Sponsored by The Ohio State University at Mansfield, with a 2018-2019 Staff Leadership Associates Program Grant from The Women’s Place at The Ohio State University.
Networking, mentoring, coaching, and modeling new ways to lead are necessary parts of a formula for women's leadership success. Given this, we invite women faculty, staff, and community members to join us as mentors. Our goal is to have 50 women and 50 college women attend.
This conference is designed for women or women-identifying faculty, staff, students (college and high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors from Richland County), and community leaders. We will have a particular focus on under-represented/under-served high-school-aged women or women-identifying students who would benefit from networking (particularly First Generation, Individuals of Color, Post-Traditional, Pell-Eligible, LGBTQ+, and other diverse groups). All attendees are committing to a mentoring group to include at least 2 high school students, 1 college student, and 1 faculty/staff/community member. These groups will chat during lunch; connect on their own; then we plan to sponsor a follow up event for these groups likely in Autumn 2019.
There is no cost for this event, but we are limited to 100 high school students, 50 college students, and 50 faculty/staff/community members. If your plans change, we need you to cancel by March 18, 2019 to allow us time to offer your slot to another individual. We look forward to having you join us.
Conference schedule:
9:30 am - Check in
Eisenhower Marketplace
9:50 am - Brief welcome and day highlights
Dr. Donna L. Hight, assistant dean, Student Life & Student Success, The Ohio State University at Mansfield
Eisenhower Marketplace
10:00 am - From the White House to Warrior Women: One Mansfield Woman's Journey Pursuing Social Justice
Eisenhower Marketplace
Beth Castle grew up in Mansfield, Ohio and graduated from Senior High. In her keynote address she will share the stories and experiences that have shaped her path and created opportunities that include creating her own major in college, working for the White House on race relations, getting a Ph.D. from Cambridge University, working with women of color activists from the 1970s like Angela Davis and Madonna Thunder Hawk, and making a feature documentary film called Warrior Women. Drawing from these and other stories, she will talk about ongoing journey of figuring out what you want to be when you grow up - and some thoughts on how to get there.
Dr. Elizabeth (Beth) Castle is a scholar-activist-media maker whose first film Warrior Women will show on PBS. The documentary is based on her book Women were the Backbone, Men Were the Jawbone: Native Women's Activism in the Red Power Movement. While completing her Ph.D. at Cambridge, she worked for President Clinton's Initiative on Race and served as a delegate to the UN World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa. She received the UC Presidential Postdoctoral Fellowship at UC Santa Cruz under the supervision of Professor Angela Davis. As a college professor, Castle has taught Ethnic, Black, Native, Women's and Gender Studies, History, and Communications at Stanford University, University of California at Berkeley, University of South Dakota and Denison University.
11:15 am - Breakout Session 1
Making Your Place at the Table
Conard 200
This workshop invites participants to ask the right questions at the table. To use the language which promotes a positive- self appraisal and true understanding of your human capital. Individuals will have the opportunity to explore their human capital by identifying strengths of knowledge, habits, social and personality attributes which empower individuals to perform labor and produce economic value.
Buffi D. Williams, MSSA, LSW, LCDC-III, Emotional Wellness Coach, New Day Life Center. Buffi has worked in social services field for 26 years and 21 of the years she has mentored and guided many young women through the difficulties and challenges of life. She has been a Program Director of her own non-profit organization, for 20 years. She is currently working with children living in poverty to help increase their resiliency and reduce the impact the daily stresses of poverty. She uses mindfulness, Cognitive Behavior and Solution Focused techniques to educate children on essential skills to regulate their emotions. Her motto is, there is power in your story. Her passion is supporting emotional wellness in herself and others, she is known for being honest and to the point.
Healthy relationship building as a tool to success
Conard 220
It's amazing how much in this world gets done…or does not get done based upon relationships. In this talk we will explore the importance of building good professional relationships, why so much can depend upon them, and offer some practical tools for you to utilize.
Jodie A. Perry, CCE, IOM, CCEO-AP has served as President & CEO of the Richland Area Chamber of Commerce in Mansfield, Ohio since July 2014. In 2017 she also took over leadership for the Richland Community Development Group. In this combined role she is responsible for leading the county-wide economic, community and workforce development efforts.
Prior to this position, she led the Greece (NY) Chamber of Commerce and the Van Wert (OH) Area Chamber of Commerce and served on staff at the Ashland (OH) Area Chamber of Commerce. She also worked as the Deputy Chief Clerk for the US Senate Banking Committee. Jodie received her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science & Religion from Ashland University in Ashland, Ohio.
In 2008 she graduated from the US Chamber of Commerce Institute for Organizational Management earning the IOM designation. In 2018 she received her Certified Chamber Executive designation, the highest certification in the industry. Jodie is active in the community and currently serves on several area Boards of Directors. She is on the Board of Regents for the Midwest Institute for Organizational Management and Secretary for CCEO (Chamber of Commerce Executives of Ohio). The importance of business was instilled at a young age as she grew up in a family of entrepreneurs in Rochester, NY.
Mindfulness as a tool for emotional success
Conard 120-H (LCC)
Sometimes life can feel so stressful and fast-paced that it's often hard to know what you think or how you feel. This workshop will show how exercising 'mindfulness' is like "gym for the mind" — the more you practice it, the less you'll worry and the more you can focus! Learn 'mindfulness' skills to help you sort out your thoughts and feelings to get you on the path to emotional success!
Renée L. Thompson is an educator, coach and an advocate for diversity, inclusion & equity. As the former Director of Diversity & Inclusion at OSU Mansfield, Renée promoted diversity as a vehicle for celebrating the campus' diverse, collective histories as the American "Story of Us". Her work in the Governor's Office of Faith-Based Initiatives, national work in community and economic development and her tenure as Assistant Vice President of Training at Chase Manhattan Mortgage all share the common thread of promoting social justice through the ideals of equity and inclusion. Currently, Renée serves as the President and co-founder of Unlimited Potential for Achievement (UPA). UPA leverages diversity as an asset that can yield personal and corporate benefits when developed through training, coaching and team building. Thompson currently resides in Columbus, Ohio with her husband, Bobby. She and her husband love spending time with their family and traveling. Renée's hobbies include reading biographies, writing, baking and enjoying her eclectic music collection.
Becoming a community activist
Eisenhower 217
For nearly twenty years Kay Smith has been working to make her community a better place to live, work, and play. From drug and alcohol, and homelessness prevention programs, to working with young people, Kay has a true passion for improving the quality of life in her neighborhood and beyond. In her role as a Community Organizer at the North End Community Improvement Collaborative (NECIC), Kay is diligently working in partnership with the Mansfield Police Department to reduce the prevalence of violence in Richland County, particularly among young people. Non-violence is a passion of Kay's, and violence has affected her and her family many times. Kay's family has both lost loved ones to gun violence and had family members commit acts of violence. She plans to share her experience, strength, and hope that as a community we are mighty in number, and together change can happen. Kay's primary philosophy is "If the problem is in the community, the solution is in the community".
Kay Smith, Community Organizer at NECIC, is a Mansfield native. Kay is a graduate of Mansfield Senior High and a 2013 graduate of Mount Vernon Nazarene University where she earned a Bachelor of Social Work. She is the founder of Mothers United to S.A.V.E. and held the Standing Against Violence Everywhere rally in the spring of 2016.
Welcomed to the NECIC team in January 2017, Kay works with the ROAR Program, Open Tables, and My Brother's Keeper initiative. She also serves as the community representative for the Mansfield Community Against Violence (M-CAV) Focused Deterrence Program with the Mansfield Police Department.
Dialogue with the keynote
Eisenhower Student Union
Dr. Castle will continue a question and answer dialogue with interested participants.
Woman making career, education and personal choices outside the norm
Conard 239 — Room will change in Session 2
This workshop will focus on career and education paths that woman may not think of within more common majors, as well as majors with few woman representatives. Students will learn creative applications for popular/common majors as well as the excitement and challenges that can be found in pursuing a traditionally non-female career. We will also look at non-traditional approaches to creating a fulfilling life-work balance. This will be a personal and interactive experience for workshop participants.
Adrienne Hopson is an instructor at Ohio State Mansfield, teaching both education and biology courses. Adrienne has a Bachelor of Science in Psychology/Biology for animal behavior and a master's degree in Science Education. She will be completing her Ph.D. in Biology from Kent State University this year. Adrienne has spent the last year as the campus coordinator for the Ohio State Mansfield's learning community, SMART. Previously Adrienne has also worked with campus outreach programs in the local community including "Science Saturdays" and a summer "STEM Camp for Girls".
"Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom." -George Washington Carver
Eisenhower Marketplace
In this session, we will discuss the individual and systemic value of education, specifically as a tool for economic, social, and structural access. Participants will consider the history of access to education, the role of inequity in education, and importance and role of higher education today and in the future.
Krista Scott realized her passion for higher education while serving as an undergraduate ambassador and tour guide at the University of Florida. Even as a student, Krista saw the impact that access to information could have on a student's college search process. From that point, she became committed to supporting students on their journey to their right-fit university. After beginning her career in college admissions at her alma mater, Krista sought additional education to understand the complex systemic and structural realities that supported or impeded college access and success. After completing her M.Ed., Krista took a journey from sunny Florida to Ohio where she served as the Director of Enrollment Services at The Ohio State University at Mansfield. Her time at Mansfield showed the impact of access at work, further shaping her philosophy of education. Today, Krista serves as the Director of Recruitment and Student Engagement for Ohio State's College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. When she's not working, Krista is pursuing her Doctorate in Higher Education and Student Affairs from Ohio State's College of Education and Human Ecology.
12:30 pm - Lunch and networking with mentor/mentees
Eisenhower Marketplace
1:30 pm - Breakout Session 2
Making Your Place at the Table
Conard 200
This workshop invites participants to ask the right questions at the table. To use the language which promotes a positive- self appraisal and true understanding of your human capital. Individuals will have the opportunity to explore their human capital by identifying strengths of knowledge, habits, social and personality attributes which empower individuals to perform labor and produce economic value.
Healthy relationship building as a tool to success
Conard 220
It's amazing how much in this world gets done…or does not get done based upon relationships. In this talk we will explore the importance of building good professional relationships, why so much can depend upon them, and offer some practical tools for you to utilize.
Mindfulness as a tool for emotional success
Conard 120-H (LCC)
Sometimes life can feel so stressful and fast-paced that it's often hard to know what you think or how you feel. This workshop will show how exercising 'mindfulness' is like "gym for the mind" — the more you practice it, the less you'll worry and the more you can focus! Learn 'mindfulness' skills to help you sort out your thoughts and feelings to get you on the path to emotional success!
Becoming a community activist
Eisenhower 217
For nearly twenty years Kay Smith has been working to make her community a better place to live, work, and play. From drug and alcohol, and homelessness prevention programs, to working with young people, Kay has a true passion for improving the quality of life in her neighborhood and beyond. In her role as a Community Organizer at the North End Community Improvement Collaborative (NECIC), Kay is diligently working in partnership with the Mansfield Police Department to reduce the prevalence of violence in Richland County, particularly among young people. Non-violence is a passion of Kay's, and violence has affected her and her family many times. Kay's family has both lost loved ones to gun violence and had family members commit acts of violence. She plans to share her experience, strength, and hope that as a community we are mighty in number, and together change can happen. Kay's primary philosophy is "If the problem is in the community, the solution is in the community".
Dialogue with the keynote
Eisenhower Student Union
Dr. Castle will continue a question and answer dialogue with interested participants.
Woman making career, education and personal choices outside the norm
Conard 212-Note different room for Session 2
This workshop will focus on career and education paths that woman may not think of within more common majors, as well as majors with few woman representatives. Students will learn creative applications for popular/common majors as well as the excitement and challenges that can be found in pursuing a traditionally non-female career. We will also look at non-traditional approaches to creating a fulfilling life-work balance. This will be a personal and interactive experience for workshop participants.
"Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom." -George Washington Carver
Eisenhower Marketplace
In this session, we will discuss the individual and systemic value of education, specifically as a tool for economic, social, and structural access. Participants will consider the history of access to education, the role of inequity in education, and importance and role of higher education today and in the future.
2:30 pm - How can I help you? The College Student Vantage Point
Eisenhower Marketplace
Crystal Weese, Moderator
Crystal Davis Weese is an NCA Center Sales Manager with the Advance America Corporation with a decade of experience working within the intricacies of people management.
College Student Panelists
Alexis Briggs
NyAsia Taylor
Landenazuia Bruce
Kamilah Williams
3:30 pm - Closing comments and evaluation
Eisenhower Marketplace
