System of Support Conference

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.

2025 THEME
Adapting to Change: Building Community Resilience in 2025 & Beyond

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

Online registration for the conference has now closed. Please contact Jenny Becker at jennifer.becker@uni.edu or 319-273-7881 if you are interested in attending the conference.

SOS Conference


Program

TimeActivity/SessionRoom

8:00 - 8:30 a.m.

Check in & Browsing Fair

Morning Refreshments 

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

Reception area in front of Room 303

8:30 - 9:30 a.m.

Welcome & Open Remarks 

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

Ben Brustkern, Executive Director of Friends of the Family
 

Room 303

9:45 - 10:45 a.m.

Breakout Sessions (pick 1)

Entrepreneurship - Room 205

Patrick Luensmann, Director UNI Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center
 

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

Immigrants & Refugees - Room 207

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 
 

Focus: Impact and response to legislative policies 
 

What’s Next? - Room 211

Matthew Nuese, UNI Career Services
 

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
 

Professional Collaborations - Room 213

Kristina Kofoot, UNI Community Engagement
 

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

Classrooms

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

Breakout Sessions (pick 1)

  • Entrepreneurship - Room 205

  • Immigrants & Refugees - Room 207

  • What’s Next? - Room 211

  • Professional Collaborations - Room 213

Classrooms

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Lunch

Provided by Randalls

Reception area in front of Room 303

1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

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
     

Room 303

2:15 - 3:15 p.m.

Breakout Sessions (pick 1)

  • Entrepreneurship - Room 205

  • Immigrants & Refugees - Room 207

  • What’s Next? - Room 211

  • Professional Collaborations - Room 213

Classrooms

3:30 - 4:30 p.m.

Breakout Sessions (pick 1)

  • Entrepreneurship - Room 205

  • Immigrants & Refugees - Room 207

  • What’s Next? - Room 211

  • Professional Collaborations - Room 213

Classrooms

4:30 p.m.

SW CEU sign out

Certificate of attendance

Reception area in front of Room 303