Program
2024 Conference Sessions
Select the session topics below to view a summary of each session, its panel of speakers, and the speakers’ bios.
This list is frequently updated and subject to change (Last updated 02/25/2024).
Opening Session
Moderators
- Tyler Nottberg, CEO – US Engineering
- David Oliver, Co-Founder– PLX Corp
Panelists
- Hayat Abdullahi, Director of Community Impact – Health Forward Foundation
- C. Mauli Agrawal, Ph.D., Chancellor – UMKC
- Torree Pederson, President/CEO – Aligned
- Dr. Dred Scott, President – The Civic Council of Greater Kansas City
- Dr. Shayla Sullivant, MD, Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist Specialist – Children’s Mercy Hospital
Mental Health Matters
Moderator
- Adriana Pecina, Impact Strategist – Health Forward Foundation
Panelists
- Chad Anderson, Chief Clinical Officer – KVC Health Systems
- Jennifer Lundgren, Provost and Professor of Psychology – UMKC
- Mark Miller, Behavioral Health Leadership Consultant – Swope Health
Sparking an Empowered Workforce
Moderator
- Dr. Leigh Ann Taylor Knight, Executive Director & COO – The DeBruce Foundation
Panelists
- Bennet G. Boggs, Ph.D., Commissioner – Missouri Department of Higher Education & Workforce Development
- Phyllis Hardwick, Executive Director – Community Capital Fund
- Jeanette Prenger, CEO – ECCO Select
Transforming Foster Care
Moderator
- Denise Cross, Chief Strategy Officer – Missouri Coalition for Children
Panelists
- Mary Chant, CEO – Missouri Coalition for Children
- Weston Gallo, Foster Care Youth Advocate – FosterClub
- Merideth Rose, President & CEO – Cornerstones of Care
Hidden Factors for Healthy Outcomes
Moderator
- Jamila Weaver RN, BSN, MPA, Chief Operating Officer – MVPKC.org
Panelists
- Dick Flanigan, CEO – Digital Health KC
- Andrea Perdomo-Morales, LSCSW, LCSW, Chief Health Equity Officer – Vibrant Health
- John Yost, PharmD, Co-Founder and Board Chair – Pharmacy of Grace
Mattie Rhodes Center: Success Stories in Community Collaboration
Moderator
- Edgar J. Palacios, Founder – Latinx Education Collaborative / Revolución Educativa
Panelists
- Dr. Marvia Jones Ph.D., Director – KCMO Health Department
- John Fierro, President & CEO – Mattie Rhodes Center
- Theresa Reyes Cummings, Deputy Director – Community Mental Health Fund
Rise of Women Entrepreneurs
Moderator
- Kirsten Brown Persley, CEO – Persley Advisors
Panelists
- Dr. Brandy Archie, OTR/L, CLIPP, CEO and Founder – AskSAMIE and AccessAble Living
- Vanessa Jupe, CEO and Founder – Leva
- Maria Meyers, Executive Director – UMKC Innovation Center
Early Care and Education: Successes and Opportunities
Moderator
- Jocelyn Mourning, VP of Advancement – The Family Conservancy
Panelists
- Robin Bub, Total Rewards Director – Burns & McDonnell
- Andrew Davis, 8th District Commissioner – Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas
- Toni Sturdivant, Ph.D., Director Early Learning – Mid-America Regional Council
Healthy Food, Healthy Lives
Moderator
- Max Kaniger, Founder and CEO – Kanbe’s Markets
Panelists
- Jessica Kejr, Director of Programs and Food+ – Harvesters, The Community Food Network
- Donna Field Martin, Project Director – Food Bucks, KC Fresh Rx – MARC
- Janet Rhone, Community Health and Career Outreach Manager – University Health
Culturally Intelligent Healthcare
Moderator
- Carmen Parker-Bradshaw, Divisional Vice President, Behavioral Health, Community Health, and Quality & Accreditation – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City
Panelists
- Dan Cranshaw, JD, Executive Director – Kansas City Health Collaborative
- Dr. Tiffany Gladdis, Perinatal/Neonatal Psychologist – Children’s Mercy Hospital
- Dr. Naiomi Jamal, Chief Health Officer – Swope Health
closing session—draw your future
Patti Dobrowolski, CEO – Up Your Creative Genius
Draw Your Future with Agilities is a high energy, interactive drawing and visioning experience that will provide a powerful conclusion to C3KC. Patti Dobrowolski, of Up Your Creative Genius, will lead this dynamic session that challenges us individually and collectively to keep the courageous conversations going that can make Kansas City stronger. Patti is a change activator and graphic illustrator who will engage the audience and bring to life in words and pictures the issues we face as well as promising practices to lead us forward.
Patti actively partners with The DeBruce Foundation to incorporate the Agilities skills framework into Draw Your Future. Agilities define the work skills that can help us achieve collective and individual goals. Prior to the session, you are highly encourage to take the Agile Work Profiler to reflect on your own strengths and interests (Agilities) and consider how you can leverage them during and after the conference.
Conference Schedule
2024 Conference Schedule
Subject to change
7:45 am – Registration
8:30 am – Welcome & Opening Panel
9:40am – Breakout Sessions
- Sparking an Empowered Workforce
- Transforming Foster Care
- Mattie Rhodes Center: Success Stories in Community Collaboration
10:45 am – Breakout Sessions
- Culturally Intelligent Healthcare
- Early Care and Education: Successes and Opportunities
- Hidden Factors of Successful Health Outcomes
11:50 am – Lunch
- Branton/Hall Community Collaborator Award Presentation – Maurice Alvin Watson
- Keynote Presentation – Gretchen Rubin
1:10 pm – Breakout Sessions
- Mental Health Matters
- Rise of Women Entrepreneurs
- Healthy Food, Healthy Lives
2:15 pm – Closing Panel & Remarks
3:15 pm – Networking