The Importance and Imperative of Community

May 21-22, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Featured Guest Speakers

Andrea Abrams

Executive Director, Defending American Values Coalition, American Pride Rises Network

Teresa Gorman

Associate Director, Pubic Square, Democracy Fund

Nisha Patel

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Dr. Kara Ahmed

President, Educare

AJ Herrmann

Director, Policy & Program Innovation, Accelerator for America

Sukhi Samra

Executive Director, Mayors & Counties for Guaranteed Income

Conference Venue

Saint Kate-The Arts Hotel  located on downtown Milwaukee’s Riverwalk

139 E. Kilbourn Avenue – Milwaukee, WI

15 minute drive from Milwaukee Mitchell Airport

Conference Schedule and Agenda Highlights

Tuesday May 20:  5:30-7pm at Saint Kate Hotel

  • Welcome reception (Deep Image Room 3rd floor)
  • Dinner on your own

Wednesday May 21:  8:30am – 4:45pm at Saint Kate Hotel

  • Breakfast buffet from 7:30-8:30am
  • Conference Kick Off & Welcome to Milwaukee!
  • Keynote: A Commitment to Equity and Opportunity 
    • Andrea Abrams Executive Director, Defending American Values Coalition/American Pride Rises Network
  • How Community Foundations Are Responding
    • Dan Kildee, President & CEO, Community Foundation for Greater Flint
    • Mary Jo Jean-Francois, VP of Impact, Community Foundation for Greater Dubuque
    • LuTonya Russell-Humes, VP Grants & Programs, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation
  • Informed Communities: Supporting Democracy & Civic Health
  • Community Foundations and Policy Advocacy: A Panel Discussion
    • Justina Acevedo-Cross, Senior Director of Community Strategy, Hawaii Community Foundation
    • Phil Koch, VP Policy & Community Impact, The Pittsburgh Foundation
    • Vincent Lyles, Executive Director, Milwaukee Succeeds, Greater Milwaukee Foundation
  • Systems Change Workshops (concurrent sessions)
    • Policy Change Toolkit for Community Foundations:  Lizzy Ferrara,
      Policy Analyst, Research to Action Lab, Urban Institute
    • Racial Equity Systems Self-Assessment:  Pamela Ross, Consultant
  • Depart at 6:15pm for ThriveOn King
    • Introduction to the space and small group tours
    • Reception and dinner

Thursday May 22:  8:30am – 3:30pm at ThriveOn King

  • Depart Saint Kate hotel for transportation to ThriveOn King at 7:45am
  • Breakfast buffet from 8:00-8:30am
  • Celebrating Our Work and Our Selves
  • The Power of Networks to Drive Local Change
    • Nisha Patel, Moderator
    • Dr. Kara Ahmed, Executive Director, Educare
    • AJ Herrmann, Director, Policy & Program Innovation, Accelerator for America and National Housing Crisis Task Force
    • Sukhi Samra, Executive Director, Mayors & Counties for Guaranteed Income
  • Roundtable Discussions
    • Community Foundation Climate Collaborative: Cait Botschner, CFCC
    • Demographic Data/US NonProfits: Anna Koob, Candid
    • Others TBD
  • Call to Action and Closing Remarks

Registration

  • Registration is free for CFON members and you may bring up to 3 representatives from your foundation
  • Register using this link.  Space is limited. The deadline for registration is May 9th.
  • Reserve your hotel room at our discounted rate of $229/night + tax at Saint Kate-The Arts Hotel. Space is limited and the cut-off date for reservations at the group rate is April 28th.