Wednesday, October 02, 2013

Man who saved Joplin to be keynote speaker at Bright Futures Conference

The first Bright Futures USA Community Engagement Conference, scheduled for Monday, October 14, and Tuesday, October 15, at Missouri Southern State University, has landed a top-flight keynote speaker- the man who saved Joplin following the May 22, 2011, tornado.

If you don't believe that, just read the description offered about the speaker on the Bright Futures USA website:

After one of the most devastating tornadoes on record destroyed a third of Joplin, Missouri, Dr. C.J. Huff, Superintendent of Schools, led his community in an amazing effort to rebuild—transforming this disastrous tragedy into the town’s finest hour. Dr. Huff’s demonstrated leadership helped Joplin schools and the community literally emerge from the rubble in what has been called “A model for those who study resilience” by U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen. 

Of course, that is on the Bright Futures USA website and that is not the one that is connected with the Joplin schools. It just operates out of a Joplin school building, has a Joplin School District employee as its executive director, the same woman who is responsible, in one way or another, for the effusive praise printed above.

How in the world can anyone keep all of those Bright Futures straight?

Nevertheless, for those who want to engage their communities in the same way Bright Futures has engaged the Joplin community and so many others, this conference is the place for you, for a bargain price of $195.


Bright Futures Community Engagement Conference Schedule

October 14-15, 2013
Missouri Southern State University

General Session - Day 1: Monday, October 14 


Registration Opens
8:00 - 10:00

Opening Plenary Session
10:00 - 11:45

Open lunch
11:45 - 1:30

Breakout Session 1
1:30 - 3:00 

Finding the Common Unity
Basic Training: Community Engagement 101

The Power of Storytelling
Communication: Bridging the Gap
Opening the Door
Faith-Based Community

Bright Futures Best Practices
The Bright Futures Model


Breakout Session 2
3:15 - 4:45 

Creating a Sense of Urgency in Your Community 
Lead the Movement
Boots on the Ground        
Faith-Based Community

The Bright Futures Model
The Bright Futures Model
The Importance of Brand Standards
Communication: Bridging the Gap 

General Session - Day 2: Tuesday, October 15


Breakout Session 3
8:00 - 9:30

Best Practices in Grassroots Partner Recruitment    
Communities Without Limits

Engaging Your Faith Based Partners    
Communities Without Limits

Aligning the Vision Among Churches, Schools, and Businesses        
Faith-Based Community
Putting the Fun in Fundraising 
Resources at Your Fingertips 

Breakout Session 4
9:45 - 11:15

The Liberal, KS Story         
Basic Training: Community Engagement 101

Time, Talent, And Treasures       
Communities Without Limits

Relevance and Relationships   
Faith-Based Community

Serving to Learn    
The Bright Futures Model
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Open Lunch
11:15 - 1:00
 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Breakout Session 5
1:00 - 2:30

Taking Your Councils Out of the Box   
Communities Without Limits

The Role of a Bright Futures Council in a School      
Communities Without Limits

Bright Futures from a Coordinator Perspective        
Lead The Movement

Bright Futures from a Superintendent Perspective
Lead The Movement

Bright Futures from an Advisory Board Member Perspective      
Lead The Movement

Closing Plenary Session
 2:45 - 4:15

2 comments:

  1. Anonymous1:33 PM

    There is NOTHING but good news here. Good for Joplin. Good for the schools. Good for the community. Only you would act like it is a KKK meeting. And 6:41 take a gander at New Orleans if you think anyone can do it. Thank God we had the leadership in place after the tornado that we did. We are blessed.

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  2. Anonymous8:11 PM

    The recovery from the tornado was, is and will continue to be impressive. It's a story of people doing what they should do---taking care of each other. Now, what has happened as far as the school district since then is a completely different story.

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