Pick-ups & drop-offs every 30 min starting at 2 p.m.
Tour of nearby Lotus Village, the largest women’s shelter in the country providing trauma informed, evidence based, wrap around support services, including in-take sanctuary, children’s wellness center, education center, culinary center, hydroponic farm, healing hands salon, art and activities lab, yoga center, gardens, and supportive residential programs.
Ballroom at the Doubletree Hilton Hotel, Biscayne Bay
Welcome & Thank You’s
Speakers – Grettel Jiménez — Singer, Director — NWSN; Constance Collins, Executive Director —
NWSN; Isabella Dell’Oca, Executive Director — Lotus House; Julie Grimes — DoubleTree Hilton Hotel
Volunteer Instructor, April Buchwald
Welcome & Thank You’s / Video: Grettel Jiménez – Singer, Director – NWSN, NWSN/Directory Launch (Neha Gajwani, Volunteer Research Associate), Ms. of Ceremonies: Jatericka Lamons, Lotus House Women’s Shelter Program Coordinator and Alumna
Caroline Bettinger-López, Senior Advisor on Gender & Equality — U.S. Department of Justice
Caroline Bettinger-López, Senior Advisor on Gender & Equality — U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Victims of Crime
Caroline Bettinger-López is Senior Advisor on Gender and Equality at the U.S. Department of Justice, Office for Victims of Crime, where she has helped to lead the development of the first-ever U.S. National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence. Professor Bettinger-López engages in advocacy before domestic and international law and policy forums to address gender-based violence, racial justice, and immigrants’ rights. She has taught at University of Chicago School of Law and Columbia Law School; and was a Skadden Fellow at the ACLU Women’s Rights Project and federal law clerk. She is a Commissioner on the Lancet Commission on Gender-Based Violence and Maltreatment of Young People.
Evidence based, best practices for shelter in-take, operations, programming and supports, education, resources, and post-exit follow-up addressing the gender specific needs of women and their children for effective solutions to end and prevent homelessness.
Emily Sepulveda Wheeland, Chief Executive Officer — The Delores Project; Kimberly Livsey, Chief Program Officer — Atlanta Rescue Mission; Jennifer Hanlon Wigon, Executive Director — Women’s Lunch Place; Alexis Steel, President — St. Mary’s Center for Women & Children; Stephanie Padro, Deputy Director of Clinical Programs — Lotus House Women’s Shelter; Jatericka Lamons, Alumna & Lotus Village Voices Podcast Host — Lotus House Women’s Shelter
Walk the Walk – Basic principles and models for equity, inclusivity, diversity and peer leadership, management and mentorship in women’s shelters and programs. The why’s and how’s of building an effective team of program alumni and diverse and inclusive teams and giving voice to those with lived experience at all levels of your organization, from the Board participation to day to day operations, management, supervision and leadership of operations, programs and facilities.
Panelists: Isabella Dell’Oca, Executive Director and Directors: Georgette Madison, Alumna & Guest Services Director & Purchasing Manager & Sharonee Delevante, Alumna & Director of Operations — Lotus House Women’s Shelter; Emily Sepulveda Wheeland, Chief Executive Officer — The Delores Project; Allison Blakeney, Assistant Shelter Manager — The Delores Project; Teresa Sanders, Chief Program Officer — YWCA Greater Cleveland; Nicole Brooks, Special Assistant to the President & CEO — N Street Village
Gloria Estefan is a Cuban-American singer, songwriter,actress, and businesswoman. Estefan is an eight-time Grammy Award winner, a Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient, and has been named one of the Top 100 greatest artists of all time by both VH1 and Billboard.
Moderator: Christina Kolbjornsen, SVP, Corporate & External Affairs NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises. Award-winning seasoned corporate affairs executive with nearly three decades of experience leading integrated marketing, communications, multicultural marketing and communications, executive and corporate communications, and public affairs.
Simple Ways to Create a Welcoming Sanctuary – Basic principles and models for trauma formed, truly accessible, welcoming and efficient design and spaces, even (always!) on a limited budget. Features to promote accessibility for those with special strengths and needs and a cleaner, safer, healthier environment.
Panelists: Katy Roth, Deputy Director of Operations and Compliance — Lotus House Women’s Shelter; Laura Rossbert, COO and Supporting Housing Specialist — Shopworks Architecture, Video Contributor; Carey Dougherty, Chief Development Officer — Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa; Kimberly Livsey, Chief Program Officer — Atlanta Rescue Mission, Emily Sepulveda Wheeland, Chief Executive Officer — The Delores Project
Understanding the trauma histories of women experiencing homelessness and the need to provide holistic health and wellness supports and enriched programming to heal, advance whole health and wellness, empower and uplift women and their children. Plus, breaking down barriers to achieving financial stability and long term housing success through financial literacy, educational opportunities, job readiness training and employment assistance, and legal and social services and supports to secure and maintain needed benefits. We know there are systemic challenges and barriers to success, e.g., the absence of adequate truly affordable housing and permanent supportive housing; insufficient rental subsidies; rental subsidies that terminate before long term stability is achieved, to name a few. Here we discuss proven strategies to help program participants successfully exit the shelter system, achieve financial stability and break the cycle.
Panelists: Stephanie Padro, Deputy Director of Clinical Programs — Lotus House Women’s Shelter; Laura Klinefelter, Director of Intake and Victim Services — Lotus House Women’s Shelter; Monica Vigues Pitan, Executive Director — Legal Services of Greater Miami; Olga Golik, Privacy Officer & In-House Counsel — Citrus Health Network; Jennifer Watkins, Vice President, Emergency Shelters & Housing Problem Solving — Crossroads Rhode Island; Ashley Rogers, Director of Family and
Domestic Violence Shelter Services — Crossroads Rhode Island; Shakoya Green Long, Executive Director — Thomas House Family Shelter; Heather Hilligoss, Program Director — Rose Haven
Panelists: Dr. Shana Cox, Deputy Director of Children’s Services — Lotus House Women’s Shelter; Alexis Steel, President — St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children; Shakoya Green Long, Executive Director — Thomas House Family Shelter; Saliha Nelson, Chief Executive Officer — URGENT, Inc.; Geneva Comeau, Program Director — Lotus House Women’s Shelter
Understanding the trauma histories of women experiencing homelessness and the need to provide safety plans, resource guides, post-exit case management, financial supports, supportive housing and other models for long term success with effective post-exit follow up strategies.
Panelists: Patricia Bosman, Executive Director — The Haven of Grace; Carey Dougherty, Chief Development Officer — Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa Rosa; Nicole Carnero, Clinical Director of the Families Program, Lotus House Women’s Shelter; Amy Turk, CEO, Downtown Women’s Center; Sandra Newson, Vice President Resident Services — CarrFour Supportive Housing
The need for early, universal assessments for all children and providing evidence-based therapeutic interventions to heal, support and strengthen children, youth and families. Basic principles and models to provide effective therapeutic support for children and families. How you can transform shelter into a window of opportunity and break the cycle.
Panelists: Dr. Paulo Graziano, Professor of Psychology, Center for Children and Families — Florida International University; Dr. Shana Cox, Deputy Director of Children’s Services — Lotus House Women’s Shelter; Muriel Ayala, Director of Children’s Services — Lotus House Women’s Shelters
Christine King, City of Miami Commission Chairwoman. Born in Guayana, she is the first woman to be named Chair in the history of the City of Miami’s Commission. Miami is the core of a metropolitan district with 6.4 Million people, 4th largest metropolitan district in the Southeast and 9th largest in the United States.
The son of Cuban American immigrants, he is serving as the 43rd Mayor of Miami, he has worked to build a Miami that serves as a beacon of freedom, opportunity, and responsibility across America.
*Dress is casual and swimsuits welcome.
Volunteer Instructor, April Buchwald
Preliminary NWSN Gaps & Needs Report and Policy Agenda: Gabriela Saenz, Research, Policy and Public Education Director — Lotus House Women’s Shelter
NWSN Directory Launch: Neha Gajwani, Volunteer Research Associate — NWSN
Panelists: Beatrice Gonzalez, Director and CFO — Lotus House Women’s Shelter; Alexis Steel, President — St. Mary’s Center for Women and Children; Ronide Blanc, Director — Lotus House Thrift; Amy Turk, CEO — Downtown Women’s Center
Learn how a strategic combination of establishing endowments, charitable funding and new market tax credit financing can help you develop new or redevelop aging shelters into state-of-the-art facilities offering comprehensive supportive services. Joint presentation by national new market tax credit experts.
Moderator: Constance Collins, President — Lotus House | Executive Director — NWSN
Panelists: Debbie Kleban, Esquire, Applegate & Thorne – Thomsen; Tony Smith, Partner/Executive Vice President, SB Friedman Development Advisors, LLC; Jennifer Westerbeck, Vice President — US Bancorp Community Development Corporation; Kevin Byrne, Chief Executive Officer — The Frederick A. DeLuca Foundation
This session will present some of the most innovative legislative, philanthropic, and public private partnership initiatives to end homelessness in the country. Learn from experts about: Miami-Dade County’s establishment of a homeless trust to fund shelter, supportive services and housing initiatives; the establishment of a county wide children’s trust to support the needs of vulnerable children; and New York’s judicially established right to shelter and the funding that flowed to shelter vulnerable women and children; and utilizing Federal low income tax credit financing for permanent housing.
Moderator: Carly Grimm, Director — Lotus Endowment Fund, Inc.
Panelists: Stephanie Berman, Chief Executive Officer — CarrFour Supportive Housing; Ron Book, Esq., Chairman — Miami-Dade County Homeless Trust; Joshua Goldfein, Esq. — Legal-Aid New York; Lori Hanson, Ph.D., Chief Evaluation, Research and Strategic Planning Officer — Miami-Dade County Children’s Trust; Catherine Trapani, Executive Director — Homeless Services United
A social worker, community connector and catalyst for change prior to becoming the first female Mayor of Miami Dade County, the 14th largest in the United States. Mayor Levine Cava is deeply committed to addressing the special needs of women and children experiencing homelessness and an advocate for enriched resources for all children.
Moderator: Alejandra Molina, Emmy award winning journalist and news anchor, Telemundo Station 51. As part of the Telemundo 51 award winning news team, she not only delivers the day’s local news, but also breaking news and major stories impacting the South Florida community.
Policies and Procedures; Talent; Resources; Oversight, Monitoring and Continuous Quality Improvement, Succession Planning; Cross Training & Benefits of Becoming CARF Accredited.
Panelists: Katy Roth, Deputy Director of Operations & Compliance — Lotus House Women’s
Shelter; Gloria Lee, Chief Program Officer — Our Lady’s Inn; Belinda James, MSW and LCSW, Director of Counseling — Our Lady’s Inn; Meredith Damboise, Chief Quality & Compliance Officer —
New Reach, Inc.; Chasity Chamberlin, Managing Director — CARF International
Open Forum with Breakout Tables for Sharing and Innovation – Pick and Choose: Each table has leaders, large pads to share ideas and innovation, the pads are posted for everyone to rotate and look at, and content typed up and shared for attendees; 20 Minutes per Table.
Lead Facilitator: Amy Turk, CEO — Downtown Women’s Center 1) Organizational Vision, Mission and Strategic Business Plans.
1) Organizational Vision, Mission and Strategic Business Plans.
Facilitator: Jennifer Hanlon-Wigon, Executive Director — Women’s Lunch Place
2) Development Strategies for the Bread and Butter Givers (Operating/Short Term).
Facilitators: Patricia Bosman, Executive Director — The Haven of Grace; Victoria Varela, Community Outreach Director — Lotus House Women’s Shelter
3) Strategies for Long-Term Financial Stability: Public vs. Private Funding; Reserves; Endowments; Capital Campaigns; and More.
Facilitators: Constance Collins, Executive Director — NWSN; Alexis Steel, President — St. Mary’s Center for Women & Children; Carly Grimm, Director — Lotus Endowment Fund, Inc.
4) Tailoring HMIS and Electronic Health Record Systems to Meet Your Needs: Wellsky Representative HMIS Tailored EHR Systems.
Facilitators: Marta Vega, Director of Grants Management, Compliance & Quality Assurance — Lotus House Women’s Shelter; Marie Alcineus, Director of Quality Assurance & Sarah Wedderburn, Management Information Systems and Reporting Coordinator — Lotus House Women’s Shelter; Liddy Hintz, Client Success Manager — WellSky
5) Your Talent – Strategies for Investing In, Retaining and Supporting your Team.
Facilitators: Angela Verseane, Director of Human Resources — Lotus House Women’s Shelter; Dorlie Banbanaste, Program Director & MBSR Facilitator — Mindful Kids Miami, Inc.;
Gabriela Saenz, Research, Policy and Public Education Director — Lotus House Women’s Shelter
6) Getting The Most From Your Board: Board Functions, Composition, Recruitment and Management.
Facilitators: Lisa Michaelson, Vice President Women’s and Children’s Programs — Union Gospel Mission Twin Cities; Julie Grimes, Managing Partner — Hilton Bentley Hotel & Lotus House Board Member; Anastasia Cousins, Court Teams Civil Division Assistant Supervisor — Miami-Dade County Clerk of Courts & Lotus House Board Member
7) How Research Can Help You Better Serve, Improve Outcomes and Fund Your Services: Establishing collaborations with universities; development of your service driven research; training and fidelity; maintaining your database; your own institutional review and policies.
Facilitators: Dr. Shana Cox, Deputy Director of Children’s Services — Lotus House Women’s Shelter; Paulo Graziano, Professor of Psychology, Center for Children & Families — Florida International University; Amy Turk, CEO — Downtown Women’s Center
8) How to Apply CARF Standards for Capacity Building and Continuous Improvement:
A CARF representative will be present to answer questions and further explain how the standards can benefit your organization.
Facilitators: Katy Roth, Deputy Director of Operations and Compliance — Lotus House Women’s Shelter; Chasity Chamberlin, Managing Director — CARF International
9) Policies and Procedures: Building the foundation for your work, from the basics to the sublime. Examples to consider.
Facilitators: Taylor Tannehill, Associate General Counsel — Lotus House Women’s Shelter; Anna Frusciante, Esq. — FC Law; Charlotte Cassel, Esq. — FC Law
10) The Infrastructure and Resources Needed to Serve Domestic and Intimate Partner Violence Survivors.
Facilitators: Jennifer Watkins, VP of Emergency Shelters and Housing Problem Solving — Crossroads Rhode Island; Ashley Rogers, Director of Family and Domestic Violence Shelter Services — Crossroads Rhode Island; Laura Klinefelter, Intake Director and Victims Services Specialist, Lotus House Women’s Shelter
11) Learn More About New Market Tax Credit Financing to Build Your Dream Facilities From the Experts.
Facilitators: Debbie Kleban — Esquire, Applegate & Thorne – Thomsen; Tony Smith, Partner & Executive Vice President — SB Friedman Development Advisors, LLC; Jennifer Westerbeck, VP — US Bancorp Community Development Corporation
Keynote speaker Margaret Mitchell, CEO YWCA USA
Margaret Mitchell leads YWCA USA, which has been at the forefront nationwide of the most critical social movements for over 160 years — from women’s empowerment and civil rights, to affordable housing and pay equity, to violence prevention and health care.
Pick-ups & drop-offs every 30 min starting at 1:30 p.m.
Tour of nearby Lotus Village, the largest women’s shelter in the country providing trauma informed, evidence based, wrap around support services, including in-take sanctuary, children’s wellness center, education center, culinary center, hydroponic farm, healing hands salon, art and activities lab, yoga center, gardens, and supportive residential programs.
*As a member of the NWSN, we are waving your registration fee, but spaces are limited. REGISTER TODAY!
Please consider making a donation to help cover the expenses and discounted hotel.
