Whole Child Whole Community Conference: Full Schedule

Be sure to register for the Whole Child Whole Community Conference hosted by Communities In Schools of San Antonio in partnership with Region 20 and UP Partnership REGISTER HERE. Interesting in becoming a Sponsor? INFORMATION HERE on sponsorship levels! Commitments requested by October 11.

IMPORTANT: Only attendees who are signed into the platform can create a custom schedule and download presenter handouts. You must be registered before you will receive an invitation to the platform. Platform invitations will be sent out beginning October 10. If you need assistance with your sign-in, check in at the Technology Support table the morning of the conference.

CREATING A CUSTOM SCHEDULE DOES NOT RESERVE A SPACE IN A SESSION. Seating for all sessions are first-come, first-seated.

9:30am CST

Relationships are the Work: Using a Community of Practice to Unify Youth Development Organizations Across San Antonio

Friday November 15, 2024 9:30am - 10:45am CST

La Salle

During this session, participants will learn how Excel Academy, a multi-year leadership development program for youth-serving professionals, transforms and connects youth development organizations across San Antonio. In particular, attendees will learn about Excel Academy, and how UP Partnership and Search Institute are partnering together to facilitate this community of practice and support organizations in building a shared vision and strategy. Over the course of multiple years, Excel Academy brings together youth development professionals to learn about developmental relationships, racial equity, collaborative improvement, and to implement organizational improvement plans. In this session, participants will also learn tips for engaging staff and community members in an organizational change process and creating a community of practice centered around developmental relationships and racial equity in their own community. Finally, participants will learn how Excel Academy participant, Crystal, the Racial Justice and Gender Equity Youth Engagement Manager from YWCA, has fostered partnerships with other local youth development organizations, businesses, and nonprofits. Crystal will highlight how YWCA has partnered with organizations such as Boys and Girls club, YMCA, Boardroom Project, and Good Samaritan to bring them their Teens Taking Action curriculum focused on racial justice, social justice, social emotional learning and advocacy. Through this program, each partner organization is guided through a 10-week course that explores different topics such as healthy relationships, goal setting, emotional intelligence, history and legacy of San Antonio, Gender stereotypes, Colleges and Universities. Session attendees will walk away from the session with tangible strategies for fostering professional collaboration, and building relationships, and new connections with other like-minded youth-serving professionals.

Speakers

Shelby Drayton, BA

Senior Manager of Coaching and Facilitation, K12 & Youth Development, UP Partnership

Shelby Drayton is the Senior Manager of Coaching and Facilitation, K12 & Youth Development at UP Partnership. In her role, she runs Excel Academy, a multi-year leadership development opportunity for youth serving professionals focused on Racial Equity, Developmental Relationships... Read More →

Miray Seward, PhD

Applied Research Scientist, Search Institute

Dr. Miray Seward, is an applied Research Scientist specializing in mixed methods research. She has a 10-year career in positive youth development and has focused on examining the unique strengths and assets of diverse youth in home, school, and community settings. She has conducted... Read More →

Crystal Ellis, MSW, CHW

Youth Program Manager, YWCA

Born and raised in Killeen, TX to immigrant parents, Crystal embraces her role as a first-generation American with passion and purpose. Her journey into understanding the histories of marginalized communities in America began early, igniting a lifelong commitment to racial and social... Read More →

Friday November 15, 2024 9:30am - 10:45am CST
La Salle

Inspiring Professional Collaboration

11:00am CST

ADVi The Virtual Advisor: The Role & Impact of AI for Helping Texas Students Apply for College

Friday November 15, 2024 11:00am - 12:15pm CST

La Salle

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Virtual Advising Project (ADVi) emerged as a key initiative to support Texas students’ transition to higher education. ADVi, the AI chatbot, is designed to help students navigate the college application process by providing tailored information, actionable advice, and answers to queries. This study utilizes a mixed-methods research design to explore ADVi utilization in Texas. One of the main results suggests that underrepresented students relied more on ADVi to assist them with college admission and application processes, thus highlighting the technology’s potential role in bridging the information gap in higher education access.

Speakers

Han Bum Lee, PhD

Associate Director, UTSA, Urban Education Institute

Han Bum Lee is an Associate Director of the Urban Education Institute at the University of Texas at San Antonio and an Assistant Professor of Research at the Department of Educational Psychology. Dr. Lee's research interests include examining factors such as early college courses... Read More →

Sharon Nichols, PhD

Professor and Interim Director, Urban Education Institute at UTSA

Sharon L. Nichols is Professor and Interim Director of the Urban Education Institute. She also serves as Chair of the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Texas at San Antonio. She teaches graduate and undergraduate classes in learning theory, motivation, development... Read More →

Friday November 15, 2024 11:00am - 12:15pm CST
La Salle

Fostering Relationships to Unlock Student Potential

1:55pm CST

Promoting Positive Identity

Friday November 15, 2024 1:55pm - 3:10pm CST

La Salle

This session will draw on developmental science, identity theory, and positive youth development to provide guidance on how teachers and youth practitioners can promote positive identity development - a key developmental milestone among adolescents that has been connected to various positive indicators of psychological adjustment. Towards this end, the presentation's objectives are to 1) provide an understanding of classical and contemporary identity theories and 2) offer guidance on how we may promote positive identity development.

Speakers

Alan Meca, PhD

Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology, UTSA

Alan Meca, Ph.D. (él/he/him) is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He received his Ph.D. in Developmental Science from Florida International University in 2014 and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the... Read More →

Friday November 15, 2024 1:55pm - 3:10pm CST
La Salle

State of the Heart: Supporting Youth in Today's World

3:25pm CST

Using Just-In-Time Trainings to Support Youth Mentors' Evidence-Based Helping Skills

Friday November 15, 2024 3:25pm - 4:30pm CST

La Salle

In today’s busy world, we rely on our phones to not only help us stay connected but to also help us manage our day-to-day responsibilities. Our smart phones can help us be more productive, but at the same time they can be counterintuitive. It can be very easy for us to get “lost” in the ever-growing platforms of the digital world. This session will increase our awareness to the current trends surrounding smart phone use and provide tools to help us learn how to be more mindful about our digital use. The tools and tips provided in this session will help participants create a digital wellness plan for themselves and possibly their loved ones, which can be used to find a healthy balance between technology in their personal and professional lives.

Speakers

Mackenzie Hart, PhD

Assistant Professor of School of Psychology, UTSA

Mackenzie Hart, PhD, is an assistant professor of school psychology at the University of Texas- San Antonio. Her research examines the expansion of youth mental health service delivery to paraprofessional providers, such as youth mentors.

Friday November 15, 2024 3:25pm - 4:30pm CST
La Salle

State of the Heart: Supporting Youth in Today's World

Whole Child Whole Community Conference