2019 Professional Women in Advocacy Chicago Workshop

Professional Women in Advocacy welcomes you to participate in a one-day workshop featuring professional development programming for women working in government relations, advocacy, public affairs, activism and engagement. PWIA is not a membership organization so anyone may attend our events. We have a fantastic agenda lined up and would love for you to join us!

Our theme this year is Breakthrough Advocacy so we will be talking about trends and technologies that are changing our industry. A subtheme is how increased youth and diversity in the civic arena is changing how we advocate.

9:00am Registration and breakfast – Come early and network with friends and colleagues!

9:30am Welcome and overview of theme – Breakthrough Advocacy – What are the latest trends in advocacy? How are changes in the civic arena driving innovation? Speaker: LeeAnn Petersen, CEO, PWIA Conference

9:45am Opening remarks – Clarisol Duque, Chief of Staff, U.S. Senator Richard Durbin

10:00am Breakthrough innovations for advocacy – tools, technologies and techniques for successful advocacy efforts.

• Grassroots Perspective – Michele Guadalupe, Arthritis Foundation
• PAC Perspective – Regina Heffernan AmeriHealth Caritas
• Micro Targeting – Rory McShane, Digital Strategist
• Coalition Building – Kelsey Bourgeois, Care2
• Moderated by Sendy Soto, Chicago Immigrant Transit Assistance

11:00am Breakthrough communications for advocacy – Meet stakeholders and influencers where they are by learning what communications mediums are preferred by various groups.

• Social media, digital – Jen Dean, Chicago Votes
• Traditional PR and public affairs – Mary Patrick, Jasculca Terman Strategic Communications
• Phones, text, teletownhalls, voter outreach – Mark Schauer, Winning Connections
• Moderated by Mariranne McMullen, Chapin Hall at University of Chicago

12:00pm Networking Break

12:15pm Keynote Luncheon – Sol A Flores, Deputy Governor for the State of Illinois

1:20pm Brief presentation and preview of television series “Run”

1:30pm Diversity and inclusion in advocacy – When women and people of diverse backgrounds have a seat at the public policy table, everyone benefits. How can we get and keep more diversity in the civic arena?

• Eva Pusateri, The Policy Circle
• Na’ilah Amaru, Vote Run Lead
• Jennifer Pierotti Lim, Republican Women for Progress
• Cindy Nava, Motivational Speaker, Policy Analyst, Education Advocate
• Kandice Harris, Center for Racial Justice and Civil Rights
• Moderated by Hon. Litesa E. Wallace, IL State Representative

2:30pm Been there Done that – Women of Distinction – BTDT is everyone’s favorite PWIA session because it gathers a group of successful women from business, media and politics to share their stories, lend advice and leave you inspired to succeed.

• Juanita Irizarry, Friends of the Parks
• Delmarie Cobb, The Publicity Works
• Julie Hamos, former IL House State Representative
• Jennifer Welch, Planned Parenthood
• Moderator – Michelle Mason, Association Forum