Call for Presenters!

The first of its kind in the area, the Overcoming Obstacles Conference will convene over 2,000 ninth grade students from our tri-county area for a day full of inspiration, learning, connection, networking and so much more. We are seeking dynamic presenters to deliver a variety of exciting, helpful and motivational topics to the students. If you are a teacher, a motivational speaker, work with youth on a regular basis and have great tools to share or have a particular interest area or skill set that would be perfect for this age group, we're looking for YOU!

Information on the conference and topics suggestions are below. You can easily submit a proposal for your workshop idea here. 

Deadline for Submissions:
Monday, August 15, 2022 by noon

For questions:
Natalie Zumpano
ICAN’s Director of Community Initiatives
315-801-5706
nzumpano@ican.family

Presented by:

Conference Title

Overcome Obstacles: A Message of Connection, Resilience and Hope 

Event Details

DATE: Tuesday, October 11, 2022
TIME: 8:30am - 1:30pm
LOCATION: SUNY Polytechnic Institute in Marcy, NY
FOR: Over 2,000 area 9th grade students

Overview 

We’re seeking proposals for 60-90 minute interactive workshops as part of a one-day conference centered around fostering connection, building resilience and instilling hope in 9th grade students.

ICAN, in partnership with Utica National Insurance Group, OHM BOCES and local school districts will be hosting the conference. Students will have the opportunity to participate in dynamic workshops that are highly interactive and utilize experiential learning techniques.  

Submission Details

Each proposal should be submitted using this Google Form and please include: 

• Title of workshop
• Workshop description
• How the workshop will be interactive
• Workshop goals
• Trainer bio(s)
• Number of students that can be served during this workshop
• Preferred setting (i.e. outside field, classroom, an open area, etc.)
  
  Please note: workshops/sessions will be 60-90 minutes

Training Topics

(Can include, but are NOT limited to)

• Leadership 
• Communication Skills
• Managing Change 
• Team/ Trust Building 
• Critical Thinking 
• Mental Health
• Improvisation
• Poetry Slam 
• Social and Emotional Learning 
• Self Management 
• Teaching Tolerance 
• Catalyst for Change 
• Building Relationships 
• Responsible Decision Making 

The conference will conclude with two inspirational keynote speakers: