foundation
      • Dr. Dred Scott, President, Civic Council of Greater Kansas City

Mental Health – Caring for Our Caregivers

In discussions about Mental Health within the education systems and care environments, teachers and caregivers are often overlooked. Yet Mental Health within those settings begins with teachers and caregivers. These individuals face challenges in their own lives, outside of their work environments. Those environments have been especially disrupted by COVID. There are resources across many sectors that can be utilized to address this growing need.

Panelists:

Mental Health – Our Children

Comprehensive healthcare for children isn’t complete without support and services for children’s developmental, psychiatric, or psychological concerns. Always a challenge before COVID but uncertainties about schooling, suspension of extracurricular activities and the stresses brought to the whole family unit has created a more urgent need to address this issue and ensure that families will find necessary resources.

Panelists:

Houselessness – It Takes a Village: Harnessing Community Efforts Through Partnerships

When leveraged strategically, Kansas City has the resources to end houselessness. In fact, KC is serving as both an example and a leader, throughout the country, when it comes to addressing this complex and multifaceted social issue. This session will discuss examples of how organizations are utilizing collaborative and replicable organizational structures to end houselessness in the KC Metro and beyond.

Panelists:

      • Moderator: Lawrence Leek, Housing Outreach Navigator, Community LINC
      • Jess Blubaugh, Chief Philanthropy Officer, United Way of Greater Kansas City
      • Bryan Meyer, Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Veterans Community Project
      • David O. Renz, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus of Nonprofit Leadership and Management and Director Emeritus of the Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership, Henry W. Bloch School of Management at the University of Missouri-Kansas City

Health Equity– Social Determinants of Health

Overall health is determined by living and working conditions. This includes access to healthy food, safe housing, and transportation. Systemic change will lead to healthier communities. This panel will feature Kansas City Area health leaders engaged in a robust conversation about resource allocation, identifying patients at risk, collaborating on research data and improving health care outcomes for underserved communities.

Panelists

      • Moderator: Todd Moore, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program and Project Strategist, American Academy of Family Physicians
      • Carmen Parker-Bradshaw, Divisional Vice President, Community Health and Quality & Accreditation, Blue KC
      • Jeron Ravin, Chief Executive Officer, Swope Health Services
      • Patrick Sallee, President and Chief Executive Officer, Vibrant Health

Health Equity- Innovative Approaches to Improve Pregnancy, Birth and Postpartum Care For Women of Color and Black Women

Black women are 3 times more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes and experience postpartum challenges. With new research data, focus on disparities, changes within healthcare systems and the training of more doulas, outcomes for women of color and African American women can be dramatically improved.

Panelists

      • Moderator: Jamila Weaver RN, BSN, MPA, Mission Vision Project KC (MVP)
      • Traci Johnson, MD, University Health, Assistant Professor OBGYN University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
      • Melissa Robinson, President, Black Health Care Coalition
      • Sharla Smith, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Co-Founder and Director, Kansas Birth Equity Network, University of Kansas Medical Center

Philanthropy – Evolving Priorities

Always a critical component in improving communities, philanthropic support for addressing social issues is happening with new and bolder steps. Corporate social consciousness is now an integral part of boardroom and C Suite conversations. Addressing issues like climate change and social justice are becoming business priorities that are influencing corporate giving. Private foundations are adopting initiatives and seeking collaborations with partners to make a positive and measurable social impact.

Panelists

      • Moderator: Brenda Sharpe, President and Chief Executive Officer, REACH Healthcare Foundation
      • Davin Gordon, Program Officer, Hall Family Foundation
      • Adriana Pecina, Impact Strategist, Health Forward Foundation
      • Gene Willis, Corporate Social Responsibility Manager, GEHA

Check back often for updated sessions.

Updated 3/11/2023

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