Community Connections Summit 2026
AGENDA
2026 Community Connections Summit Schedule
McHenry County College | Friday, September 11, 2026 | 9:00 am to 3:00 pm
8:30
Check-in, Light Refreshments & Exhibitors
9:00
Opening Remarks (Luecht Auditorium B170)
- Bridget Geenen, Mental Health Board Executive Director
9:10
Keynote Speaker (Luecht Auditorium B170)
- Shira Greenfield, LCPC | One Conversation at a Time: Creating Connection in a Disconnected World
10:00
Break with Exhibitors
10:15
Breakout Session I (4 Concurrent Breakouts)
- Listening to Leading – Youth Voices/Community Impact | Alex Campbell, Edith Sánchez, and Brenda Napholz
- The Grief Gap: Beyond Acceptance — A Way Through the Space Nobody Names | Lisa Orris
- Welcome to My Hype House: Helping Adolescents Build Safe and Connected Relationships | Kristy Hinz, MA, LPC
- You Can’t Do Life Alone: Peer Support Matters | Nicole Moreno and Nancy Bernal
11:15
Complimentary Lunch
12:00
Breakout Session II (4 Concurrent Breakouts)
- Connected by Conversation: When Communities Talk, Families Grow | Allison Kranich, MS, LCPC, CADC
- Supporting Youth and Families Impacted by Incarceration or the Justice System | Cheryl Niemo, LCSW
- Before the Crisis: Conversations That Build Safety, Trust, and Belonging | Josh Novick, MA, LPC
- Bigger Together: How Mentorship Creates Connection | Anna Buckingham
1:00
Break with Exhibitors
1:15
Breakout Session III (4 Concurrent Breakouts)
- Pet Loss Bereavement | John Mysz, LCSW, VSW
- Sensory-Friendly Events: Building True Inclusion for Individuals with Autism and Developmental Disabilities | Linda Lynn and Lizzy Lynn
- Addressing Non-Belonging in Tech-Savvy Schools | Sydney Osborn and Adrian Harries
- Nourishing the Family: Supporting Recovery Through Compassionate Conversations About Eating Disorders | Carolyn Schofield and Mia Greco, MS, MPH, RD, LDN
2:15
Break with Exhibitors
2:30
Closing Presentation (Luecht Auditorium B170)
- Shira Greenfield, LCPC | One More Conversation
- Raffle
3:00
Adjourn
