Home2023 MAVA Conference (done)

Mount Zion Temple
St. Paul, MN

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The Minnesota State Fair is known as the Great Minnesota Get-Together, and it's a sensory experience unlike any other! This summer at MAVA's conference, we will channel the fun, the experience, sometimes the oddity, and the togetherness of the state fair.

Join us for two and half days of networking and interactive sessions, including keynote, large-group experiential learning, and breakout sessions, facilitated by national and local leaders in the field.

Keynotes & Large Group Sessions

Opening Keynote: Collective Healing
— Breaking the Cycle of White Supremacy in Volunteerism
Donte Curtis, Owner of Catch Your Dream Consulting

Wednesday, July 19th 9:30-10:30 AM (All sessions in Central Time)

Come one, come all as we kick off the Great Volunteer Engagement Get-Together with Donte Curtis. During this energizing keynote, he will give you food for thought on why DEI needs to be a thing at your organization, just like Sweet Martha's Cookies at the Fair. He will take you on a ride through making your volunteer programs and culture more equitable and just, and invite you to break the cycle of white supremacy in your everyday actions. Finally, he will end with fireworks and celebrate as you continue your anti-racist journey.

Large Group Session: The Human Side of Recruitment
Beth Steinhorn, President of VQ Strategies

Thursday, July 20th 9-11 AM

Recruitment is more than simply posting online ads. Ultimately, successful recruitment comes down to conversations. What does research tell us about what to “do” and how to “be” during these interactions to effectively inspire others to engage with our organizations? Through fun and purposeful activities, this session introduces a framework and skills to enhance your recruitment efforts through meaningful conversations. From tuning in to your prospect’s interests to designing compelling pitches about your organization, participants will leave with new perspectives on recruitment and useful tools to apply immediately.

Idea-A-Whirl
Large Group Networking Activity

Thursday, July 20th 3:30-4:30 PM

The Idea-A-Whirl is a participant-driven idea exchange! Conference participants will have three rounds to engage in different conversations about your most crucial pain points with volunteers. You will share in small groups: What is the problem? What have we tried? What ideas can we come up with? And what support would be helpful? The goal is: Energizing conversations with peers about what matters most to you, and new ideas that leave you feeling grounded and curious, instead of dizzy!

Jennifer Bennett, a young white woman, smiling, wearing a teal shirt.

Closing Session: Take your Blue Ribbon Ideas Home With You!
Jennifer Bennett, Director of Education & Training at VolunteerMatch

Friday, July 21st 10:30 AM - 12 PM

Before we say goodbye, we want to make space to turn our ideas into action. Jennifer Bennett, CVA, will facilitate our closing session and empower us all to channel our conference enthusiasm into next steps. Let's take our blue ribbon ideas home, and consider how we might test and fine-tune them for next year's get-together!

Breakout Descriptions

Virtual-Only Info Facilitator Bios 2023 Conference Schedule

Venue Information

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Thank you to MAVA's 2023 Conference sponsors!

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Keynotes & Large Group Sessions

Opening Keynote: Collective Healing — Breaking the Cycle of White Supremacy in Volunteerism Donte Curtis, Owner of Catch Your Dream Consulting

Large Group Session: The Human Side of Recruitment Beth Steinhorn, President of VQ Strategies

Idea-A-Whirl Large Group Networking Activity

Closing Session: Take your Blue Ribbon Ideas Home With You! Jennifer Bennett, Director of Education & Training at VolunteerMatch