LASTING IMPACT UMADAOP leaders look back on how the state conference has evolved
Building bridges is year’s conference will be held September 28-30 in Cleveland and will feature numerous speakers and workshop sessions on issues related to UMADAOP’s mission. Organizers expect hundreds of guests, including many professionals working outside the UMADAOP umbrella, giving those in attendance a chance to network and make new
connections. UMADAOP leaders say the conference also provides a certain sense of community within the organization that can be hard to nd with o ces spread out across the state of Ohio. ey say the conference gives them a chance to come together to share plans and ideas that could benet the organization as a whole. “Most importantly, it shows the sta at the various UMADAOPs hold on to that information long after the conference ends. “You always get something out of it. ere’s always something that increases your resource kit,” Baker says. “It’s been most helpful from a resource standpoint and a networking standpoint.” “You not only listen to the presenter, but everyone in that room has something that you could take away,”Williams says. “It’s very valuable because you need that to not only motivate you, but also it keeps you on top
what’s happening at the other UMADAOPs,” says Dennis Baker, executive director of the Manseld UMADAOP. “It gives us the opportunity to know each other better.” “It’s uplifting and keeps you motivated because you feel that same energy and that vibe moving across the room of 200 or 300 people,”Williams says.
“I always come back refreshed and motivated and I appreciate what I do.” - Ruth Williams, executive director, Lorain UMADAOP
ow in its 27th year, the annual UMADAOP State Conference has undergone some changes since it rst began in 1990.e rst conference was a little less advanced, and organizers have added more programming and workshop sessions over the years. But those who have attended year after year say one thing has stayed the same: a commitment to enhancing cooperation and understanding among those working to serve communities of color. “It has become the place, annually, where people can come to network with people who share some of your views, who are doing things you can identify with,” says Jessica Horne, executive director of the Cleveland UMADAOP. “I think it’s making a lot of good connections and strides in terms of getting people the information they need to enhance their skills,” says Ruth Williams, executive director of the Lorain UMADAOP. “I always come back refreshed and motivated and I appreciate what I do.”
Continuing education
of your skills and you’re learning the latest trends and you're feeling good.” Organizers hope to continue those good feelings in Cleveland and leave those in attendance with a renewed sense of purpose and drive to continue making a dierence in the community. “Each conference, as far as we’re concerned, gets better and better each year,”Williams says. “We’re just excited and looking forward to the one that’s coming up.”
Each year, the conference features multiple speakers, workshops, and other programming designed to educate UMADAOP employees about new research and trends while furthering understanding of the key issues facing the people of Ohio. e heart of the conference lies in these informational programs, and though they happen only once a year, UMADAOP leaders say they
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