Wednesday, October 27th, 2021
Opening Keynote: The Future of Media and Storytelling
Journalism has been going through constant disruptions over the past two decades, from social media breaking news, to changing revenue models, to consolidation, to distrust. We'll hear from a leading television news journalist and Emmy award-winning news producer on their perspectives of where journalism is, where it is going, and how we as communications and advocacy professionals can play a role.
Deep Dive Breakout 1: Advocacy in a Highly-Charged Partisan Environment
Civility is in short supply today. So how do we engage on our issues without riling-up detractors or fueling negative behavior from our supporters or the general public? Our panelists know this challenge well and will share their experience navigating split issues and crafting nuanced messaging.
Deep Dive Breakout 2: The Art of Animation for PACs and Advocacy
Animations and motion videos help us explain complex ideas or liven-up stale messages with humor and emotion. Watch some creative peer examples and learn how easy it is to concept and script your own animation across a range of budgets. Panelists will also share how they disseminate this type of material to key audiences.
[Outside the Industry]: Generation TikTok (Lunchtime Speaker)
In public affairs and advocacy campaigns, we often struggle to find ways generate creative and compelling content that will resonate with our target audience, especially a younger one. In this session, Dave Jorgenson, Washington Post’s "TikTok guy" and author of Make a TikTok Every Day will discuss what it’s like to create TikTok videos for […]
Deep Dive Breakout 1: Self-Produced Media
Why not produce your own media? This panel will review self-produced media options from video, podcasts, long- and short-form posting, even setting up your own micro media outlet. We'll also discuss questions of quality, building an audience, and maintaining trust.
Deep Dive Breakout 2: The Future of Fly-Ins
Virtual engagement with Congress, in some form, is here to stay. Our panelists will discuss what worked and what didn't - and how we can apply these lessons to future fly-ins. We will also explore how virtual tools may help us with pre- and post-fly-in engagement.
General Session: Comedy Gold: Using Humor to Convey a Message
This session features a DC Improv Comedy Club comedian and stand-up comedy coach who will demonstrate how to use humor to make our stories memorable and attention-grabbing. Speaker: Chris Coccia (DC Improv Comedy Club) About Chris Been doing stand-up for over 30 years. From the Philly area, now working at the DC Improv Comedy […]
Thursday, October 28th, 2021
General Session: Our World Changed: How Will Advocacy?
Our world is a very different place than it was in March of 2020. In the past 18 months, we’ve experienced a global pandemic, protests for economic and racial justice, a divisive election, and the storming of the U.S. Capitol. These events have changed the way citizens view not only advocacy campaigns, but each other. […]
Deep Dive Breakout 1: How Advocacy Organizations Actually Use Data
Data and metrics are not scary. They just offer a different way to tell the story of your community. Panelists will show you how they rely on a mix of big data and owned data to map key stakeholders. They’ll also discuss which actionable metrics they rely on most to determine the success of their campaigns.
Deep Dive Breakout 2: Engaging Stakeholders in Rural or Underserved Communities
Learn how to engage hard to reach or underserved communities, make the most of what you have, and leverage some of the unique higher level connections that arise in smaller communities. Panelists will also discuss ways to keep track of what’s going on when you have limited people on the ground.
[Outside the Industry]: Digital Wellness and Mastering Work-Life Balance (Lunchtime Speaker)
Are you stressed out by too many emails, devices, and distractions in your life? Are you looking to be more productive and desire more work-life balance? If you answered YES, then you are in the right place! Meico Whitlock is a sought-after speaker and trainer on mindfulness, technology, and well-being. He is the author of […]
Deep Dive Breakout 1: The Future of Advocacy Training
Virtual training options are not new to us in the COVID era, but are they here to stay? Our panelists will discuss how their training programs have evolved and what […]
Deep Dive Breakout 2: PACs Under Attack
Even before the events of January 6th, PACs, particularly corporate PACs were already dealing with internal and external efforts to stop corporate PACs from contributing to candidates for federal office. Our panel will discuss how they perservered in this tough environment and how they continue to engage employees, fundraise, and show the value of the PAC.
Friday, October 29th, 2021
General Session: Building a Virtual Ambassador Engagement Program
Decision-maker audiences value quality over quantity. But how do we identify and then train potential ambassadors, especially when circumstances or distance require that we do it virtually? Our panelists share how they created successful virtual ambassador programs that move advocates up a ladder of engagement, empowering them to build high-level relationships to advance policy goals.
Deep Dive Breakout 1: What Would You Do? Real Life PR and Advocacy Challenges
Our panelists faced these unique challenges and lived to tell the tale. Now they will offer their same scenarios to the audience to test how YOU would handle the situation. Will your solution improve on the real outcome? Join this fun discussion and maybe share your own scenario… off the record, of course.
Deep Dive Breakout 2: Communicating With Intergenerational and Diverse Communities
How does your messaging overlap in strategic ways to reach intergenerational and diverse audiences? In this session, we will review examples of brands doing this well and will look at how non-profits and industry groups are applying these lessons.
Closing Keynote and Panel Discussion: The Impact of Social Media’s Political Ad Bans
Frustrated by the ever-changing and seemingly arbitrary ad restrictions imposed by social media platforms? Katie Harbath, formerly of Facebook and Amy O'Connor with CAQ, will talk through the ad-ban challenges of the last election cycle, its impact on non-political advocacy messaging, and what the future looks like for organizations trying to reach stakeholders using social […]