Sponsored by the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice
The Foundation will dive into the thorny issue of what constitutes acceptable accountability for school choice programs; whether to test schools or students and whether to require private schools to take state tests. Additionally, the Foundation will dive into alternative theories of accountability for school choice programs, whether the accountability should be in government's hands or more directly in the hands of parents.
Participants will learn about:
Existing accountability provisions for school choice
Existing regulations on private schools
Alternative theories of accountability
Network with and learn about your fellow champions in the liberty movement. Speed Networking will consist of many fast-paced rounds featuring fun/social-style questions and professional/career-style questions from some of our movement’s leaders like John Tillman, Michael Carnuccio, Claire Kittle Dixon, and Tarren Bragdon. When you attend Speed Networking, you will be entered into a drawing to win one of two paid trips (including airfare, hotel, and conference registration) to attend Atlas Network’s annual Liberty Forum & Freedom Dinner on Nov. 11-12, 2015, in NYC. The two winners will be announced at the Acton Institute + Atlas Network sponsored Michigan Craft Beer Garden later this night.
Come enjoy several local craft beers from some of the Michigan’s best brewers along with beer-appropriate food catered to the event, which will be hosted at the Acton Institute offices (a short 6-minute walk from the conference site). And, don’t miss the chance to dunk some of our movement’s leaders like John Tillman, Michael Carnuccio, Claire Kittle Dixon, and Tarren Bragdon in the Think Tank Dunk Tank!
Jeff Sandefer began his business career at age sixteen and founded or co-founded five successful companies. With the help of "entrepreneur teachers," he built a nationally recognized entrepreneurship program and was named by Business Week as one of the top Entrepreneurship professors in the country. He and wife Laura recently started a new, joyful adventure: Acton Academy. Acton's tagline sums up what Jeff will bring to us: Find a calling. Change the World.
Sponsored by eResources
In a world of Netflix, YouTube, Spotify, and Buzzfeed, consumers can truly customize media channels to suit their individual interests. We now know more about consumers’ tastes than ever before. So how can organizations capitalize on this unprecedented direct access to target audiences? In this session learn about new channels for content distribution and cost-effective means for presenting persuasive messaging to the right audience.
Audience attention has become a limited commodity. So how can you quickly share compelling stories that draw in and persuade your audience? In this interactive session, learn from messaging expert Kevan Kjar how to quickly share short but powerful stories that will drive home your policy points with greater credibility and engage your audience. Kevan and his team will share real-life wins and losses from his work in our policy world and for-profit business. Kevan is founder of ArrowHead3 Consulting.
State Think Tank CEOs and Board Members Only
Google has three levels between its newest hire and the owners; Google managers are not allowed to hire, fire or award bonuses and each worker gets to choose his or her next project. At Acton Academy in Austin, Texas, a school is run almost entirely by students using tools and frameworks eerily similar to those used by Google. Is this approach to leadership the wave of the future or is it almost certain to fail? Join a Socratic Discussion on leadership led by Acton Academy co-founder Jeff Sandefer. Judge for yourself.
Sign up for a session here: www.leadershipinstitute.org/SPN/
You'll be coached one-on-one through a mock interview while receiving personalized critiques and feedback on how to better tailor your message for TV with media professional Beverly Hallberg from District Media Group. Class size is limited to maximize your time on camera.
In this two-part session learn from state think tanks about how they run an effective communications shop and execute a policy marketing campaign.
Part 1- A Culture of Communications: How Illinois Policy Institute Turns Policy into Story
Like many think tanks, Illinois Policy Institute started out with a one-person communications shop. Over the years, they have not only built a communications team, but they have also integrated communications organization-wide. This conversation will give you practical takeaways for organizing your communications shop and creating an effective workflow that breaks down silos between policy and communications.
Part 2- Strong Roots Nebraska: The 1-2-3's of Creating a Grassroots Coalition
"Strong Roots Nebraska" started as just a tagline. Now, it is a grassroots network with over 6,000 Facebook fans. How did the Platte Institute for Economic Research take an idea and make it grow into a coalition of engaged Nebraskans with its own recognizable brand and mission? Hear how message development, research, branding, communications, video, and social media all came together to create a multi-platform asset in Platte's effort to pass income tax reform and more.
Millennials are often described as more civic-minded and community-oriented than other generations. With technology and social media’s rapid growth, how is this generation getting its news and engaging with government and public policy? Learn how Millennials are communicating with each other and how to genuinely connect with their generation.
Board Members Only
De Hicks, senior leadership strategist and executive coach for over 200 organizations, including the Department of Defense and the U.S. Navy, will discuss how to develop a dynamic relationship with your CEO, ensure a culture of philanthropy, oversee sound organizational strategy, develop helpful relationships with your board member colleagues, and mind your legal duties.
Election season is upon us, making an already tricky legal landscape that much more challenging. Come interact with an expert in non-profit law about permissible activities for your non-profit organization. Bring your most challenging questions. Any topic is fair game; is isn't limited to just elections!
4 short consecutive talks in the same session!
2:30- Vetting Your Messengers
When the best messenger for your policy comes from outside your organization, how do you ensure that person's background won't jeopardize your organization's reputation? Abbey will share basic vetting procedures and when to apply them.
2:45- Become a Broadcaster
With a weekly TV show and two daily radio programs, the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs has taken the "be the media" strategy to new places. Trent will share what they've learned and offer tips on how to launch your own program, become a broadcast media host, or just better leverage your investment in communications.
3:00- How to Tell a Compelling Story through Video in 3 Minutes
Video is a powerful way to engage your community and tell stories. This talk will give you a vision and game plan for using storytelling and video to connect with your audiences.
3:15- Libertad for All: Strategies for Hispanic Outreach
U.S. Hispanics have a thirst for liberty. Many come to the United States to escape government corruption, poor economies, and cronyism in favor of opportunity and access. Learn five things you can do now to better communicate the benefits of free-market principles to the country's fastest growing population.
Exclusive Grand Rapids Session
How can storytelling translate into billions of dollars of sales? In this fascinating session learn how Grand Rapids-based Steelcase trains its salespeople to employ powerful storytelling techniques that have turned it into the largest office furniture manufacturer in the world. This Grand Rapids Annual Meeting exclusive session is a one-time opportunity to learn from some of the best marketing experts in the world!
Wish you had the opportunity to talk one-on-one with communications experts? Here it is! Mentor sessions are opportunities for one-on-one coaching with a communications expert on specific topics. If you would like to set up a mentor session for one of the topic areas below, please contact the mentor directly to set up a 15-minute appointment during this hour. Slots will be filled on a first come, first served basis.
The screening of "Farming in Fear" will take place at the Acton Institute.
Sign up for a session here: www.leadershipinstitute.org/SPN/
You'll be coached one-on-one through a mock interview while receiving personalized critiques and feedback on how to better tailor your message for TV with media professional Beverly Hallberg from District Media Group. Class size is limited to maximize your time on camera.
Buses will start loading outside of the lobby level at the Lion's Street entrance of the Amway Grand at 5:30 PM
Conservatives are blessed to be in the fight for hope and human dignity. Poor and struggling people are counting on us to remember what we stand for, stop feeling like victims, and take our pioneering message into new territory. Here's how we do that.
4 short consecutive talks in the same session!
11:15- How Strong Brands Build Freedom
How can your organization realize short-term policy wins while instilling a long-term reverence of, and passion for, freedom in those you touch? Your strong brand is only part of the equation. Find out how others have honed their brands for the long-term goal of spreading freedom, while organizing shorter-term wins in freedom-oriented policy reforms.
11:30- So You've Got 5,000 Facebook Likes... Now What?
We all know that a slick website and lively social media presence is essential to your organization's credibility, but how do you translate digital presence into ROI for your operations? From digital advertising tips to mastering conversation pixels and microsegmenting, come learn how to make your online insights actionable and make the most of your online data activity.
11:45- Grow Your Social Media Following
It seems like social media platforms are constantly changing and making it more difficult and expensive to reach or add followers. Kristin will share some tips for increasing and engaging your social media following in an era of "pay-to-play."
12:00- Leveraging Facebook Video
Videos posted on Facebook are viewed over three billion times a day. Learn how Illinois Policy Institute has leveraged the popular social media platform's video feature to increase views and public engagement.
Heart+Mind Strategies has developed some of the most effective and successful messaging campaigns in recent memory, including the "What Happens in Vegas" campaign. Arrowhead3 has worked with Fortune 500 companies to help their leaders hone their messaging and storytelling skills. Together, Heart + Mind and Arrowhead3 have been developing effective messaging on several issues for policy organizations around the country. Come hear from Heart+Mind President Dee Allsop and Arrowhead3 President Kevan Kjar as they share the most effective, poll-tested messaging on parental choice.
Sign up for a session here: www.leadershipinstitute.org/SPN/
You'll be coached one-on-one through a mock interview while receiving personalized critiques and feedback on how to better tailor your message for TV with media professional Beverly Hallberg from District Media Group. Class size is limited to maximize your time on camera.
Do you have a 501(c)(4) or are you forming one? This could be a great opportunity to increase your fundraising revenue. Learn how to communicate your vision, motivate your donors, solicit new gifts, and build long-term partners.
Sign up for a session here: www.leadershipinstitute.org/SPN/
You'll be coached one-on-one through a mock interview while receiving personalized critiques and feedback on how to better tailor your message for TV with media professional Beverly Hallberg from District Media Group. Class size is limited to maximize your time on camera.
Bad government policy traps people in poverty and limits the ability of people to help themselves. To drive effective Medicaid and welfare policy reform, we must first understand the barriers that keep people in poverty and the motivators that propel real life transformations. Breakfast included.
We've all sat through countless meetings that seem to drag on with no apparent purpose, leadership or do-outs. The problem is often a lack of facilitation experience from the host. How can we ensure such opportunities aren't squandered, but provide meaningful breakthroughs towards goals? In this session messaging expert and facilitation coach Kevan Kjar will share his essential tools to plan and run a truly effective meeting.