Summit Health Institute for Research and Education, Inc. (SHIRE) has demonstrated the critical importance of community engagement in its policy and programmatic efforts to advance health and wellness in the District of Columbia and the nation.

This conference provides a forum for SHIRE, partners and advocates for community engagement to share lessons learned and strategies that work to help impact communities and motivate individuals to take charge of their health. This one-day interactive conference will offer tools that individuals, organizations, corporations, foundations and government agencies can use to engage residents in neighborhoods to create meaningful and sustainable partnerships in their communities to address obesity, hunger and health and wellness.

Goal: 150-200 attendees.

• Date: November 17-18, 2011
• Venue: Kellogg Conference Hotel at Gallaudet University
• Location: Washington, DC

• General Registration – Reception/Conference - $150
• Seniors (65 and over) - $75
• Students (currently enrolled) - $50
  

Reception: Thursday, November 17, 2011

• Time: 5:30 – 7:00 P.M.
• Purpose: Sponsor recognition, acknowledgment of special guests, introduction of SHIRE Board of Directors and networking among conference participants

• Welcoming Remarks - SHIRE President
• Introductions and Acknowledgements
• Entertainment by Jazz Artist "Natii"
• Setting - Food stations with light refreshments, cash bar

Conference: Friday, November 18, 2011

• Time: 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.
• 7:30 A.M. – 8:30 A.M. - Continental Breakfast
• 8:30 A.M. – 9:30 A.M. - Opening Plenary

• Welcome, Conference Purpose and Introduction of President of SHIRE – Ruth Perot, Executive Director/CEO, SHIRE
• SHIRE Overview and Introduction of the Mayor of Washington DC– Dr. Russell J. Davis, President, SHIRE
• Greetingsfrom DC Mayor Vincent Gray (Invitation pending)
• Keynote Speaker– Dr. Mohammad Akhter, Director, DC Department of Health

• 9:30 A.M. – 10:30 A.M. – Plenary Session Roundtable

• Key Steps to Community Engagement – SHIRE and partners

• Gathering community information
• Who’s who in the community – identifying, listening and dialoguing
• Reaching out and sharing information
• Approaching respected voices and prospective partners
• Pinpointing opportunities for collective activities and projects
• Taking action together
• Systematic feedback and reporting
• Celebrating successes

• 10:30 A.M. to 10:45 A.M. - Break
• 10:45 A.M to 12 Noon – Community Engagement Sessions

These sessions will present broad themes related to community engagement. Presenters will draw on real-life experiences and will offer concrete examples of strategies that work. Conference attendance will have the opportunity to participate in one of the three sessions.

• Session #1 – Leveraging Collaborative Networks and Partnerships To Build Community Engagement and Vice Versa

• How community engagement supports networking
• Basic principles – “step out of silos and leave egos at the door” in order to agree on a common purpose, mission and goals
• Establish ground rules – who coordinates, shared resources, continuing feedback to and engagement with communities/constituents represented
• Identifying and overcoming challenges
• Requirements for effective multicultural partnerships
• Advocacy – from the neighborhood to the community level
• Q & A

• Session #2 – Policies that Support or Impact Community Engagement

• What are policies and why do they matter?
• Key policies on the local scene
• When do policies do harm to community engagement?
• Patient Protection and Accountable Care Act – opportunities and challenges
• Sustaining community engagement and empowering communities over time – what’s available/what’s needed?
• Q & A

• Session #3 – Why does the Private Sector Support Community Engagement? How is ROI measured? (Corporations, Foundations and Unions)

• Why is the private sector interested in community engagement?
• How can communities engage with the private sector?
• What are the benefits of community/private sector partnerships?
• How does the private evaluate partnerships?
• Q & A

• 12:15 P.M. to 1:30 P.M. Lunch

• Welcome
• Lunch
• Presentation of SHIRE Community Champion Awards by members of SHIRE Board of Directors

• Awards will be presented to six individuals who have demonstrated a personal commitment to community engagement in non-profit/community, foundation, corporate, government and media sectors.

• Luncheon presentation: The Role of the Media in Fostering Community Engagement

• 1:45 P.M. - 4:15 P.M. Interactive Skill- Building Workshops

Neighborhood residents and other experts/resource persons will participate in workshops and share their community engagement experiences. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to interact with presenters in all workshops.

• 1:45 P.M. – 2:45 P.M.

• Workshop #1 – How to Engage Adults
• Workshop #2 – How to Engage Children and Youth
• Workshop #3 - Effective Tools for Engagement and Health Empowerment through Wellness and Sister Circles

• 2:45 – 3:00 P.M. – Break

• 3:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.

• Workshop #4 – Engaging Communities to Create Jobs and Community Economic Impact
• Workshop #5 – Neighborhoods Residing Guiding, Not Just Participating in Community Research
• Workshop #6 – Informing and Engaging Health Professionals and Consumers about Health Information Technology
• Workshop #7– How to Utilize Social Media and Technology to Drive and Foster Community Engagement

• 4:15 P.M. -4:30 P.M. Closing Plenary Session

• Highlights on the day summarized
• Present certificates and videotape interviews for YouTube
• Announce raffle winners
• Collect conference assessments
• Closing remarks

Parking: The Kellogg Conference Center provides complimentary parking on the Gallaudet University campus. Entrance to the parking lot is located at the intersection of Florida Avenue and 6th Street NE.

To Download and Print Parking Pass: Click Here (PDF)

Having trouble downloading your parking pass? Copy this and paste this link in to your browser: http://www.shireinc.org/building_community_engagement_conference/SHIRE.Gallaudet.Parking.Pass.pdf

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Metro: Full shuttle service is available from the Red Line between New York Ave-Florida Ave-Gallaudet U Metro (M Street Exit), Union Station (1st Street Exit), and the Kellogg Conference Center. Schedule and shuttle passes will soon be available at www.shireinc.org If you plan to use the shuttle, please bring your printed pass with you on November 17th and November 18, 2011.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Hotel:

The Courtyard Marriott Washington DC/US Capital
1325 2ND Street NE
Washington DC 20002
202.898.4000 reservations
Rate: $179 weekday $109 on Friday and Saturday

View Press Release:
D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray to Speak at Groundbreaking Conference on
Engaging and Empowering Underserved Residents (PDF)

Having trouble downloading the press release? Copy this and paste this link in to your browser: http://www.shireinc.org/building_community_engagement_conference/SHIRE.press.release.pdf

This link requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. To download Acrobat Reader: Click Here