BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Social Current - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://www.social-current.org X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Social Current REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20240310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20241103T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251103T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251103T140000 DTSTAMP:20260410T195135 CREATED:20251028T211017Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251028T211102Z UID:10000537-1762174800-1762178400@www.social-current.org SUMMARY:Millions at Risk: Understanding the Shutdown’s Impact on Children\, Families\, and Human Services DESCRIPTION:Register Now \n \n The federal government shutdown is creating immediate and escalating risks for essential human services. Programs like WIC\, SNAP\, and Head Start are operating on limited or contingency funding and face rapid disruption as reserves run out. Nonprofits are already experiencing funding freezes\, delayed reimbursements\, stalled grants\, and increased demand—all while operating without clear guidance from federal agencies. \nThis briefing will outline the current shutdown landscape\, its impacts on nutrition and early childhood programs\, and what community-based organizations should expect in the coming weeks. We will also cover practical and urgent advocacy steps organizations and individuals can take to protect children\, families\, and the social sector workforce. \nTakeaways\n\nHow the federal shutdown is impacting WIC\, SNAP\, Head Start\, and related human service programs\, including funding timelines\, operational risks\, and state-level variations\nThe real-world consequences for nonprofits and communities\, such as reimbursement delays\, suspended grants\, increased demand\, and workforce strain\nKey messages and advocacy strategies to mobilize communities\, communicate with policymakers\, and elevate front-line experiences\nHow to take action quickly\, including through direct outreach to Congress\, coalition engagement\, and mobilizing local voices to protect critical services\n\nWho Should Attend\n\nLeadership\, policy\, and advocacy staff from community-based organizations\nExecutives and program directors overseeing WIC\, SNAP\, food security\, housing\, child welfare\, or early childhood services\nCommunications and public policy professionals responsible for advocacy or mobilization\nFront-line staff interested in how the shutdown affects program operations and families\nCoalition partners and stakeholders supporting safety-net services\n\n \n\n \n\n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Blair Abelle-Kiser\, PhD\n \n Senior Director of Government Affairs\nSocial Current \n \n Biography\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Blair Abelle-Kiser\, PhD\n Senior Director of Government Affairs\nSocial Current \n \n Blair Kiser\, Ph.D.\, joined Social Current in 2022 after working in health policy on Capitol Hill\, the non-profit sector\, and as a biomedical researcher. Most recently\, Blair served as Director of Government Relations & Advocacy for NephCure Kidney International. \nDuring their time in public service\, they served as a Professional Staff Member of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis. They led a corporate investigation regarding insider trading and financial improprieties\, conflicts of interest associated with Operation Warp Speed’s leadership\, and scientific information politicization. Prior to joining the Select Subcommittee\, they worked for Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH)\, where they served as a Health Policy Fellow. In Senator Brown’s office\, they led a range of legislative and oversight efforts involving public health and healthcare. During the COVID-19 pandemic\, they worked with several community hospice advocacy organizations and a Republican office to help craft the bipartisan COVID-19 Hospice Respite Care Relief Act of 2020. \nPrior to public service\, Blair spent several years as a medical research scientist on several industry and NIH-funded projects. Their work focused on developing research projects and clinical trials to improve the lives of African Americans with Sickle Cell Disease. They earned a doctorate in Biomedical Science from Morehouse School of Medicine in 2017 and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Kentucky in 2011. URL:https://www.social-current.org/event/millions-at-risk-understanding-the-shutdowns-impact-on-children-families-and-human-services/ CATEGORIES:Policy ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.social-current.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Policy-Advocacy_1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251104T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251105T150000 DTSTAMP:20260410T195135 CREATED:20250922T205217Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251022T204630Z UID:10000529-1762257600-1762354800@www.social-current.org SUMMARY:Lessons From Within Our Reach: A Cross-Sector Conversation on Child and Family Well-Being DESCRIPTION:Register Now \n \n This virtual convening is: \n\nTuesday\, Nov. 4 from noon-3 p.m. ET\nWednesday\, Nov. 5 from noon-3 p.m. ET\n\nJoin us for a powerful\, cross-sector conversation rooted in the latest lessons from the Within Our Reach report on preventing child maltreatment fatalities from maltreatment. \nOver two half days\, this interactive virtual convening will bring together professionals from pediatric care\, juvenile justice\, child welfare\, law enforcement\, education\, and community-based organizations to reflect on what’s working—and what must change—to create systems that are responsive\, equitable\, and family-centered. These leaders and lived experts reflect the truth that family wellness is not the responsibility of one system alone—it is a shared\, community-wide commitment that calls for aligned action\, empathy\, and investment across many touchpoints in a family’s life. \nWith a focus also on building a shared safety culture\, we will explore how systems can shift their thinking and action to proactively support families before a crisis occurs. Participants will explore how policy change\, lived experience\, and community-driven strategies can prevent child harm\, reduce family barriers to wellness\, and build trust across sectors. \nTakeaways\n\nBuild a Shared Safety Culture: Learn how integrating safety-focused mindsets within and across agencies—alongside staff wellness—can reduce system-driven trauma and better support family resilience.\nExpand the Definition of Family: Examine how elevating the lived voices of fathers\, grandparents\, kin caregivers\, and youth leads to policies and practices that reflect real-life caregiving networks.\nStrengthen Cross-Sector Collaboration: Gain concrete tools for breaking down silos and strengthening interagency partnerships to better coordinate supports for families\, especially in moments of vulnerability.\nAdvance Equity Through Policy & Practice: Explore key policy strategies\, such as reducing family financial burdens and embedding protective factors in service delivery\, that help stabilize and empower families.\nTranslate Report Lessons into Local Action: Leave with actionable ideas\, data-informed decision-making\, and equity-aligned investments that can be applied at the local\, state\, or system level.\n\nPresenters\nTuesday\, Nov. 4 \n\nRomero Davis\, senior director of practice excellence\, Social Current\nKelly Martin\, director of practice excellence\, Social Current\nKimberly Heard\, senior program manager of practice excellence\, Social Current\nJody Levison-Johnson\, PhD\, president and CEO\, Social Current\nMichael Cull\, PhD\, associate director\, Center for Innovation in Population Health and associate professor\, Department of Health Management and Policy\, University of Kentucky\nKaren Johnson\, senior director of Change in Mind\, Social Current\nKara Georgi\, MSEd\, lead senior associate of parent partnerships\, Children’s Trust Fund Alliance\nRegina Dyton\, MSW\, consultant\, R.S. Dyton Associates\nParent and community voices\n\nWednesday\, Nov. 5 \n\nChurmell Michell\, creator of Emotions You Know\, and founder\, A Father’s Voice Matters\nBlair Abelle-Kiser\, senior director of government affairs at Social Current\nScott Allen\, executive director of community engagement\, Cordata Healthcare Innovations\, Inc.\, and criminal justice senior adjunct instructor\, Curry College\nRachael J. Keefe\, MD\, MPH\, FAAP\, associate professor of pediatrics\, Baylor College of Medicine\nParent partners (Birth Parent National Network)\n\nWho Should Attend\n\nEducators and school support staff\nPediatric and behavioral health providers\nLaw enforcement and public safety professionals\nJuvenile justice\, child welfare\, and youth-serving agencies\nPolicymakers\, funders\, and system leaders\nCommunity-based organizations and advocates URL:https://www.social-current.org/event/lessons-from-within-our-reach-a-cross-sector-conversation-on-child-and-family-well-being/ CATEGORIES:Child and Family Well-Being ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.social-current.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/father-daughter.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251113T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251113T140000 DTSTAMP:20260410T195135 CREATED:20251009T211013Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251016T183150Z UID:10000531-1763038800-1763042400@www.social-current.org SUMMARY:Delivering Impactful Advocacy Initiatives within Congress   DESCRIPTION:Register \n \n Effective messaging is essential for leading successful advocacy campaigns. Social Current’s November Grassroots Advocacy Network convening will discuss opportunities to tailor language and message framing to the unique priorities and concerns representatives have for their districts.    \nOur interactive session will focus on considerations to amplify your reach by leading impactful advocacy initiatives within Congress\, especially through strategic timing\, opportunities to broaden your outreach\, and approaches to deliver targeted\, effective policy requests.     \nHuman and social services professionals are invited to join Social Current’s monthly Grassroots Advocacy Network Convening. Join the grassroots advocacy network online.   \nSocial Current’s grassroots advocacy network is a rapid-response team for urgent policy and legislative issues that offers opportunities to exchange ideas\, share solutions\, and build lasting connections across the sector. By joining\, you’ll receive alerts\, advocacy opportunities\, and access to workshops and training to sharpen your strategies and tools.   \nTakeaways\n\nIncrease confidence in developing and delivering a clear\, actionable policy ask\nPrepare to diversify messages according to your audience’s unique priorities and concerns\nReview opportunities to strategically time your outreach\n\nWho Should Attend\n\nMembers of the Social Current Grassroots Advocacy Network: Join online\nExecutive Directors and Senior Management: Leaders responsible for setting organizational strategy and engaging with policymakers and stakeholders\nAdvocacy and Policy Directors: Individuals who develop and implement advocacy strategies and engage in policy analysis and outreach\nCommunications and Public Relations Managers: Professionals focused on crafting and disseminating the organization’s message to the public and media\nProgram Managers and Coordinators: Staff who oversee program implementation and need to align program goals with advocacy efforts\n\n \n\n \n\n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Blair Abelle-Kiser\, PhD\n \n Senior Director of Government Affairs\nSocial Current \n \n Biography\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Blair Abelle-Kiser\, PhD\n Senior Director of Government Affairs\nSocial Current \n \n Blair Kiser\, Ph.D.\, joined Social Current in 2022 after working in health policy on Capitol Hill\, the non-profit sector\, and as a biomedical researcher. Most recently\, Blair served as Director of Government Relations & Advocacy for NephCure Kidney International. \nDuring their time in public service\, they served as a Professional Staff Member of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis. They led a corporate investigation regarding insider trading and financial improprieties\, conflicts of interest associated with Operation Warp Speed’s leadership\, and scientific information politicization. Prior to joining the Select Subcommittee\, they worked for Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH)\, where they served as a Health Policy Fellow. In Senator Brown’s office\, they led a range of legislative and oversight efforts involving public health and healthcare. During the COVID-19 pandemic\, they worked with several community hospice advocacy organizations and a Republican office to help craft the bipartisan COVID-19 Hospice Respite Care Relief Act of 2020. \nPrior to public service\, Blair spent several years as a medical research scientist on several industry and NIH-funded projects. Their work focused on developing research projects and clinical trials to improve the lives of African Americans with Sickle Cell Disease. They earned a doctorate in Biomedical Science from Morehouse School of Medicine in 2017 and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Kentucky in 2011. URL:https://www.social-current.org/event/delivering-impactful-advocacy-initiatives-within-congress/ CATEGORIES:Policy ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.social-current.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Policy-Advocacy_4.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251113T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251113T151500 DTSTAMP:20260410T195135 CREATED:20251008T181205Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251014T141001Z UID:10000530-1763042400-1763046900@www.social-current.org SUMMARY:Creating Brain-Friendly Environments: The Key to a Strong Workforce DESCRIPTION:Register Now \n \n Recent reports from the National Council of Nonprofits and the Center for an Urban Future highlight the scale of the human services staffing crisis. A significant portion of nonprofits report job vacancies\, with some estimates as high as 74.6%. This is fueled by high levels of stress and burnout—over half of respondents cited it as a key contributing factor. As leaders\, what can we do about this? \nJoin Social Current’s experts in brain science and trauma-informed approaches for this free webinar that will offer insight into this pressing question. We will focus on how to move beyond top-down\, employee recognition and self-care initiatives to authentically partner with staff to improve engagement\, equity\, communication\, resilience\, and retention. This requires empathy\, connection\, inclusivity\, mindfulness\, and gratitude from us as leaders. \nWhile this is a lot to prioritize\, the good news is there is a simple\, foundational framework that underpins all these topics—our brain and stress response system. Understanding this is the key to creating brain-friendly work environments. \nThis session will explore concepts and strategies for aligning workplace environments with how the brain thrives. By embracing this orientation\, organizations can cultivate a culture where employees can more easily plan\, adapt\, and innovate—increasing both personal and organizational success. \nTakeaways\n\nFoundational brain science concepts and how they can be applied to human services workplaces\nPractical\, research-backed strategies to foster executive functioning\, psychological safety\, and self-regulation\nGuidance for setting healthy expectations that promote adaptability\, collaboration\, and well-being\n\nWho Should Participate\nSocial Current is excited to invite all Network Champion members\, as well as anyone interested in this topic. \n \n\n \n\n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n Presenters\n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Karen Johnson\n \n Senior Director of Change in Mind\nSocial Current \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Kelly Martin\n \n Director of Practice Excellence\nSocial Current URL:https://www.social-current.org/event/creating-brain-friendly-environments-the-key-to-a-strong-workforce/ CATEGORIES:Webinar,Brain Science,Workforce Resilience ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.social-current.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Workforce-Resilience_1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251118T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251118T143000 DTSTAMP:20260410T195135 CREATED:20250822T194528Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250825T151020Z UID:10000521-1763470800-1763476200@www.social-current.org SUMMARY:Framing Messages That Break Through   DESCRIPTION:Register \n \n Effective advocacy campaigns require successful messaging. This webinar will support participants in crafting values-based messages that connect across ideological divides and resonate with diverse viewpoints. Through an interactive exercise\, participants will collaboratively develop language that captures attention\, builds bridges\, and motivates action.    \nTakeaways\n\nDevelop a messaging framework that resonates across diverse audiences\nTechniques to leverage values-based communication\nHow to tailor messages to an audience’s concerns\n\nWho Should Attend\n\nMembers of the Social Current Grassroots Advocacy Network: Join online\nExecutive Directors and Senior Management: Leaders responsible for setting organizational strategy and engaging with policymakers and stakeholders\nAdvocacy and Policy Directors: Individuals who develop and implement advocacy strategies and engage in policy analysis and outreach\nCommunications and Public Relations Managers: Professionals focused on crafting and disseminating the organization’s message to the public and media\nProgram Managers and Coordinators: Staff who oversee program implementation and need to align program goals with advocacy efforts\n\n \n\n \n\n \n \n \n\n\n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Blair Abelle-Kiser\, PhD\n \n Senior Director of Government Affairs\nSocial Current \n \n Biography\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Blair Abelle-Kiser\, PhD\n Senior Director of Government Affairs\nSocial Current \n \n Blair Kiser\, Ph.D.\, joined Social Current in 2022 after working in health policy on Capitol Hill\, the non-profit sector\, and as a biomedical researcher. Most recently\, Blair served as Director of Government Relations & Advocacy for NephCure Kidney International. \nDuring their time in public service\, they served as a Professional Staff Member of the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis. They led a corporate investigation regarding insider trading and financial improprieties\, conflicts of interest associated with Operation Warp Speed’s leadership\, and scientific information politicization. Prior to joining the Select Subcommittee\, they worked for Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH)\, where they served as a Health Policy Fellow. In Senator Brown’s office\, they led a range of legislative and oversight efforts involving public health and healthcare. During the COVID-19 pandemic\, they worked with several community hospice advocacy organizations and a Republican office to help craft the bipartisan COVID-19 Hospice Respite Care Relief Act of 2020. \nPrior to public service\, Blair spent several years as a medical research scientist on several industry and NIH-funded projects. Their work focused on developing research projects and clinical trials to improve the lives of African Americans with Sickle Cell Disease. They earned a doctorate in Biomedical Science from Morehouse School of Medicine in 2017 and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Kentucky in 2011. URL:https://www.social-current.org/event/framing-messages-that-break-through/ CATEGORIES:Policy ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://www.social-current.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Policy-Advocacy_4.png END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR