2021 WV AmeriCorps Conference

About The AmeriCorps Conference

This is your landing page for all of the information and links that you will need to fully participate in the 2021 WV AmeriCorps Conference which is being held virtually October 26-29, 2021.

This conference is organized by Volunteer West Virginia, with help from the West Virginia AmeriCorps Advisory Team. AmeriCorps members will be participating from across West Virginia, to learn more about these AmeriCorps programs click here. We look forward to seeing you virtually in October!

Conference Registration

To register for the conference, click here!

Virtual Photo Booth

Don't forget to have your photo taken at the virtual photo booth! These photos are perfect for Zoom profile pictures and to use throughout your service. Click here to take your photo and click here for the gallery.

Conference Schedule

Click here for a list of workshop descriptions. For a printable version of the Conference Schedule, click here.

See below for a detailed conference schedule so you can begin planning which sessions you'd like to attend! All AmeriCorps Members should plan to attend the Opening and Closing Keynote Sessions; you are welcome to attend as many additional workshop sessions as you would like, but we hope you attend at least two! To help you plan:

Education Workshops are highlighted in YELLOW

Health + Local Foods Workshops are highlighted in GREEN

Conservation + Heritage Workshops are highlighted in BLUE

Community Development Workshops are highlighted in ORANGE

Tuesday, October 26th

9:15-9:45am	Conference Welcome and Opening Keynote Zoom Room A: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9483755767 -Welcome from Volunteer WV and Introduce Keynote Speaker, Bil Lepp -Opening Keynote Address from Bil Lepp - Using Storytelling to Connect -Housekeeping Reminders about the Conference
Break	15 Minute Break
	Zoom Room A: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9483755767	Zoom Room B https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7949706421
10:00-11:30 AM	Engaging Adult Learners in Education	AmeriCorps in Disasters and Preparedness
Break	15 Minute Break
11:45-1:15PM	The Basics of Interpretation: How to Interpret Your Site to Your Audience	Situational Safety: De-escalation Techniques This workshop is being held in a DIFFERENT ZOOM ROOM. CLICK HERE TO JOIN THIS SESSION! Passcode: 001366. To Join By Phone, Dial +1 312 626 6799, enter Webinar ID: 889 5101 4650, Passcode: 001366
Break	15 Minute Break
1:30-3PM	Understanding Childhood Trauma and Implications for Serving in AmeriCorps	Fostering Nourishing Networks for Community Food Security in West Virginia
Break	15 Minute Break
3:15-4:45PM	Historic Preservation 101	Rural Volunteer Management: Build a Strong Foundation for Volunteer Involvement

Wednesday, October 27th

	Zoom Room A: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9483755767	Zoom Room B: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7949706421
10:00-11:30 AM	Youth Mental Health First Aid	Eight Dimensions of Wellness
Break	15 Minute Break
11:45-1:15PM	Environmental Education using Project Learning Tree	Finding Funds and Building Relationships with Funders
Break	15 Minute Break
1:30-3PM	Who Am I?: AmeriCorps Service Members Exploring the Role of Identity Across Service Experiences	Healthy Eating on a Budget: Nutrition and Intuitive Eating
Break	15 Minute Break
3:15-4:45PM	Appalachian Food and Foraging	Facilitating Effective Meetings and Events

Thursday, October 28th

	Zoom Room A: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9483755767
9:00- 9:50AM	Coffee + Networking With the AmeriCorps Member Advisory Team What to Expect: Join this fun, social session (with your favorite coffee mug in hand!) to meet more of your fellow AmeriCorps Members serving across WV. We will have fun prompts to make it easy to connect! We guarantee you will walk away with a new friend or two!
Break	15 Minute Break
10:00- 11:30AM	Part 1: Creative Mentoring Strategies: Supporting Students' Mental Health Presented by Dr. Christine Schimmel What to Expect: There have been substantial increases in stress and anxiety for students due to the recent pandemic. Research demonstrates that teaching students a meaning making system such as a growth mindset can assist in compensating for the negative effects of traumatic events. This session will help participants at all skill levels understand the connections between growth mindset and the protective factors that help children develop resilience. The session will provide participants with a number of creative ideas that can be used as universal and targeted interventions to assist both individual students and groups of students. Participants will leave the session with an easy-to-use Social Emotional Learning toolkit that has age-appropriate mentoring strategies to support student mental health.
Break	15 Minute Break
11:45- 1:15PM	Part 2: Creative Mentoring Strategies: Supporting Students' Mental Health presented by Dr. Christine Schimmel
Break	15 Minute Break
1:30- 3:00PM	AmeriCorps 101 and Resources for AmeriCorps Members - with Volunteer West Virginia and Sharrell Harmon, AmeriCorps Alum Recommended for all 1st year AmeriCorps Members! What to Expect: Let us demystify how you fit into the bigger picture of AmeriCorps! In this session, we will break down the history of AmeriCorps in WV, the different types of AmeriCorps Programs, and the resources that you should be aware of to help you through your service term.

Friday, October 29th

	Zoom Room A: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9483755767
10:00- 11:30AM	AmeriCorps Conference Closing Keynote and Swearing-In Celebration - Remarks from Volunteer WV - Closing Keynote Address from Carey Jo Grace - The Role of Community in Creating Lasting Change - Swearing-In Ceremony: New, Returning, and Continuing Members will commit to their service through the AmeriCorps Pledge - Remote Service Project Discussion and Acknowledgements