System of Support Conference

Adapting to Change: Building Community Resilience in 2025 & Beyond

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the 2025 conference! Please stay tuned for details about next year's event.

University of Northern Iowa’s College of Social & Behavioral Sciences, School of Health & Human Sciences, Educational Opportunity Center and Center for Urban Education are bringing together UNI & Cedar Valley experts to discuss strategies for strengthening collaboration and building community resilience across the Cedar Valley.

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2025

8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Light breakfast and lunch included!

Hawkeye Community College
Van G Miller Adult Learning Center
MLK Jr. Community Hall
120 Jefferson St, Waterloo, IA 50701

Speakers & Panelists

  • University of Northern Iowa
  • Friends of the Family
  • John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center
  • Lutheran Services in Iowa
  • Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa
  • Otto Schoitz Foundation
  • R.J. McElroy Trust

Cost: $45 per person
Conference is approved for 6 Social Work CEUs


Conference Program


8:00 - 8:30 a.m. | Reception area in front of Room 303

Check in & Browsing Fair

  • Morning refreshments by Panera

  • Organizations will have information and resources available in the Art Gallery behind the Community Hall.


8:30 - 9:30 a.m. | Room 303

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Keynote Presentation: Navigating Change and Cultivating Growth in the Nonprofit Workplace

Ben Brustkern, Executive Director of Friends of the Family
 


9:45 - 10:45 a.m. | Classrooms

Entrepreneurship and Starting your Own Business | Room 205

Focus: What is entrepreneurship, what does it look like, how does it work, how to collaborate, how to connect to resources? 

Patrick Luensmann, Director UNI Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center
 

Navigating Changes in Federal Funding as a Refugee and Immigrant Serving Organization | Room 207

Focus: Impact and response to legislative policies 

Erin Good, Lutheran Services in Iowa Waterloo Service Manager Immigrant and Refugee Community Services
Laura Thako, Lutheran Services in Iowa Statewide Assistant Director of Immigrant & Refugee Services 
 

The Shifting Job Market | Room 211

Focus: Prepare for what’s next if you find yourself having to leave a position you love, processing being laid off/let go, dusting off the resume, best techniques in doing job searches

Matthew Nuese, UNI Career Services
 

Sustainable Work Habits Through Connection: Building a Professional Ecosystem for Resilience and Growth | Room 213

Focus: Creating and nurturing professional connections, professional hubs, collaborations, resource sharing

Kristina Kofoot, UNI Community Engagement 
 

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Classrooms

Breakout Sessions (pick 1)

Entrepreneurship and Starting your Own Business | Room 205

Navigating Changes in Federal Funding as a Refugee and Immigrant Serving Organization | Room 207

The Shifting Job Market | Room 211

Sustainable Work Habits Through Connection: Building a Professional Ecosystem for Resilience and Growth | Room 213
 


12:00 - 1:00 p.m. | Reception area in front of Room 303

Lunch

Provided by Randalls
 


1:00 - 2:00 p.m. | Room 303

Afternoon Panel

Model of Partnership through Foundation/Trust Work in Building Economic Resilience 

Panelists:

  • Kaye Englin, President & CEO of Community Foundation of Northeast Iowa

  • Jim Jermier, President of the UNI Foundation 

  • Cathy Showalter, Executive Director of Otto Schoitz Foundation

  • Megan McKenzie, Executive Director of R.J. McElroy Trust
     


2:15 - 3:15 p.m. | Classrooms

Breakout Sessions (pick 1)

Entrepreneurship and Starting your Own Business | Room 205

Navigating Changes in Federal Funding as a Refugee and Immigrant Serving Organization | Room 207

The Shifting Job Market | Room 211

Sustainable Work Habits Through Connection: Building a Professional Ecosystem for Resilience and Growth | Room 213
 


3:30 - 4:30 p.m. | Classrooms

Breakout Sessions (pick 1)

Entrepreneurship and Starting your Own Business | Room 205

Navigating Changes in Federal Funding as a Refugee and Immigrant Serving Organization | Room 207

The Shifting Job Market | Room 211

Sustainable Work Habits Through Connection: Building a Professional Ecosystem for Resilience and Growth | Room 213
 


4:30 p.m. | Reception area in front of Room 303

SW CEU Sign Out, Certificate of Attendance