2024 EVERGREEN ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Reconnect. Reignite. Restore.
OCTOBER 29 & 30, 2024
THE SANFORD CONVENTION CENTER
BEMIDJI, MN
The Evergreen Annual Conference is the premier training event held in northern Minnesota for youth-serving professionals from across the state. This is the 19th year Evergreen will be hosting this conference in Bemidji. Conference participants will gain knowledge on how to effectively serve youth facing challenges in the areas of mental health crisis, poverty and homelessness, abuse and neglect, foster care, sexual exploitation, substance abuse, technology and social media, mentorship, or other challenges; learn best practices that can improve outcomes for youth facing these challenges; and have opportunities to network and build relationships that can provide opportunities for collaboration.
featured keynotes
DR. TERENCE LESTER
Dr. Terence Lester is a storyteller, public scholar, speaker, community activist, and author who is the Founder and Executive Director of Love Beyond Walls, a nonprofit organization focused on raising poverty and homelessness awareness and community mobilization. He received his PhD with a concentration in Public Policy and Social Change from Union Institute and University.
His campaigns on behalf of the poor, have been featured in USA Today, CNN, Black Enterprise, Essence, and Reader's Digest. They have been viewed by millions of people globally on The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS News, NBC, Upworthy, and "The Bright Side" with Katie Couric.
He was named by Coca-Cola as one of their History Shakers. He and his wife, Cecilia, along with their family, live in Atlanta.
CINDRA KAMPHOFF
Cindra Kamphoff, Ph.D., CMPC, PCC, is an award-winning keynote speaker and certified professional coach for leaders, professional athletes, and championship teams. Her clients range from Verizon Wireless, Target, and Bobcat to the Minnesota Vikings. Cindra also worked with the United States Olympic Track and Field team while they were in Tokyo.
She is also the founder of The Mentally Strong Institute which provides one-on-one coaching services to purpose-driven leaders and athletes multiply their confidence, increase their influence, and get to their goals quicker.
Cindra is the author of an Amazon bestseller, Beyond Grit: Ten Powerful Practices to Gain the High Performance Edge. Her podcast, the High Performance Mindset, is ranked in the top .5% of all podcasts. Cindra lives in Minnesota with her husband and their two teenage boys.
DR. RASSHEEDAH WATTS
Dr. Rassheedah Watts, The Inclusive Community Architect®, is a dynamic keynote speaker and executive diversity trainer renowned for her ability to transform conversations on equity and justice into actionable change. As a distinguished United States Speaker Program delegate, she has partnered with U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide to promote stronger, connected communities and collective healing. Dr. Rassheedah is also the author of How To Be An Ally And Create Inclusion Using The A.C.A. Pillars: A 3-Step Approach To Effective Allyship.
With a passion for activating others, Dr. Rassheedah works with organizations and individuals to build their capacity for upholding equity and sustainable change. Known for her ability to connect deeply with her audience, she delivers honest, timely messages that inspire courageous action!
KATHY MAGNUSSON
Kathryn Magnusson, M.Ed., is a speaker, trainer, and founder of Wildewood Learning. With 20+ years in education, Kathryn, a licensed teacher, champions trauma-sensitive practices and strengths-based approaches. Her passion for empowering professionals globally has made a significant impact. Through her expertise in non-violent communication, social and emotional learning, trauma-informed practices, and leadership, she fosters positive relationships, emphasizing the transformative power of trauma-informed resiliency-based practices.
EVERGREEN YOUTH PANEL
All panelists are youth who are invested in helping their peers, the adults in their lives, and their communities to create better futures for youth. Within this group of panelists, you will find youth who have had lived experiences related to foster care, homelessness, peer pressure, substance abuse, parenting, food insecurities, the lack of access to reliable transportation and health care, and mental health challenges. Some of our panelists have shared their stories on panels before, and some will be sharing for the first time.
