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SUMMARY:Reframing with Strengths: A Practice for When People do Annoying Things
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”50px” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”column_reverse” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color=”#f7f7f7″ background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” el_class=”podcast-sidebar” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”147768″ image_size=”full” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][nectar_btn size=”large” constrain_group_1=”yes” open_new_tab=”true” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” solid_text_color_override=”#ffffff” icon_family=”none” text=”Subscribe Now” url=”https://www.buzzsprout.com/2099983/share” margin_top=”30″ margin_bottom=”30″][vc_column_text]Subscribe to the “Practicing Connection” monthly email to keep up to date on our latest podcasts\, blog posts and workshops. \nJoin the “Practicing Connection Community” on LinkedIn. The community is designed for people who support military families in a variety of settings both on installations and in our communities.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-4-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”3/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Listen” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”trans-title”][vc_raw_html]JTNDZGl2JTIwaWQlM0QlMjJidXp6c3Byb3V0LXBsYXllci0xOTc5MzIwMiUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmRpdiUzRSUzQ3NjcmlwdCUyMHNyYyUzRCUyMmh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGd3d3LmJ1enpzcHJvdXQuY29tJTJGMjA5OTk4MyUyRmVwaXNvZGVzJTJGMTk3OTMyMDItcmVmcmFtaW5nLXdpdGgtc3RyZW5ndGhzLWEtcHJhY3RpY2UtZm9yLXdoZW4tcGVvcGxlLWRvLWFubm95aW5nLXRoaW5ncy5qcyUzRmNvbnRhaW5lcl9pZCUzRGJ1enpzcHJvdXQtcGxheWVyLTE5NzkzMjAyJTI2cGxheWVyJTNEc21hbGwlMjIlMjB0eXBlJTNEJTIydGV4dCUyRmphdmFzY3JpcHQlMjIlMjBjaGFyc2V0JTNEJTIydXRmLTglMjIlM0UlM0MlMkZzY3JpcHQlM0U=[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”About This Episode” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”trans-title”][vc_column_text](Season 7\, Episode 38) \nWhat if the person frustrating you isn’t missing a strength – just misusing one?  \nIn this episode of Practicing Connection\, Jessica and Erin walk through a practical\, evidence-based way to find the strength that’s showing up in the wrong dose\, instead of landing on judgment. \nDrawing on positive psychology researcher Ryan Niemiec’s concept of the “golden mean\,” they use a shared pet peeve as a live test case – generating multiple strengths-based stories for a moment that would normally just cause frustration. The goal isn’t to excuse bad behavior or talk yourself out of a boundary – it’s to see people more completely\, stay collaborative\, and keep working with them instead of writing them off. \nUseful for anyone who works with people day to day – supporting military families\, leading a team\, or building community – especially in the moments someone shows up with negative energy\, or you’re already bracing for it. \nLinks and resources from this episode: \n\nviacharacter.org\nList of all 24 strengths with descriptions: https://www.viacharacter.org/resources/activities/the-via-classification-of-twenty-four-character-strengths\n\nConnect with us! \n\nSign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletter\nJoin our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/\nSend us a message: practicingconnection@oneop.org\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all” el_id=”trans”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” el_class=”entry” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Transcript” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”trans-title”][nectar_btn size=”large” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” icon_family=”none” nofollow=”true” el_class=”read-it” button_id=”read-it” text=”Read More” url=”#trans”][vc_column_text el_class=”pod-trans”]ERIN CARLSON RIVERA: [00:00:00] Welcome to Practicing Connection. I’m Erin\, and today we’re talking about how to interpret someone’s worst moments without writing them off\, a skill that can matter just as much in a team meeting as it does with the families that you serve. \nThe story you tell yourself about someone’s behavior in the first 10 seconds can decide whether you end up collaborating with them or just getting through the conversation with them. \nWe know that people don’t need to be perfect in order to be worth collaborating with. So what can we do to help ourselves stay open to working with people who are still in process? \nJessica is with me today\, and we’re going to dive into this topic together and then share a practice that you can use. Hi\, Jessica. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Hi\, Erin. I’m really excited about today’s practice because\, well\, last time\, and during our last episode\, you walked us through Positive Rants\, which really gets at\, like\, listening to understand\, finding the value underneath someone’s agitation\, and reframing the story. And [00:01:00] one of the things that I’m excited about for today is that today’s practice builds on that skill. \nSo this is about positively reframing someone’s actions versus their words\, which is more covered in our Positive Rants episode\, right? You’re listening to someone who is speaking negatively about something and you’re reframing what they’re saying. And so now this is about someone’s actions. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Mm-hmm. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: I’ve kind of in my head been referring to it as\, “Strength spotting\, part two\,” because we’ve talked about strength spotting before\, and strength spotting is basically noticing and naming what someone brings to the table. \nI typically use the Via Character Strengths\, and we’ll have a couple of links in the show notes to that so that you can kind of see the full list of strengths. \nBut what we’ve done in the past when we cover strength spotting is we’ve usually covered this related to noticing when you see something positive in someone: when you see a positive action or you hear [00:02:00] that someone did something in a positive way. \n  \nSo today’s angle is about spotting strengths when someone is showing up with negative energy or they’re doing maybe negative behaviors\, or when you’re anticipating that they might have negative reactions to something\, right? \nBefore you’ve even gone into a meeting or gone into a situation\, you’re anticipating there might be negative reactions. So another way to put this is that we’re going to work on how to find strengths that might be misfiring\, or as I like to say in the strengths world\, “strengths that are being overused or underused.” \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Okay. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: I just gave you a lot to chew on. I’m sorry. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: You gave me so much to chew on\, but that’s okay. I’m excited about this topic. \nI think I don’t often get to the part of the conversation about strengths where you talk about what do you do when strengths show up negatively? How do you think about it? How do you engage with it? \nSo this feels like a really exciting next step in kind of [00:03:00] this general conversation about strengths and leading with strengths. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Mm-hmm. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Okay. I’m very excited. And I’m curious about where this comes from. Like who\, how did this idea develop? \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Yeah. So this comes from positive psychology researcher Ryan Nemick’s work on what he calls the\, “Golden mean of character strengths.” \nSo this golden mean is the idea that most strengths have an optimal dose\, like to use a medical term\, I guess. And problems can show up when a strength is overused or underused in the situation\, right? \nSo when you have an overdose of a strength or you are underdosed on a particular strength. But more simply\, a strength isn’t just present or absent\, right? You don’t just have a strength or don’t have a strength. We all can access all 24 of the character strengths that have been researched. \nBut a strength can show up too [00:04:00] much\, too little\, or it can just be pointed the wrong way for the moment. Please don’t ask me to explain that\, because I’m not sure that the point of the wrong way really\, I guess\, would be more about how your strength is being overused. Or underused is\, I guess what I would say\, whether it’s going. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Yeah. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Yeah. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: That is such an interesting thing. It’s making me think about cooking with salt and how if you under salt\, all of the other flavors are bland. And if you over salt\, all you taste is salt. But there’s that like sweet spot in the middle where you don’t taste the salt\, but all of the flavors kind of sing. \nAnd I feel like I’m excited that that’s also something that can happen with strengths where there’s a sweet spot. And can you kind of maybe share examples of what overuse and underuse\, what does that look like? \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Yeah. Yeah. Of course. So let’s take one of my\, not to be too over-revealing [00:05:00] here\, but prudence is a strength that’s lower in my Via Character Strengths profile. \nAnd so prudence is often referred to also as carefulness. So apparently I’m not very careful. In the right dose\, prudence is really thoughtful\, but when it’s overused\, it can look like overcaution or indecision. And by the way\, I have overused prudence even though it comes lower in my strengths profile. \nAnd I think that is just proof that we all can access all 24 of those strengths and we can overuse or underuse any one of them. And so I have been guilty. It’s maybe not the right word to use\, but I’ve been guilty of overusing prudence myself. Another example would be honesty. Honesty in the right dose is really great for trust building. \nBut overused\, it can really land as blunt or tactless [00:06:00] or even mean sometimes\, right? \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Yeah. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Have you seen that? \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: I have perhaps been a person who is too honest. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Who has overused honesty? \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: I have overused honesty. When my family moved to the Midwest\, there was a big transition because we moved from New York City where honesty is\, culturally\, it’s a little more towards the blunt end. \nAnd in the Midwest\, it’s a lot farther away from that. So we had to really recalibrate what honesty looked like and what that kind of frankness went like. So I hear what you’re thinking about there. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: And I just want to say that like\, I guess maybe\, I don’t know\, you could consider this too much of an overly positive – by the way\, positivity is a – \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: – strength of yours. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Yeah. It’s a strength in the list\, but I’m trying to remember if it’s a strength in the Via character list or if that’s in StrengthsFinder. \nBut anyway\, [00:07:00] positivity\, it might be too much of a positive thing to say that I actually don’t see that there are tons of\, like a lot of people like to say\, “I want to fix my weaknesses.” \nI think it’s much more productive to say\, “Which strengths can I lean into\, and which strengths can I learn what overuse and underuse looks like so that I can avoid overusing and underusing them?” So that’s maybe too positive of a way of looking at things. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: So maybe we could say that the aim is to calibrate rather than purge. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Yeah. Yeah\, exactly. Right? Just because you overuse or underuse strength\, like\, it’s not a character flaw\, right? Someone that is overusing or underusing it is not a character flaw. It’s just that you’re a little offline\, because your attention and energy are probably being placed somewhere else with another strength\, or with another\, in another place. \nAnd [00:08:00] so just because you might be overusing prudence doesn’t mean that you should be less careful necessarily\, right? \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Yeah. Okay. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: And I\, what I like about this is that it replaces the idea of like\, “What’s wrong with this person?” with\, “Okay\, what strength is showing up in maybe the wrong dose right now?” \nSo you’re not looking at the person and being like\, “What is wrong with you? Oh my gosh\, like I can’t even with you…” But you’re maybe looking at it and being like\, “Okay\, what could be going on here?” \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Yes. Oh\, I think this is gonna be so helpful for me. Yeah. I can see this. Okay. So I can imagine that I could get to a place where I could kind of start to identify\, “Oh\, that person’s a visionary and they can imagine these beautiful futures\, and they forget about maybe we need some steps to build up to that place. We can’t get there immediately.” \nAnd then I’m diagnosing other [00:09:00] people\, and then I have like the most unhelpful conversation with them about this. So I’m curious about\, how do you then like use this in a practice? How do you use this in community? Tell me more about how I could then use this. Like once I’ve identified this\, what do I do then? Either in myself or others. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: I think the easiest way to do something with this is to notice when you are frustrated by someone’s actions. Like that’s the first trigger\, right? And that’s actually something that I haven’t brought up yet in this episode\, but that’s probably the first trigger for you to start using this is that you notice that you’re getting irritated by someone’s actions\, what they’re doing\, their lack of something\, their lack of doing something that you are expecting from them. \nSo what I think this practice helps with is that instead of you\, again\, being like\, “I can’t even with you. [00:10:00] What’s wrong with you?” You know\, you’re\, you know\, a jerk\, whatever it is\, is that if you commit to practices like this\, they keep you curious instead of judgmental in the moment\, right? You’re not excusing the behavior that’s happening\, but you’re giving yourself a more useful story about it. \nThis practice is also especially useful for anticipating the negative energy\, right? So walking into a hard conversation. You can walk into that conversation already looking for the strength\, instead of bracing for like\, “Okay\, they always act this way. I know they’re going to do this. It’s so annoying.” Don’t brace for that flaw. \nInstead\, go into it looking for a strength. Think back to the last time you had that inter- interaction with somebody\, what are some of the possible strengths that could be overused and underused? And just come into the conversation with a little understanding. \nAgain\, this is not excusing behavior that is maybe poor\, but it’s [00:11:00] giving you the ability to stay in conversation with somebody\, without yourself going into the kind of frustration spiral. \nThis kind of stuff is evidence-based work. It’s just applied to the moments where strengths are hardest to see. So it’s almost like it’s maybe a little bit advanced than\, you know\, being able to notice someone’s strengths when everything’s all positive and like\, “Oh\, hey\, I really appreciate how honest you were about\, you know\, the report\, or I’m…” \nWhatever that is\, it’s so easy to see a strength in those moments. I have to say though\, it’s easy to see them\, but we don’t often say it to each other. So let’s tell each other a little more often how much we appreciate our strengths. Okay. PSA aside\, let’s get into what this practice is. What do you think? \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Yeah\, I would love to look. How do I do this? Tell me more. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Okay. So sometimes again\, like we talked about in the Positive Rants episode that we recorded\, [00:12:00] sometimes the best places to practice are with our own pet peeves. So I’m going to bring my pet peeve back into this again because\, you know\, I’m going to pick on myself first. \nSo imagine you’re in the grocery store\, you need one thing from the middle of the aisle\, and there’s a person or two just kinda camped out\, taking up the whole aisle\, not moving\, no awareness that anyone else exists\, much less someone’s trying to get down that aisle. \nWhat’s your first reaction\, honestly? If this is something that annoys you. I guess I didn’t even ask. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Oh\, this annoys me so much. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Okay. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Especially there are some grocery stores where they have the aisles and then they have special little things in the aisle. So you can only pass one cart at a time. And someone inevitably always parks their cart right next to it. \nSo not\, you can’t even just a person get between them\, right. So like honestly\, my first reaction is like\, [00:13:00] “Gosh\, I guess you really don’t care about anybody else. You really aren’t thinking about anybody else right now.” \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Yep. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Which is not generous at all. And then I try to like positively reframe it as\, “Wow\, the grocery store is really overstimulating and there’s a lot of decisions and like -” \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Right. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Yeah\, I try to be nicer about it\, but honestly\, it’s like\,”Oh\, come on. Will you move already?” \nSometimes I really can’t handle it. I’ll just be like\,” Oh\, can I sneak past you?” Oh\, can I sneak past you in a true Wisconsin way. And then they’ll get all fussed. \nWe’re off track. Okay. So that’s my initial response is\, come on\, move already. \nWhat do I do after my initial response? \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Which may or may not be front-loaded with an ope\, which is a very regional dialect here. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Yeah. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: In the upper Midwest. All right. Well\, good news\, Erin\, is that that is completely normal human reaction. It’s totally fine. It’s totally real. And yes\, I recognize\, I have to call this out\, I recognize that I could just say excuse me in those situations. \nBut to be honest\, that is a [00:14:00] whole separate conversation about why we don’t always speak up\, and maybe we’ll cover that in the future. \nSo here’s the practice. Instead of stopping and thinking that this person is oblivious or thinking something worse than that\, instead of doing that\, ask\, “Okay\, what strength might be running the show here?” \nBut maybe it’s being overused or\, you know\, pointed the wrong direction\, which I really think is just about this idea of maybe it’s not being overused\, but they’re oblivious to other things happening because they are just focused\, right? \nSo think about what’s actually there\, what\, what is actually present. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Okay. Okay. Sure. I can see that. But walk me through\, where do you land when you’re actually still in that grocery store aisle? Like are you doing all of this in the moment? \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Yeah\, you are. And just like we say with a lot of things\, like [00:15:00] the more you allow yourself to like interrupt your normal patterns of thinking and being\, the faster you get at it and then it ends up\, you know\, it ends up not taking as long as we’re making it sound like it’s going to take. \nSo anyway\, there’s a few options. So in this situation\, in every situation\, there’s going to be more than one option. And I think that’s kind of the point\, right? There isn’t one right answer. One read is that they’re being really deliberate. They’re reading labels\, comparing prices\, thinking hard about a decision. \nThat could be prudence or carefulness\, just maybe overused a little bit\, or in this case\, maybe they’re not overusing it\, but they’re pointing it in a very particular direction which is making them oblivious to anything else that’s happening around them. And so in this case\, it’s not about the fact that they’re being careful\, and I certainly am not asking them to be less careful. \nIt’s just that they’re hyper-focused on their prudence and they’re oblivious to [00:16:00] everything else happening. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Okay. Or like what if it’s two or more people\, not just one person reading labels? \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Yeah. That’s kind of scenario number two or read number two in this case. If it’s maybe a couple\, or I very frequently see like a group of people together\, maybe friends\, or maybe a parent and kid or kids shopping together fully in conversation\, that could be an overuse of love or togetherness. \nLike they’re genuinely connecting with each other\, but it’s kind of\, it’s being expressed in a spot that has less physical room for it\, right? So they’re overusing it\, because they are oblivious to everything else happening around them and to the people around them that also have needs. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Okay. Yeah\, I can see that. \nIs there a read that involves underuse in this situation? \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Yeah. So a third read. And by the way\, there’s probably more than three ways to read this situation. [00:17:00]\nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: What? People have nuance? Who knew? \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Right. Yeah. I mean\, we could sit here all day. No\, the third way to read this situation is taking the strength of social awareness\, which is about being socially aware\, right? \nAnd that part of it involves noticing the people around you\, that maybe that’s just not switched on right now\, right? Their attention is fully somewhere else. This is not\, again\, a character flaw. It’s a strength that’s just offline. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Okay. So the move isn’t picking the correct explanation. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: No\, it’s noticing that you have more than one plausible strengths-based story available\, instead of defaulting to the judgment story. \nWe love the judgment story. And that’s really the whole practice. You don’t need to know which one of those stories is true\, which one of those strengths-based stories is true. You just need one that’s believable enough to replace your judgment and frustration that the person is a thoughtless\, [00:18:00] inconsiderate jerk. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Okay. All right. I could see this being really helpful and potentially changing how long irritation lasts for me\, and also potentially making me think differently about how I’m showing up in spaces. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Yeah. I really appreciate that you said that. And in a collaborative situation or on a team\, it would also help you to work with the person instead of allowing your frustration to work against them. \nLook\, again\, I’m not saying that they’re not going to annoy you and that their actions might still be frustrating to you\, but thinking of it in this way helps you remain in the space with them and work with them. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Sure. I can see that being super helpful\, especially if you’re working with other people\, which almost everybody works with another person at some point\, so… \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Yeah. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Okay. A lot of us listening\, including the hosts\, maybe [00:19:00] don’t have tons of time. Or we’re doing lots of things\, so we have limited brain capacity. What is the simplest way to start using this practice? \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Okay. So the next time that you experience a version of the blocked grocery aisle\, whatever yours is\, right\, that may not bother you at all\, the blocked grocery aisle\, maybe it’s whenever you try to pass someone on the highway\, they speed up so that you can’t pass them\, right? That’s another one of mine. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Uh-huh. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: But whatever that pet peeve is of yours\, see if you can generate two possible strengths behind it before you land on judgment. You don’t have to believe either one of them\, just see if you can find them. \nEventually\, you’ll start to see what’s plausible\, and you’ll realize\, “Oh\, you know what? That’s actually possible and I can let them do them. You do you\,” right? \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: For sure. \nWell\, thank you for sharing that with us\, [00:20:00] Jessica. I’m excited to get started. \nThat’s it for this episode. Thanks for joining us. If you liked this conversation\, please consider sharing this episode with a friend or a coworker. \nWe’ll be back next week. Until then\, keep practicing. \n  \nCREDITS: The Practicing Connection Podcast is a production of One-Op and is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture\, US Department of Agriculture and the Office of Military Family Readiness Policy\, US Department of Defense under award number 2 0 2 3 4 8 7 74 3 3.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://oneop.org/learn/reframe-with-strengths/
CATEGORIES:Community Engagement
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://oneop.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Practicing-Connection_Podcast-graphic-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260923T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260923T120000
DTSTAMP:20261007T132147Z
CREATED:20260818T181934Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261007T132147Z
UID:10001768-1790161200-1790164800@oneop.org
SUMMARY:Connecting Service Members and Spouses to Education and Career Benefits
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/lUzRZXhzGoo”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”20″ constrain_group_1=”yes” bottom_padding=”20″ left_padding_desktop=”15″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”About This Webinar” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Project Patriot Pipeline is the Department of War’s unified framework designed to connect service members\, military spouses\, and federal civilians with education benefits\, career development programs\, and employment opportunities. This webinar will introduce participants to Project Patriot Pipeline and its designated Paths\, highlighting opportunities for credentialing\, SkillBridge participation\, direct hiring\, and other career advancement resources. Participants will also explore the GI Bill\, an education benefit administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Through an overview of eligibility and benefits\, attendees will gain practical knowledge to support informed decisions about education\, career planning\, and long-term financial well-being for military-connected individuals and families. \nLearning Objectives: \n\nDescribe Project Patriot Pipeline and explain its relevance for service members\, military spouses\, and federal civilians. \nExamine the SpouseWorks key benefits and eligibility considerations. \nExplain relevant workforce development resources and educational benefits available to service members\, military spouses\, and federal civilians.\nApply knowledge to support informed decision-making and referrals when assisting military-connected clients in career and education planning.\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”13″ left_padding_desktop=”15″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Presenters” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”0″ bottom_padding=”20″ left_padding_desktop=”5″ top_margin=”0″ constrain_group_7=”yes” bottom_margin=”0″ left_margin=”0″ constrain_group_8=”yes” right_margin=”0″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”5px” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”left” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”233105″ image_size=”custom” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”5px” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default” position_desktop=”relative” custom_image_size=”thumb” margin_top=”10″][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”3/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Emily Deuell” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:25|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Data Scientist in Military Personnel Policy[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”0″ bottom_padding=”20″ left_padding_desktop=”5″ top_margin=”0″ constrain_group_7=”yes” bottom_margin=”0″ left_margin=”0″ constrain_group_8=”yes” right_margin=”0″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”5px” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”left” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”233106″ image_size=”custom” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”5px” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default” position_desktop=”relative” custom_image_size=”thumb” margin_top=”10″][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”3/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Kathia Kilburn” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:25|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Program Manager\, Office of Spouse Employment\, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of War\, Military Community & Family Policy[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”40″ bottom_padding=”20″ left_padding_desktop=”15″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”5px” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”top” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”2/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Continuing Education (CE) Credit” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][nectar_btn size=”jumbo” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” solid_text_color_override=”#ffffff” icon_family=”none” el_class=”Continuing Education Survey” button_id=”Continuing Education Survey” text=”Continuing Education Survey” url=”https://auburn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1NDkTbdfEhG7hUa”][vc_column_text]\n\nAccredited Financial Counselors (AFC): This webinar is approved for 1.0 continuing education (CE) units by the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education (AFCPE). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close on 9/23/29. \nCertified in Family and Consumer Sciences (CFCS): This webinar is approved for 1.0 continuing education (CE) credits from the American Association for Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close on 9/23/28. \nCertified Personal and Family Finance Educator (CPFFE): This webinar is approved for 1.0 continuing education (CE) credits from the American Association for Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close on 9/23/28.\nCertified Personal Finance Counselors (CPFC): This webinar is approved for 1.0 continuing education (CE) credits from The Center for Financial Certifications (FinCert.org).  Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close on 9/23/29. \nCertified Family Life Educators (CFLE): This webinar is approved for 1.0 continuing education (CE) credit from the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close on 9/23/29.\nHuman Resource Professionals: This webinar is approved for 1.0 continuing education (CE) credit from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close on 9/23/28.\nOneOp Certificates of Attendance are available for those interested in additional documentation of professional development activities.\n\nIf the continuing education survey button above does not appear\, please access the survey through this link: https://auburn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1NDkTbdfEhG7hUa. If you have any questions\, please email ce@oneop.org.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” top_margin=”0″ left_margin=”0″ constrain_group_2=”yes” right_margin=”0″ column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color=”#f7f7f7″ background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_color=”#f7f7f7″ column_border_style=”solid” enable_border_animation=”true” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Event Materials” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1689369183150{padding-left: 30px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1790024334402{padding-left: 15px !important;}”]Slides PDF[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”13″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Photo Credit: Prostock-studio[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://oneop.org/learn/160155/
CATEGORIES:Military Service and Family Life
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oneop.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/AdobeStock_486219619-Prostock-studio-1-scaled.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260924T060000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260924T170000
DTSTAMP:20260924T132948Z
CREATED:20260924T100037Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260924T132948Z
UID:10001801-1790229600-1790269200@oneop.org
SUMMARY:Jumpstart New Connections Using a Cheat Sheet
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”50px” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”column_reverse” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color=”#f7f7f7″ background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” el_class=”podcast-sidebar” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”147768″ image_size=”full” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default”][nectar_btn size=”large” constrain_group_1=”yes” open_new_tab=”true” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” solid_text_color_override=”#ffffff” icon_family=”none” text=”Subscribe Now” url=”https://www.buzzsprout.com/2099983/share” margin_top=”30″ margin_bottom=”30″][vc_column_text]Subscribe to the “Practicing Connection” monthly email to keep up to date on our latest podcasts\, blog posts and workshops. \nJoin the “Practicing Connection Community” on LinkedIn. The community is designed for people who support military families in a variety of settings both on installations and in our communities.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-4-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”3/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Listen” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”trans-title”][vc_raw_html]JTNDZGl2JTIwaWQlM0QlMjJidXp6c3Byb3V0LXBsYXllci0xOTgzMTcxMSUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmRpdiUzRSUzQ3NjcmlwdCUyMHNyYyUzRCUyMmh0dHBzJTNBJTJGJTJGd3d3LmJ1enpzcHJvdXQuY29tJTJGMjA5OTk4MyUyRmVwaXNvZGVzJTJGMTk4MzE3MTEtanVtcHN0YXJ0LW5ldy1jb25uZWN0aW9ucy11c2luZy1hLWNoZWF0LXNoZWV0LmpzJTNGY29udGFpbmVyX2lkJTNEYnV6enNwcm91dC1wbGF5ZXItMTk4MzE3MTElMjZwbGF5ZXIlM0RzbWFsbCUyMiUyMHR5cGUlM0QlMjJ0ZXh0JTJGamF2YXNjcmlwdCUyMiUyMGNoYXJzZXQlM0QlMjJ1dGYtOCUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRnNjcmlwdCUzRQ==[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”About This Episode” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”trans-title”][vc_column_text](Season 7\, Episode 39) \nHow do you get to the important conversations faster? \nSometimes getting to know a new collaborator can take more time that you have to spare. In this episode Erin and Jessica discuss how a cheat sheet can jumpstart the conversations that build understanding. \nThen Erin walks you through how to write your own. \nLinks and resources from this episode: \n\nCreate Your Own Cheat Sheet handout: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1si32FVO0z-upqBhwJOelTi40G4kDcxdAqIBhnskRWrU/edit?usp=sharing \n\nConnect with us! \n\nSign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletter\nSend us a message: practicingconnection@oneop.org\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all” el_id=”trans”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” el_class=”entry” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Transcript” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”trans-title”][nectar_btn size=”large” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” icon_family=”none” nofollow=”true” el_class=”read-it” button_id=”read-it” text=”Read More” url=”#trans”][vc_column_text el_class=”pod-trans”]JESSICA BECKENDORF: [00:00:00] Hi\, thanks for listening to Practicing Connection. I’m Jessica. Today we’re talking about how to jumpstart understanding with new groups by creating a cheat sheet. Later\, Erin’s gonna share a suggestion on how to write one. Hi\, Erin. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Hi\, Jessica. How are you? \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: I’m pretty good\, but what I really want to hear about is this book that you’ve been telling me about that is related to our topic today\, because I’m pretty sure that I’m going to have to go and get myself a copy. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Okay. It’s called Finger Exercises for Poets. It’s by Dorian Laux. Oh\, it’s L-A-U-X. Do you know how to pronounce French? It seems like one of those ones where you don’t pronounce all the letters. I should have looked this up. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Oh\, no\, I apologize to Dorian. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Anyway\, okay. So – \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: But did you know I’m a poet? Did I\, did you know that? \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: About being a poet. Yes. [00:01:00] Okay. \nSo I am very picky about books that teach you to write poetry\, because a lot of them are soulless and terrible in my humble opinion. But what I love about this book is she uses the example of her mom was a piano player\, and she was a really good piano player. She could play these amazing things so well it made you cry. \nBut when she was playing\, she always started by doing really basic piano finger exercises. And she talked to her mom about it once and her mom said\, “Well\, you have to warm up your fingers.” So each chapter of this book explores a different thing that makes poetry good with some examples of good poetry that are really good at that particular niche thing. \nAnd then at the end of the chapter\, there are exercises to practice. And I just read the chapter on the personal universe\, and all of the exercises are about helping [00:02:00] you identify and notice the things that make your life uniquely yours. \nLike\, what are the things that you smelled in your house growing up? What are the sounds that you heard? What clothes did you used to wear all the time? What’s the family lore? Like\, what are those weird catchphrases that everybody in your family uses and nobody else has ever heard of before\, because it’s like your family’s unique language? \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Yeah\, I love this. Well\, first of all\, I love this because the mind-body connection is so powerful. So it makes sense that doing exercises and stuff would have an effect on your writing. But then also\, tying it to today’s topic\, I know that we mentioned that the topic was about creating a cheat sheet\, but it was – the purpose was jumpstarting understanding between people who might be collaborative partners. \nAnd so sharing about that\, you were talking about family culture and everything\, sharing though with others your organizational [00:03:00] culture and some of the ways that your organization talks. Sharing that with your partners\, I would imagine\, would be just as powerful. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Yeah\, it really had me thinking about\, you know\, we had been talking about this idea of creating cheat sheets and maybe like an acronym cheat sheet. \nAnd then as I was kind of exploring that\, I realized\, you know what? People\, if someone wants to know about me and my context in my personal life or in my professional life\, they need more than just\, ‘here are the acronyms I use.’ \nSo how do we quickly provide other people or groups with the context about who we are and what we do\, so that we can figure out if we want to do stuff together? And this poetry book really has\, I think\, inspired me to get very specific\, and sometimes getting really specific can be more illuminating than kind of a broad elevator pitch. \nAnd so we’ve really kind of crafted our practice today to help you maybe narrow down on more specifics. It might not be as [00:04:00] poetical as the poetry book\, but our practice is really focused on helping you kind of find specifics\, and then hone them in a very poetic editing process. To like hone them into a more cohesive thing so you can quickly communicate stuff with people. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: So let’s talk about why it’s worth taking the time to create a cheat sheet\, because I think that it feels very surface level\, but that’s really not the\, I mean\, it might be kind of an intro level\, but it actually\, can be really useful. \nSo what does it do? When do you use this cheat sheet? \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: I use it to start conversations with people\, so we notice our differences and find bridges to navigate them before they become friction points. \nSo\, you know\, we work for Extension\, like OneOp is nested in [00:05:00] Extension and Extension is this very interesting partnership between state and county and university. \nAnd it’s a very\, there’s lots of layers to it. And so if we’re working with a business or a small nonprofit\, we have different organizational structures. So we need to get things approved differently\, and our money needs to follow certain laws that maybe a nonprofit has different laws they need to follow. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Like we can’t meet a grant deadline that’s only a week or two \nAway – there’s just no way that we can get involved in that. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Yeah. We have multiple levels of things\, contracts need to be approved by the lawyers and the accountants. And that kind of thing is good to talk about before you’re trying to rush to get a grant completed. \nSo as I’m thinking about it\, we’re really talking a lot on this podcast about how do we collaborate with other people in the community? \nAnd that means working with people across sectors. Cross-sector communication is a form of cross-cultural [00:06:00] communication\, right? You’re talking to people who use different language\, they have different things that they’re working on all the time. They maybe work with different people. They maybe have different acronyms. \nThey maybe use the same three letter acronym to mean completely different things. And it’s so\, so helpful to figure that out before you think you’re talking about the same thing\, and you’re talking about different things. Or before you just get in this place of like\, “Oh my gosh\, why does it always take them three months to decide if they want to do something or not? We’ve got to be reactive. We’ve got to be on top of it. Why is this taking forever?” \nAnd it’s like\, “Well\, it’s taking forever because we have to have 12 different people approve it before we can say yes to it.” And so these are the kinds of things that maybe you don’t think to talk about until you’re in a conflict\, And so I think the power of a cheat sheet is kind of like self-disclosing ahead of time\, like here’s how we work. Here’s what works best for us. This is kind of how we are\, this is what’s important to us\, these are [00:07:00] the values we base our decisions on\, or in the case of other people\, like this is the policy we build our work on. \nAnd knowing why you’re doing your work and what the aim and goals of the work that you’re doing is can really go a long way in helping you avoid some of the conflicts that will destroy a collaboration before it can get into the point where you do work together. So this is like a starting spot\, a launching pad for communication and understanding so that you can have patience and grace and cohesion. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Awesome. Can you talk a little bit about the feeling\, because you and I talked about this\, outside of this recording\, I should say\, and how this feels like it’s maybe a little bit surface level\, because it kind of does. And I want to acknowledge that. It feels basic and yet it could be this shortcut to understanding. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Yeah. I [00:08:00] totally get that. I can understand why you would look at this practice and say\, “You want me to write a one page to describe my organization? We have a website.” \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Yeah\, right. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: And the answer is like\, “Well\, people aren’t gonna read your website\, and is your website easy to navigate? Can people find this information on your website?” \nJust throwing that out there. \nDesign your websites for people. So\, you know\, I can see why it feels frivolous\, but it’s also a process of you getting to know yourselves better\, because are you aligned internally on who you are and how you want to move and the things you want to be working on? \nBecause you’d be surprised how many times people are talking past each other. And I’ve spent a lot of time like coming in new to things and kind of having these moments where I have to say as a facilitator\, “Do you guys realize you’re talking past each other? You’re using different words to talk about the [00:09:00] same thing\, or you’re using the same word to talk about different things. Do you know that that’s happening?” \nIt can feel frivolous\, but it’s a really good starting point. And then it means that you’re starting from the same place\, rather than thinking you’re starting from the same place. There’s kind of an opening to a discussion. \nAnd the real goal here is not to write a sheet and never talk about it. The goal is to write this information so that you can have\, “Hey\, where are you anticipating maybe we’ll have some friction? Can we make a plan for how to navigate that now\, before we get into it?” \nSo it’s less about\, you know\, magically downloading information into people’s brains and more\, “Here’s a concise place to start figuring out what does it look like to do and be together as people who have different objectives and goals.” \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: I love it. \nOkay. Well\, let’s get into this. Please share\, start sharing the practice with us. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Okay. So the goal here is [00:10:00] to write a short one pager that provides context and clarifies communication with other people. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: I have a question. Should you start with the particular collaboration\, or is this just a page that you cr – like\, are you tailoring this for the particular collaboration\, or partners that you might be working with? \nOr is this just something that you create once and\, you know\, you can hand it to anybody? Sorry\, putting you on the spot. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: That is a great question. I think of it kind of like a resume. You have a standard one and then you kind of tweak it once you know who you’re sending it to. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Love it. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: So I think it’s really easy when you’re thinking about writing a one pager to go to your standard elevator pitch or\, okay\, well\, “Here’s our mission and vision and that’s all you need to know.” \nAnd maybe\, maybe that is all you need to know\, but [00:11:00] maybe it isn’t. So I’ve written some other questions to ask yourself\, or ask your team\, to kind of mine a little deeper and see if there’s some additional information that is helpful to know. So I’m just going to read you these questions\, and then if you were writing one of these one pagers either by yourself or with a team\, you would pause and you would answer these questions before you move on to the next section. \nThis is the ‘gathering all of the bits and bobs’ part of the writing where you’re not necessarily including every single one of these things in the final document. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Just what’s relevant. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Yes\, don’t worry about pruning it yet. This is the point where we’re gathering things\, and then we’ll have a process later to yay or nay anything and decide if we actually want it. But it’s easier to edit from a list of information rather than editing it before you even put it on the paper\, digital or physical. \nOkay\, so questions. [00:12:00] What history of your organization\, if any\, is relevant? Who do you work with? What do you call the people that you work with? Are they clients? Are they neighbors? Are they patriots? Are they associates? \nWhat is the name that you call the people that you do work with? How many people are on your team or in your organization? Are you paid? Are you volunteers? Are you full-time? Are you part-time? \nWhat are the things about your organization that surprise new employees or new volunteers? What are three words you would use to describe your team or organization? How do you make decisions? Do you need to get them approved? \nWhat have been friction points with others in the past? How do you reframe those as value statements? What are common acronyms or phrases that you use in your [00:13:00] group? \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: I love these questions because now I feel guilty for bringing up how this feels like a very surface level thing\, because these are not surface level items. These are not things that you’ll find on a website. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: No. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: I mean\, some of them might be\, but – \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Sure. I mean\, you might find out how many people are on your team\, maybe. \nAnd so the point of these questions was not to ask you everything you could possibly ask about your organization. They’re specifically focused on what are things that are relevant to you working with other people or organizations. \nSo\, once you’ve gathered your answers to those questions\, I want you to start sorting the information that you gathered into three chunks or category areas. Number one is who we are. Number two is what we do. And number three is stuff to know. \nAnd I think this is the point where once it’s sorted into categories\, you can see maybe we have a [00:14:00] lot of stuff about who we are\, but not any stuff in the\, like\, what do you need to know about us? Or maybe you have a lot of stuff about who you are and nothing about what you do. Or maybe you only have stuff about what you do and nothing in the other categories. \nAnd the goal is to have a little bit of a balance. They don’t need to be equal\, but you should have a little bit in each of the three categories. \nAnd then the final step is prune for clarity. And this is where you can now be ruthless. This document will only be helpful if someone can actually read it. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Yeah\, please don’t make it six pages long. It should be one page\, like you said. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Yes. So if you’re at this point where you’re condensing it and you’re doing the normal\, ‘okay\, we have a document\, now we’re trying to make a final copy\,’ do your copy edits\, do your content edits. \nAnd if you’re getting stuck on how to make it shorter and you’re not sure about what to include and what to leave out\, I want you to pretend you’re someone from a different organization\, or if that’s hard\, [00:15:00] pretend that you are yourself in a job that you held before you had this one and you’re reading it. \nDoes it answer what you need to know about whether or not you should partner with a person? What’s confusing? What is missing? And I recognize that that is a very theater kid skillset to imagine yourself as somebody else. \nAnd also\, even if you think\, “I hate doing that\, Erin\, that’s so silly\,” I encourage you to do it anyway because one of the most powerful tools for editing content is to imagine you’re somebody else reading it fresh. \nAnd if you’re really struggling\, go find a fresh new person to read it for you and provide you with feedback. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: So then you have it created and you bring it to your partner or partners that you wanted to share it with\, that you created it for. This is where you’re not just handing it out to them\, right? You are handing it out with the purpose of\, like\, “Let’s talk [00:16:00] about what’s here and how you guys work\, and how we can bridge any of those differences.” \nIs this the point or am I skipping a step? \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Nope\, that’s the point. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: That’s what\, this is the point where we’re doing that. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: You got it\, you get it. So once it’s written\, I would say maybe we did skip the step of making sure that everybody on your team\, like\, agrees. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Oh\, yeah. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: You know. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: You’re not misrepresenting anything. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Make sure it’s accurate\, make sure whatever approvals you need to get in order to have a thing\, it’s been approved. \nAnd then as you’re talking with people\, how I would use it is\, I would bring it and say\, “Hey\, as we’re getting to know each other\, we’ve put together this really short page of stuff that’s really important to know about us\, and we’d love to kind of talk about it with you and notice where we’re the same and where we’re different. If you have one\, we’d love to look at yours. If you don’t\, if you could just respond to what’s on the page\, we think that if we have this [00:17:00] conversation\, it will help us have a stronger collaboration and it’ll help us avoid conflict before it happens.” \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: I’m going to put you on the spot one more time. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Yeah\, do it. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Will there be a spot where people can find these questions that you shared in a written format? \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Yes. What I have done is created a one-page template on how to create this cheat sheet one-pager. And if you look in the show notes\, there’ll be a link. It’ll be a fully accessible Google document\, so you can either print it or download it\, and then use it for your own\, in your own personal\, practice. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: Excellent. Thank you so much\, Erin. I love this practice. \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA: Yes\, I love it too\, and hopefully it is really helpful for everybody else. \nIf you do use it\, I would love to hear about it. Even if you used it and you’re like\, “Erin\, this stinks. This was not helpful to me at all.” I want to hear all of your complaints\, so that we can make it more useful for you in the future. \nJESSICA BECKENDORF: And you can do that by [00:18:00] emailing us at practicingconnection@oneop.org. \nThat’s it for this episode. Thanks so much for joining us. If you like this episode\, please consider sharing it with a friend or coworker. We’ll be back next week with a new episode. Until then\, keep practicing. \n  \nCREDITS: The Practicing Connection Podcast is a production of One-Op and is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture\, US Department of Agriculture and the Office of Military Family Readiness Policy\, US Department of Defense under award number 2 0 2 3 4 8 7 74 3 3.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://oneop.org/learn/jumpstart-new-connections-using-a-cheat-sheet/
CATEGORIES:Community Engagement
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://oneop.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Practicing-Connection_Podcast-graphic-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261001T060000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261001T170000
DTSTAMP:20261008T164752Z
CREATED:20261001T100045Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261008T164752Z
UID:10001803-1790834400-1790874000@oneop.org
SUMMARY:Collective Action & Working Together at Scale: Lessons from Early Matters
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\n\nSign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletter\nJoin our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/\nSend us a message: practicingconnection@oneop.org\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all” el_id=”trans”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” el_class=”entry” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Transcript” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”trans-title”][nectar_btn size=”large” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” icon_family=”none” nofollow=”true” el_class=”read-it” button_id=”read-it” text=”Read More” url=”#trans”][vc_column_text el_class=”pod-trans”]ERIN CARLSON RIVERA (00:03) \nHi\, welcome to the Practicing Connection Podcast. I’m Erin Carlson Rivera. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (00:08) \nAnd I’m Jessica Beckendorf. Today we’re talking about collective impact\, what it looks like when a statewide backbone organization and a local coalition work in tandem to move the needle on something as complex as early childhood education and childcare access. It’s a model built on shared goals\, shared data\, and a lot of relationship building across sectors. We wanted to dig into how it works on the ground\, what it takes to sustain over time\, and what other communities might learn from it. \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (00:38) \nOur guests today are Eric Hill from Early Matters\, Texas\, and Tessa Harlan from Early Matters San Antonio\, one of the Early Matters local coalitions. Eric serves as the Director of Business Partnerships and Strategy for Early Matters Texas\, where he leads business engagement strategies and helps regional coalitions grow support for their work from the business sector. \nHe’s a lifelong educator with over a decade of classroom experience\, having taught in the US\, Costa Rica\, Italy and South Korea before earning his master’s degree in educational leadership and policy. Eric has worked as a policy aide for both Texas and U.S. House of Representatives and most recently served as manager of education and workforce policy for the Austin Chamber of Commerce\, where he connected business to education partnerships and helped launch paid professional high school internship program with Austin ISD. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (01:33) \nAnd Tessa brings over 20 years of experience in early childhood education\, program leadership\, and project management. Her background spans multiple countries and roles: teacher\, director\, coach\, mentor\, head start\, and Air Force Child Development Centers. And that range\, paired with her passion for families and collaboration\, is what makes her partnership with Early Matters click. Through her work\, Tessa is focused on improving educational outcomes and ensuring equitable access to high-quality early learning for all children in San Antonio and Bear County. \nHi\, Eric and Tessa. Thank you so much for joining us on Practicing Connection. \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (02:08) \nHi\, thanks for having us. \n  \nERIC HALE (02:09) \nYeah\, thanks. Glad to be here. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (02:11) \nSo well\, to start us off\, I’d love to if each of you could answer this question\, it would be great. How did you find this work or how did the work find you? Sometimes the story is different. \n  \nERIC HALE (02:24) \nSo I was first introduced to Early Matters locally in our Austin chapter. So Early Matters Greater Austin. I was working for the Austin Chamber of Commerce and ended up joining their local steering committee when they were trying to pass a two and a half cents property tax increase that brought in 75 million dollars a year for childcare. And I mean that was really a 15-year endeavor that had been built up from these coalitions that existed. \nAnd I thankfully just got to be on the tail end of it and celebrate the successes. But then was further brought in to join Employers for Childcare\, which is a coalition of about 80 business leaders across the state and was actually started by Early Matters Texas to advocate for policies at the legislature. And so when an opportunity to help business partnerships came across for statewide work\, I jumped on it and have been with the group for just under a year now. \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (03:26) \nSo I came into this work. I was working in the nearby town New Bromfels\, doing some mentoring. And like you said\, I’ve been in early education a very long time and heard some rumors that people were trying to address some affordability and access and quality. And I was curious\, a little bit skeptical\, but like who’s who’s doing this work in this space? This is my heart. These are the people that I work with all the time. Let’s make sure this is something that’s speaking to the needs of the families and educators in the space. \nAnd I started to attend some of those meetings and got to know that the team is doing it\, they’re phenomenal and I kept coming and then they let me be on the team. And so here we are doing this work across San Antonio and supporting New Bromfels. But that’s kind of my entry point to into Early Matters San Antonio. \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (04:12) \nWow. I love hearing how people get started with things. Would you be able to tell us what was the problem or gap that led to Early Matters Texas being created? And why did a backbone statewide model make more sense than a single centralized program? \n  \nERIC HALE (04:30) \nYeah\, I don’t know if there was definitely opportunity that existed. And so when the decision of what the structure of Early Matters Texas was going to look like\, we made sure that it did stay as a separate backbone organization. All of our regions start locally. They come from communities who have buy-in already and who have done that work ahead of time and want to make sure we wanted to make sure that as we grew that \nOur regions still formed that way\, as opposed to dropping a model onto a locality. We help our communities evaluate if they have all the aspects to sustain the work that’s happening through collective impact\, but we are not putting that on them. There’s to be a level of community investment to make this work really happen. \nAnd there needs to be a local backbone organization as well that can support that work to really have the effects that we’ve seen. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (05:35) \nAnd I wonder if we could talk a little bit about the role of backbone organizations\, both locally and then how Early Matters Texas kind of operates in that way as well. Because I think\, you know\, we haven’t done on this podcast anyway\, we haven’t done a lot of talk about the importance of backbone organizations\, but they are so incredibly important. So would you mind sharing a little bit about that? \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (05:57) \nSure. Early Matters San Antonio has been around for about five years. And it originated\, to Eric’s point\, there was an interest in a group of people doing this work before the label was put on it\, to those same kinds of concepts of affordability\, access and quality. They gathered\, you know\, a couple of hundred people\, did a lot of learning\, and then built out an impact plan. And our role to go back to the backbone word is not necessarily to know the answers or to do the work\, but to be hopefully in our space the lead convener for the early education ecosystem. \nAnd so can we create spaces\, can we do the homework or the back work or bring things to people to decide on or to improve or grow or expand or is it funding? But all of these people working in this space are also doing a whole other job. This is an aspect of their work\, but not their full time work. And so we know how important it is to make change and make progress here. And someone needs to wake up and do it. \nAnd so that’s the backbone’s role in that space is to to wake up and make sure all of the things continue to move forward and the people keep coming to the table. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (07:03) \nKeep the train on the track. Keep it moving too. \n  \nERIC HALE (07:09) \nAnd they need to be able to have the capacity to be able to measure the goals that are being worked towards. Typically that’s why it lives within some form of an established institution\, because they have that ability and somewhat of a bandwidth to be able to bring people together\, coalesce\, and then have access to data for those metrics to be able to say what is our impact\, what are we actually doing? \nAnd then as a statewide group\, like we’re there in the same way\, dedicated space to bring all of our regions together and help them through technical assistance\, even though in reality we end up learning from them more than they probably ever learn from us. But having shared values and having the ability to see what’s happening everywhere and then pointing them into\, this is a best practice that you might want to utilize and this might be here. \nAnd just providing that extra support that they get to be so focused on what their community needs and then we get to see the cool things that are actually happening and sprinkled across and be like connecting it all together. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (08:16) \nThat’s awesome. And\, you know\, Tessa\, you were mentioning kind of being that support and kind of keeping that train on the tracks and moving. And I would imagine\, and we’ll get a little bit more into this a little bit later\, but that takes a lot of relationship development and a lot of connecting the dots. So how do you get people who aren’t thinking much about childcare to see this as a workforce issue\, not not just a personal issue that like people need to deal with on their own and figure it out and find some childcare\, not just as like that individual\, but how do you get them to see it as like a much wider issue? And is it a challenge? Maybe it’s not a challenge. \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (08:58) \nIt is definitely a challenge. We have a phenomenal team here that works on this and our executive director\, Mark\, has had some strategies in place that we use here in San Antonio to help get this word out. We do a thing called First Friday Breakfast\, where on the first Friday of every month we do a presentation that’s business centered or civic centered that shares why early education is important\, that about brain development\, about how it much it costs to run a program\, what where are our teachers and how much do they get paid? \nAnd then closer to the end of this presentation\, we’re actually showing employers what not supporting childcare actually costs them. Like as they have to rehire because people are leaving the field\, those pay rates tend to go up. And as your worker pool gets smaller because childcare is not being addressed\, those rates continue to go up. And so we share that on the first Friday of every month. We do things like best place for working parents\, which is like a tool that businesses can use to assess their practices and get ideas on how to better support their employees that are also families or parents. \nWe also try to share it in a way that makes sense. Like we treat childcare like a public good\, but it’s actually not funded like that. It’s not structured like that. If childcare doesn’t work\, no one works. Even if you don’t have kids\, your bus driver does\, your coworker does. So we treat it like a public good\, but we don’t fund it and support it that way. And I think people can get their head around that. \nJust sometimes you’re just not thinking about it because it’s not in your space. So we just try to make sure that we share this message out\, that we explain that 90% of a child’s brain is developed before age five. And so if we want our future workforce to be super creative and ready to set our city up for success\, then we need to invest in that 90% as much as possible. So it’s just mostly finding space. \nBut once we get people to come to the table\, they’re normally wildly engaged and have a lot of questions\, and how do we connect? \n  \nAnd Eric helps us with some things like that around the business toolkits and things that maybe he can speak to around sharing this message out more broadly. \n  \nERIC HALE (10:55) \nI mean\, we like to think that childcare is the workforce behind the workforce. And I think that during COVID everyone felt that they saw how the world stood still and didn’t know what to do when that piece was removed. So there is that memory\, that piece in everyone’s mind. But once they really see the impact\, once they peel back the layers\, they quickly understand it’s not hard to sell it\, actually. \nIt’s just once they recognize it\, they’re like\, What do I do? So a lot of the work that we’ve been doing is trying to provide them with easy next steps and allow them to maybe evaluate their own perspectives of what they could do\, because there aren’t clear pathways for this. Like has somebody people have not mapped this out well and it hasn’t been shared. \nBusiness leaders shouldn’t be experts in childcare\, but we want to make them realize that they could make an impact. And so guiding them and showing them some of that has always been\, they’re usually very receptive to it. \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (11:57) \nHmm. Tessa\, can you walk us through what a local Early Matters coalition looks like on the ground on the day to day? Something like who’s at the table and what autonomy do you have to set their own goals versus following more of like the backbone statewide model? \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (12:15) \nFor sure. Early Matters has about a hundred and two partners currently. We’ve slowly grown over the past few years. Our partners are the experts and the doers of this work. They know what our community needs. It’s a robust group from philanthropy to business to nonprofits to child care providers to child safety or our foster care supports to our local design and intervention services. \nWe spend a lot of time thinking about who\, and and who all are the stakeholders in this experience and can we make sure that we have them at the table to help us with these decisions? We’ve broken our work up\, like I said\, we have an impact plan or a citywide plan that we’re implementing that was built in the community. And it has basically five chunks of work. We have some work around access to quality. So how do we support additional seats across the city? How do we support children with complex needs to get the care that they need? \nHow do we help providers become military accepting scholarship providers? We also have work around the pipeline\, the early educator pipeline. We’ve got support in that space. How do we get\, you know\, some articulation work throughout our community colleges and state colleges? How do we support professional development in that space? We’ve got a family engagement work group\, which basically has two prongs. One is connecting families to early education and care if they want it. And if they don’t\, what resources do you need in that space as well? \nAnd then around it\, we have an ecosystem\, which is basically enabling conditions for this work to get done. And that’s a data work group and a policy work group. And so each of those work groups has 30 to 50 members connected to them. Then we have in-person meetings about once every six weeks where we look at our list of charges\, what is our access to quality goals or what are our family engagement goals? And the group is the decision maker. \nSo they decide which one we want to work on. That normally splits off into a subgroup\, and then they build out a proposal and we fund it. And it happens and we test to see if it works\, and then we iterate off of that and rinse and repeat across the 55 groups. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (14:18) \nYeah. \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (14:18) \nThe action’s in the impact plan. This one is probably about a $20 million investment to get it all done. We’ve raised and we shout out to our community who’s really been super generous and in and wanting this work to come to life. Around $13 million or 12.9\, I think is where we’re at now. \nThis impact plan wraps up at the end of 2027\, and we’ll build the next one because conditions have changed and data has changed\, and hopefully we’ve made lots of progress and found some successes that we want to duplicate in the next plan. \n  \nERIC HALE (14:51) \nAnd when Tessa says that she has 102 stakeholders and partners\, she means that there are 102 actively involved people. Like I was just down in San Antonio a few weeks ago and they had their big convening where they put out their impact plan. You can find it on their website. And people were so heavily engaged. Like they felt ownership of this. They were so involved in the process. \nAnd that relationship that early Matters San Antonio has\, that trust that has been built\, it was just palpable in the room. \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (15:26) \nThank you\, Eric. \n  \nERIC HALE (15:27) \nThat is the only way that this really works. And that you can have so many groups going on at all times is from this groundwork that was built. \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (15:36) \nYeah. So it’s a hundred and two partner organizations\, probably to give credit to the people doing the work\, about three hundred and fifty people involved in in one \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (15:45) \nWow. \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (15:46) \naspect or the other of the work group. So lots of people pouring into this. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (15:51) \nYeah\, that is quite the network to weave there. One question that came to mind while you were talking\, Tessa\, is you mentioned that you have this kind of ecosystem of support. On the front end\, did you guys\, by you guys\, I’m not sure who I mean\, but convening the original kind of group who got together and wanted to start making change\, did you guys do some intentional sort of defining and development of that ecosystem and building out\, what how did you end up with such a great ecosystem of support? \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (16:27) \nOur origin story predates me. So I’m telling someone else’s story\, so hopefully I do it justice. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (16:32) \nOkay. \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (16:33) \nBut there were several people in our community that came together to want to build this out\, and then they went and learned from different communities\, and then continued to build out that stakeholder map. And we continue to do that to this day. So we for example\, we took on a new bucket of work in the family engagement around there’s a better way to say this\, but we’ve been saying like unstructured care\, like the families who are not participating in Head Start or they’re not going to preschool or public pre-K. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (16:59) \nRight. \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (17:00) \nSo we wanted to build something tailored for that group. And then we looked at the table and it’s like\, everybody here is part of a system. We actually don’t know these families or what they need. \nAnd and so then we stopped and we redid that stakeholder map and reached out and said\, Hey\, you know\, you’re at the diaper bank or the food bank or you’re at the market or or H E B or local\, like you guys should come and help us understand the population that you’re working with\, and help us get connected so we can create something that’s authentically needed and valuable \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (17:27) \nMmhmm. \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (17:28) \nAnd created by the community for the community. And so we have to kind of stop and pause and relook at who’s at the table. We are on an open door policy\, please keep coming. Everyone is welcome. Every voice is valuable. And then we also as a backbone have an obligation to make sure those spaces are are equitable and they represent community and that they have a variety of voices speaking into what’s created and funded and built. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (17:52) \nI also have more questions about that. I’ll just ask one though. I’m curious about\, I love how this is set up. And it seems like you guys have done an incredible job of really inviting the community in. If you care about the issue\, you’re welcome here. How do you work with some power differentials that could happen when that comes in? \nDifferential\, that’s maybe not the right word to use here\, but there’s some differences\, right? I just actually had a meeting the other day with someone. We’re trying to plan an effort and the question was\, “Hey\, I’d like to have some residents come to this event. Are they welcome?” And of course they were. And she’s like\, “Well\, I’m a little afraid that their voice could get lost because they don’t see themselves as leaders on this particular topic\, but they definitely have a perspective to share\, and they have lived experience with this and everything. \nAnd so how do you ensure that people’s voices are heard and valued? \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (18:54) \nIt’s a great question\, and I don’t think you’ll ever be done with that. I don’t think there’s a mastering of that. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (18:59) \nYes. \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (19:00) \nWe start our meetings with a set of norms that we’ve all kind of agreed upon\, and one of them being ‘take space\, make space.’ So you’re everyone’s welcome to speak and also be ready to listen to others. I think having the impact plan and our headline goal\, our work group goals helps us center around one idea. \nAnd so we’re not necessarily\, you know\, chasing down maybe one entity’s passion project or we’re all actually coalescing around some shared values\, some shared goals. People in San Antonio are phenomenal. We really don’t seem to buck up against that a lot. And we asked for feedback. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (19:37) \nThat’s great. \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (19:38) \nAnd so hopefully someone\, if people felt that way\, we would get that feedback. But I think also there’s the behind the scenes too of prepping people for these engagements. \nAnytime there’s someone new\, I always invite them to come to me a little bit early\, or I’ll go meet with them a week or two before and say\, “Here’s the group\, here’s who sits here\, you are wonderfully welcome. And yet please take up all the space that you need.” \nThis is the context of the decisions we’re going to make to just try to set them up for as much success and engagement as they’d like to participate in. So those are some of the things that help. But I don’t think that we should always feel uncomfortable about that and be checking on that\, and checking in on that because as we get complacent then we will lose some voices that really should be centered in those conversations. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (20:25) \nYeah. Thank you. \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (20:27) \nPivoting a bit\, what’s the specific role that the statewide layer plays that a local coalition couldn’t do on its own? \n  \nERIC HALE (20:36) \nWell\, I mean\, early at Early Matters serving as a backbone. We like to focus on coordination\, convening\, and amplifying. All of our regions are doing very different work and they have identified and found what their community needs. They’ve done the work\, they’ve done\, they’ve assessed and coordinated around a goal. Texas is a massive state. We have thirty million people. \nAll of the needs of communities are very different and the way that they’re going to go about it and the approaches that they have might be different\, but we’re all trying to serve children and families in our communities. And as they’re going through these processes\, their goals change. Like they have gone through multiple versions of a community impact plan. And it’s always what’s next. So once they’ve started to make that momentum and that change\, being able to see and help them learn from each other and find out what they could be doing because keeping that momentum can be so difficult. \nEither people feel great success and they’re like\, “Okay\, we did it. Fantastic. Now what’s the common problem that can be happening\, and so how do you keep those local people engaged? How do you define and figure out what is going to be the next impact?” \nAnd they are doing so much work on the ground that they don’t often have time to be able to look up and find and seek out resources and know what’s happening in other states. So it’ll we’re able to kind of provide that perspective and be that resource for them. And then the best part of it\, we get to share with the state\, at the capitol\, all the things that they have figured out that could be replicated in other places. And we get to point to that and be an advocate for them from that perspective. \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (22:34) \nEric\, can I just add one thing? I think you were touching on it there in the capitol. Policy. Early Matters Texas is a huge asset to our coalitions when it comes to policy. So much of this work we can test out and pilot and do it at the local level. We have a lot of say here. And also big systemic change may come from policy changes and different investments at the state and federal level. So having Early Matters Texas help with the policy\, shared policy agenda\, creating a set of things that we’re all saying so that we can get those ideas captured and in the minds of those who get to make those decisions. \nIt’s really\, really helpful. \n  \nERIC HALE (23:11) \nYeah\, together all of our regions at this point represent changes all the time. But I mean it’s close to half of the state\, like less than that\, but close to it when you really look at populations and that has an impact. We have an understanding\, a pulse check of what is happening. Appreciate you\, Tessa hyping me up and pointing things out. I’ll do the same to you. \nSo also why I need these people in my corner. \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (23:38) \nThat’s teamwork. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (23:40) \nOne of the things we always say on this podcast in various ways is\, “We need each other.” And so I think that’s the perfect example. Like\, you guys need each other. And I’m not just talking about Eric and Tessa\, but I’m talking about\, you know\, your efforts need each other. This is a huge\, hairy\, sticky problem that you guys are addressing\, and you’re addressing it very well. \nAnd also\, there’s so much work to be done. And so gotta keep the train on the track. \n  \nERIC HALE (24:11) \nThis is at a very interesting point because we are looking at the governance and structure of childcare as a whole. It is spread out across a variety of agencies. It touches the anywhere between six and nine and funnels funding comes from such a variety of sources that when you start peeling back the layers and you get to a problem\, we’re able to point to a region or a place or people who have that experience and understand it and be like\, this is somebody who’s doing something well\, or is this happening everywhere? \nWe hear it from you\, but is this like a local issue or is this something that is a struggle for every community? And it definitely impacts and that that is the way we approach our priorities when we go into the session for when legislation is on the table. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (25:05) \nAwesome. So I’m going to pivot us because I would love for people to start to see how they might be able to build something similar in their area. \nSo Tessa\, maybe I’ll start with you on this since you’re with a local coalition. But Eric\, please feel free to chime in. So for a service provider or a local leader who wants to build something similar in their own community\, and maybe on a different topic even\, what are the first sort of one or two moves that you would recommend before you have any funding or formal structure in place? \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (25:39) \nThis is a good question. And Eric will probably have some more concrete details as he takes new regions through this process. But some advice I would probably give is just do a lot of learning. There’s a lot of information out there. There are other groups you can learn from. We’re four or five years in and still heavily in the learning phase. I attend a couple different coalitions that are not necessarily early education focused to learn about how they’re doing. \nHow do they structure things\, how do they get to decisions? How do they share credit and move things forward? I’d say find some key decision makers and people who could be big advocates for you. We have a phenomenal board. We have four key partners United Way\, Pre-K for SA\, Workforce Solutions\, Alamo\, and Texas A & M San Antonio Institute of School and Community Partnerships. These four key partners of ours help move this work forward and helped influence some of the early decisions in the beginning. \nAnd so I’d say find some key people that can help you on your side and do a lot of learning\, and probably stay curious longer than’s comfortable\, and then shift into some problem solving and developing a plan. Eric\, what did I miss? \n  \nERIC HALE (26:50) \nI think I think you said it great. I think oftentimes people want to jump into it and just fix the problem. And so taking the time to really assess what’s out there\, just having those conversations\, like keeping it at the forefront of people’s minds and seeing who might come to the table. It does take one or two of those key stakeholders or people who have some innate power and authority. \nThis is where some of that change happens more rapidly\, but it doesn’t have to come from that place. It takes time and it needs to understand and to really assess what is the landscape that’s out there\, who is doing what\, how can we work collectively towards the same goal and slowly picking those people up along the way to help with that effort before deciding what is the best solution? How do we move forward? \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (27:43) \nSo\, Eric\, you’ve mobilized over 80 businesses and secured 20-plus legislative testimonies. What does that recruitment conversation sound like? How do you get people on board? \nHow would you get a CEO to write an op-ed on community care? Like how does that conversation start with a new person? \n  \nERIC HALE (28:01) \nFirst off\, I haven’t done that. That is the impact of the groups. \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (28:07) \nMm-hmm. \n  \nERIC HALE (28:08) \nBut bring me back in a year and I will hopefully be able to say that. I would love to be able to say that. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (28:13) \nYou could give us a master class on sales for this topic! \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (28:18) \nHa ha. \n  \nERIC HALE (28:19) \nBut that is\, I mean\, we had the right partners and the right people together. When Employers for Childcare was first formed\, it was a partnership between Texas Association of Business\, which is our like kind of our statewide Chamber of Commerce\, a really smart policy group called Texas 2036\, and then the Texas Restaurant Association\, because the pandemic really impacted non-traditional hours. and like they were asked to still be there\, still working. They have become some of our strongest supporters and advocates for the need for child behavior because the system doesn’t fit the way that they are operating. \nSo we were able to bring in a lot of voices that recognized and wanted to see this change. And once you have that buy-in\, it’s just giving them the right opportunities and coordination. \nIt’s still building that trust of\, “Here’s some steps you could take.” We have a phenomenal partnership with an organization that was built out of Texas called Best Place for Working Parents that Tessa mentioned earlier. It starts with this simple three-minute assessment that just looks at\, is your business doing X\, Y\, and is one of these like 10 best approaches and recognizing and celebrating\, yes\, you’re you meet the bark\, fantastic. You were the best place for working parents\, you can put it on your website\, hurrah. \nBut then like it allows us to then say\, what do you want to do next? Like there’s more out there. Here’s what you could be doing. Here’s the return on investment on it. There’s so many things that if you’re struggling\, like when I talk with CEOs\, I always start with\, “What is your biggest struggle?” And eventually through that conversation\, retention and recruitment of talent always comes up. \nSomewhere in there\, there are really hard positions to fill. And there’s simple first steps you can take to ensure you’re improving culture\, that they know that they can have access to reliable childcare or they can have a more flexible schedule that can increase their retention and their satisfaction with their organization. A recent survey showed that 83% of millennials would leave a job if there was a place with better family-friendly policies. \nSo it makes it competitive. It’s also an economic development issue. If your community\, if you want new businesses to come into your community\, you need to be able to show that you have the structure to be able to support all of these new employees that might come with it\, or that they can come in and they don’t have to leave children behind. You have the structures already in place for that growth and that ability. And that’s a huge incentive for larger companies that might want to invest locally. \nSo like I said before\, I think a lot of business leaders\, when they peel back the layers\, they get it and they want to be champions for it. And we have a great ecosystem in Texas for that\, which has been the ones coming up with innovative solutions. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (31:27) \nSo Eric\, I don’t mean to put you on the spot here\, but do you have any examples of a business? I mean\, it sounds like you have lots of examples of businesses who are really into this idea and wanting to make some change and help usher in some change in this space. Are there any specific examples that you have of a success that has occurred? Like some are there any employee surveys that were put out where the employees said\, ‘“Yeah\, I definitely have stayed here longer because this is a family-friendly business.” I’m not sure if that’s the right question to ask you or you’re welcome to find the question within that. But do you have any examples of that? \n  \nERIC HALE (32:09) \nYeah\, I think as I said before\, a lot of business leaders want to do more. They just don’t always know how. And it does start with surveying your employees because you need to understand what the need and the demand is and then be able to better understand how the approach could be more effective. You may think on-site childcare is the option\, but you may find after surveying your employees that they would much rather have their child care closer to their home than have to drive their kids in to be there with them. \nYou may find that there’s a desert somewhere else out there and that it’s maybe just like the cost of care or just having some flexibility and backup care might make shift work so much easier. And most of these companies are kind of figuring it out on their own. \nTexas Mutual is a great example. When they were building a new facility\, they found the location and kind of did this work and decided to work with an existing childcare provider and built that into the center of their new facility so that their children are right there and available. But that’s not always the option for everyone. Bigger companies do have some of the resources and pieces for that\, but it can be simple things. I was just speaking with a small\, I think 40 something person design team called Brit Design Group in Austin. And when they were deciding on their parental leave policy\, they decided to actually provide a percentage of the salary\, but then extend it to 12 weeks\, which is close to double what the national norm is. \nAnd that allowed parents to have the time and ability to stay with their children all the way through\, and progress back into work when they were ready. And that came from also surveying and talking with their employees\, and knowing what was best fit for them. So I’m really excited because there’s some great new federal tax changes that have happened that will allow for more of these options to occur. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (34:22) \nMm-hmm. \n  \nERIC HALE (34:24) \nBut for most of the time\, there’s not a place to easily find what they should be doing. And I mean\, San Antonio’s leadership has strong leaders who have really stepped up in this space as well. \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (34:35) \nThat’s a good point\, Eric. Our board chair\, Peter Holt\, has done so many things to help the early education community. Part of the origin story of Early Matters San Antonio and a big part of the impact plan\, from things like donating land for a new program to supporting pipeline work and and funding educator credentialing. There’s ways he’s plugged into even chairing the government task force on governance and early education governance currently. \nSo businesses can plug in in different levels. Of course\, small business may have different assets than a larger one\, but there’s ways for people to plug in. It’s most of the time to Eric’s point\, people just don’t know necessarily how to\, but they’re open to it and interested in it because they know that will help their employees. \n  \nERIC HALE (35:20) \nAnd this is such a complex issue that like this is not gonna fix everything\, but it can reduce the cost of care. It can increase and allow families to choose higher quality care and like actually have the capacity to then go out and find care that might fit their needs\, which makes them more assured and feel safer and be more present when they’re at their jobs. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (35:49) \nWow. Actually\, speaking of\, you know\, kind of shifting over to community partners\, which I know a lot of the businesses are part of that story\, Tessa\, I really want to ask you: you earlier mentioned that you have 102 community partners and they’re working on 55 concurrent strategies. That’s incredible. I need to take a moment just to recognize how incredible it is. It is really difficult to organize that many partners. And it’s even more difficult to organize 55 strategies being worked on at the same time. \nHow do you keep the coalition members\, those partners\, engaged and accountable to the work and to each other? \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (36:38) \nI’ll just say I get the opportunity to speak on behalf of Early Matters San Antonio\, but we are a shared work from partners to to colleagues. We are a giant team of seven\, I think now. So moving this work forward has taken some really brilliant brilliant people and good planning on behalf of the whole group. Thinking about how you keep the work moving forward\, accountability I’m putting to the side just for just for a second. \nThe group built the work. And so when the group built the work\, you don’t have to sell it or remind them about it. There’s shared ownership of it. One thing I think we try to keep front of mind when doing the backbone work here is to move\, and I think Collective Impact Forum calls it strategic urgency\, where we have to de block this line of making enough space for really quality programming\, pilots\, projects to be developed\, but also moving quickly enough for people to stay engaged and to see impact and results. \nAnd that’s hard and there’s no fine 12 week plan\, this is 6 weeks. Like you have to kind of drive with your feet on the gas and the brakes simultaneously. We’re doing this as a community\, but we also need to get it done quickly because our kids are here looking for us to make change. And so I think because this group is known for and and not due to me\, but due to us\, big us\, getting stuff done\, people stay engaged. They know this work is going to happen\, that we are going to make decisions\, and so hopefully you’re here and present\, that we are actively fundraising for the next big thing\, that you can walk around and see the impact. \nAnd so I think because this group\, the whole 102 are really effective and really engaged\, that it feeds itself. And we get to see the benefits come out of it and that’s a reward or a nice example of what we can do as a collective\, and that inspires the next round of work across the community. \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (38:47) \nSo what’s a common mistake you see communities make early on when they try to do this kind of collective impact work? And what would you tell someone to avoid? \n  \nERIC HALE (38:57) \nI think they often want to just get to the solution. They see that a little bit of momentum has happened and they want to jump into the meat of the work that exists without doing the groundwork that needs to happen. There needs to be time spent really identifying the problem\, mapping out who’s involved\, really understanding where there’s overlap. \nBecause if you don’t have those norms as Tessa referenced to\, if you don’t have those shared values and that clear North Star of like what we’re trying to work towards\, then oftentimes people start moving in opposite directions. We’re not rowing together. We’re not actually working towards a measurable piece. And that friction builds over time and there’s not that shared ownership that exists. \nSo those pieces that seem\, especially people who do nonprofit work who care about community\, they feel like\, “Yeah\, we know that already. We don’t need to worry about that.” We trust that\, but that has to be built. Like\, especially as you’re going into this work\, collective impact is not easy. It takes a lot of ownership and development to then be able to get to a place like San Antonio has. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (40:17) \nWe were talking a little bit about this before we hit record\, and one of the things that I see over and over is skipping over some of those really important parts. Tessa\, you mentioned earlier that you start every one of your meetings by reminding everyone of those norms that you guys develop together. You do an orientation to help new people really understand and get folded into how you guys operate. \nBut one of the things that I see over and over is that\, you know\, people are like\, “Well\, we’re adults. We can figure out how to work together.” And we can. We really can. We have great capacity for that. And also\, Erin\, I don’t know if it was you before we hit record\, you said\, “Well\, do we want to find out how we’re going to work together the hard way? Or or do we want to talk that through on the front end?” \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (41:02) \nI think that was me\, yeah. \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (41:02) \nHa ha ha. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (41:04) \nSo I really appreciate everything you’re saying\, Eric. I think that that kind of stuff is more important\, but it also feels like you’re not getting anything done\, but you are getting so much done by talking through all of those things. \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (41:19) \nHundred percent agree. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (41:21) \nAnd Tessa\, what some of the lessons learned that you’ve experienced in this work? \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (41:26) \nI think we’re still wildly in the learning phase. If we keep reaching out and trying and asking for\, you know\, who else is doing this work that’s like ours\, or who else can we learn from? And I think to those questions\, we’ve learned that there’s no one way to do this. There’s not a website we just haven’t visited yet that has the answers to how to do collective impact successfully across time and and scale. \nSo I’d say\, stay flexible. Listen to your community. Don’t try to make things into what it looks like for some other organization or region. Like listen\, listen to the folks at the table. That’s why they’re there. They know what your community needs. Don’t be so rigid or try to fit it into some framework that exists. Create boundaries\, create check-ins\, create what it looks like for success to happen\, but plan for ideation. \n  \nERIC HALE (42:20) \nYeah. I mean it’s I think leaving the door open for opportunities. Like even as you move through the process\, allow for other people to join and move with you. It may take some more backwork to get them adjusted and understand this approach\, but solutions may come because you have the right people at the table and doing that work ahead of time. You may find new issues that need to be covered\, find experiences that may bring more understanding and yeah\, it definitely is an important piece of just seeing who’s at the table and leaving space and leaving a chair for them. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (43:02) \nWell\, I’m hearing so much of this in your voices\, but also I’d love for you to just articulate what’s giving you hope about this work right now. \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (43:12) \nI think the fact that we’re talking about early education and care gives me a lot of hope. Like I said\, my family\, both my mom and dad owned little tiny childcare programs when I was growing up. This has been a part of my life from jump. And I never heard about it on TV or I didn’t see it in the newspaper\, or people weren’t talking about it on a podcast. \nSo I think that we’re talking about it\, that more people that are not directly involved in early education and care are talking about it. \n  \nI also think that it’s a connector. Even in this climate that we’re in right now where there’s\, you know\, binary choices for everything. Childcare is something people can coalesce around. Early education and family support\, people can all kind of coalesce around and support. \nAnd we’re hearing that. We’re hearing that in lots of different spaces that never really spoke about this before. So I’ve got a lot of hope that people are coming to the table that never have before\, and that we’ll have some opportunity to see some really interesting and creative support put in for families in the future. \n  \nERIC HALE (44:11) \nI think one thing\, as I alluded to before\, the federal tax code has shifted and it has opened a door and opportunities for employers to have a larger investment where it is financially feasible. Before it was such a small thing. And so this just allows for new approaches that I think can make a huge impact. \nBut more than anything\, like I’m always just inspired by our regions. They are doing such creative work. There’s been work around shared services that has been done\, a lot of that has been done in San Antonio. But we have currently four regions who have identified that also this is a problem\, found their own approach to the way that they’re going to work on that\, and now we have four test examples that we can point to and be like\, “This is working for this\, and this approach might be working for this.” \nSo I’m so excited to see how that grows and develops and then be able to really dig into what are the best practices that come out of that. So this model is working and it is making real impact for families and children in Texas. And that’s what really makes me happy. \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (45:29) \nRight. Well\, our final question\, I think: When we don’t do interviews on this podcast\, we teach people skills. And I’m curious if there are any practices that you use\, given your work is very complex and highly collaborative. \n  \nERIC HALE (45:43) \nI would love to say I do this all the time\, but my go-to is just finding and carving out time for reflection. This issue is so deeply personal\, so complex and sticky that we can be so in the weeds and the urgency of it feels so strong that we often don’t take the time to like step back and look at what we need to be doing long term: strategizing and celebrating and talking about what’s actually working to refill ourselves. \nSo that’s something that I try to set time aside for\, because there’s never enough time. it does not happen. It’s not going to happen on your own. So that has really been a practice that’s been important for me. \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (46:31) \nAwesome. I need to do more of that\, Eric. I promise. Maybe that’s what those long car rides are for. \n  \nERIC HALE (46:36) \nYes. \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (46:37) \nAnd so if I was thinking about my role at Early Matters as Director of Partner Engagement\, a lot of my work is the peopling aspect of this organization. So I think being transparent and authentically yourself is a must. We’re building trust. We’re asking people to do things differently or try something or be vulnerable or donate\, and you have to be trusted to do that and to build trust\, you need to authentically be yourself and be transparent about what you’re doing\, where you’re at\, where the work is. \nAnd then the other one I’d say meet in person as much as possible. Zooms are great. They’re very convenient\, but that person to person connection\, those groups when we’re all together and the the meeting wraps and everyone kind of pairs into groups and they’re planning other things and the the work is spawning from itself\, is is magical\, and it helps refill fill your cup. \nAnd so be yourself and be in person as much as possible. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (47:33) \nWell\, thank you both so much. It makes me very happy to hear you say\, Eric\, that you recommend self-reflection. So many of our practices on this podcast are based in self-reflection. And Tessa\, I would say that when you talk about being authentic\, showing up authentically\, a huge part of that cycle starts with self-reflection. So knowing yourself so well that you can show up confidently and authentically as yourself\, but also maintaining that kind of openness to people so that you can take in other perspectives as well. \nSo thanks so much for the work you guys do. And thank you so much for joining us\, Eric and Tessa. \n  \nTESSA HARLIN (48:13) \nThanks so much for having us. This is fun. Thank you all. \n  \nERIC HALE (48:16) \nYeah\, thank you both. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (48:18) \nThat’s Eric Hale\, Director of Business Partnerships and Strategy at Early Matters\, Texas\, and Tessa Harlan with Early Matters\, San Antonio. \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (48:26) \nThat’s it for this episode. Thank you so much for joining us. If this conversation got you thinking about how communities can pull together\, we hope you’ll share it with a colleague\, partner\, or neighbor who’s doing that work too. You can find more resources from today’s episode in our show notes\, along with links to some of the examples we talked about today. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (48:45) \nWe’d like to thank our announcer\, Kaylin Goebel Mathis\, Maggie Lucas\, and Joyce Fawn for their help with marketing\, and Nathan Grimm\, who composed and performed all the music you hear on the podcast. We hope you’ll listen again soon. Until then\, keep practicing. \n  \nCREDITS: The Practicing Connection Podcast is a production of One-Op and is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture\, US Department of Agriculture and the Office of Military Family Readiness Policy\, US Department of Defense under award number 2 0 2 3 4 8 7 74 3 3.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://oneop.org/learn/collective-action-and-working-together-at-scale/
CATEGORIES:Community Engagement
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://oneop.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Practicing-Connection_Podcast-graphic-2.png
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261008T060000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261008T170000
DTSTAMP:20261008T172527Z
CREATED:20261008T100022Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261008T172527Z
UID:10001804-1791439200-1791478800@oneop.org
SUMMARY:Inviting on Purpose: Empowering Others to Participate
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Here are five principles to get it right. \nInvitations aren’t just logistics – they’re where a gathering succeeds or falls apart before it even starts. \nIn this episode\, Jessica and Erin dig into why a well-crafted invitation saves time\, keeps efforts on track\, and empowers people to actually participate\, whether you’re inviting someone to a single event or into a long-term community change effort. \nDrawing on Priya Parker’s The Art of Gathering\, they walk through five principles for better invitations: letting your purpose act as both bouncer and recruiter\, removing (or naming) barriers to full participation\, matching your invitation to the participation you actually want\, being clear about what’s in it for the invitee\, and never skipping the practical details. \nConnect with us! \n\n\n\nSign up for our monthly newsletter: https://oneop.aweb.page/practicing-connection-newsletter\nJoin our LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12879756/\nSend us a message: practicingconnection@oneop.org\n\n\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” text_align=”left” row_position=”default” row_position_tablet=”inherit” row_position_phone=”inherit” overflow=”visible” pointer_events=”all” el_id=”trans”][vc_column_inner column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” overflow=”visible” el_class=”entry” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Transcript” use_theme_fonts=”yes” el_class=”trans-title”][nectar_btn size=”large” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” icon_family=”none” nofollow=”true” el_class=”read-it” button_id=”read-it” text=”Read More” url=”#trans”][vc_column_text el_class=”pod-trans”]JESSICA BECKENDORF (00:03) \nHi\, thanks for listening to the Practicing Connection Podcast. I’m Jessica. Today we’re talking about how to make better invitations. Later\, Erin and I will discuss five principles to help you craft your next invitation. I am so excited about this topic. \nHi\, Erin. Maybe I could bring you into this conversation. What is your favorite invitation that you’ve received? \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (00:27) \nWow. Hi. That’s a great question. Okay. I have two that come to mind for completely different reasons. One is\, I got an invitation to a Muppet themed costume party. I may have talked about it before on this podcast. I’m sorry if I have. Genuinely delightful. Like every single thing was even the words were Muppet themed\, and just the sheer delight of realizing I would get to dress up as a Muppet. I had something to look forward to for months. Genuinely so fun. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (01:10) \nWhat about that made like you said\, it was very joyful? Is there anything about that invitation that made you feel special for having been invited? Not that that’s a prerequisite\, I’m just curious. \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (01:23) \nI mean\, no. Like\, I mean\, this was a friend of mine who has a birthday party every year. But hilariously\, the second invitation I was about to talk about was I had a friend who was running like an experience for college students. And she specifically asked me\, “Hey\, will you come run this with me? Because you have all these gifts and skills that I don’t have. And I trust you as a collaborator. Here’s a specific role I would love if you would come fill.” \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (01:58) \nThat’s cool. \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (01:59) \nAnd this was\, I don’t know\, maybe 2020. This was six years ago. I still think about that invitation regularly because I’ve never felt so seen\, known\, and valued as that invitation. And it wasn’t like a super formal thing. It was just in a conversation. But I felt very honored to be getting this invitation and it was clear like\, this person really trusts me. \nAnd sees expertise that I wouldn’t necessarily have thought of\, a thing you need expertise in. Sometimes you’re really skilled at something\, and you don’t realize you’re good at it until someone else points it out and you realize\, “Wait\, not everybody can do this.” \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (02:43) \nYeah. I don’t know if it’s a compliment or not\, but the first time I ever heard and understood something like that\, someone told me it was because they told me that they really appreciated that I can’t not open my mouth. And I feel like that’s in some circles\, that’s maybe not a compliment\, but they really did mean it that way. Because they were very opposite that. And I really appreciated how they were able to ask me questions so that I could think\, in a way\, but I always appreciated their ability to sit back and contemplate. \nAnd I didn’t realize that they had also appreciated my ability to just say what’s on my mind. You know\, maybe I’m less direct than some people who when they say what’s on their mind\, they’re like super direct\, and even blunt about it. I wouldn’t say that I’m blunt at all\, but I definitely do attempt to say what’s on my mind\, and I can’t stop myself\, frankly\, most of the time. \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (03:40) \nThat’s fair. Do you have an invitation that you still remember? \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (03:46) \nWell\, you brought up a good example of\, I think there’ve been a lot of times in my life when someone has just specifically said to me\, “I really want you there. I really think I need you specifically to be there. I need someone like you there.” \nAnd there’s been a number of times when I’ve heard something like that. Like an example is\, you know\, it’s very hard for me to say no\, and I was going through a practice of trying to say no to this one. I’d been invited to be part of this planning team. We were trying to do some professional development for our callings. It was on a topic I was skilled in and they invited me to be part of it. \nAnd I tried at first and after a while I was like\, “You guys\, I can’t. I just don’t have the capacity or the time.” And then like a week later I got a call from one of the organizers. This was one of the people who had really been pushing for this effort. And they said to me\, “You know\,  I think we really specifically need you there. Your innovative way of thinking\, your kind of pushing the boundaries of the box. Like we really\, really need that. And we need you.” \nI said\, “I can’t give you much. All I can really do is like comment on what you guys are developing. I can be a reviewer. That’s about all I can do.” \nAnd they were like\, “You know what? We’ll take it. We just need you involved.” So things like that I think have stuck out to me as great invitations. And I’ll say one other\, someone I know was having a wedding and they did black tie. And I had never been to a black tie event\, and there aren’t a lot of black tie – I feel like there aren’t a lot of black tie things happening in my circles and in my area of the world where I live. \nAnd so for me that just felt special. Really\, really special. Do I aspire to dress in black tie all the time? No\, but being able to say that I went to a black tie event\, where the dress was required\, the dress was black tie\, that feels nice. \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (05:57) \nYeah\, that makes sense to me. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (05:59) \nSo let’s get into why we’re focusing on invitations today. So why are invitations worth spending time on? \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (06:07) \nYes. I have very passionate feelings about this. Which I didn’t fully realize until I was writing this episode. And then it was like\, “Wait a minute. No\, I care so much.” \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (06:18) \nAlso\, can I back us up? I’ll come back to these questions\, but I actually want to back up for a second. What’s an invitation\, Erin? \nI’m so sorry I’m putting you on the spot. \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (06:31) \nI would say an invitation is when you ask someone or a group of people to participate in something. \nSo it can be a vulnerable thing where you’re extending\, you’re taking a risk\, but it can also be a trust building exercise. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (06:53) \nYeah. \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (06:55) \nIt can be power sharing. That’s not like a good dictionary definition of an invitation\, but I think it maybe gets at the essence of what an invitation is\, which is inviting someone to have\, I think for me\, the participation point. \nSpace is very important. It’s like you can participate in lots of different ways\, but offering space for people to participate. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (07:19) \nYeah\, so part of the invitation probably outlines that. And so let’s go back to the original questions that I had\, which is why are we focusing on invitations today and why are they worth spending time on? \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (07:30) \nYes. I think the primary reason you spend time crafting an invitation is because it saves you time\, energy\, and sanity later. And I know that sounds a little bit too many magical things to really hang on an invitation\, but I think it really can help an event or meeting or party or whatever kind of thing you’re inviting people to. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (07:57) \nAnd effort\, like if you’re trying to do a large scale change community change effort\, right? \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (08:05) \nYeah\, that’s probably the most prevalent and most relevant example to people. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (08:10) \nYeah. \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (08:12) \nThe thing about crafting your invitation is if you do a good job\, it empowers other people to participate and it empowers somebody to know if they should say yes or no to it. \nSo\, like a really good invitation helps people know what to expect\, so that they know how to prepare\, so that they know if it’s a good fit for them\, so they know if they even care about what’s gonna happen. And I also think a really good invitation helps you figure out what you are trying to make happen. What do you want? \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (08:44) \nAnd what do you want from your participants? \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (08:46) \nAnd what do you want from your participants? Yes. I think it’s very easy to forget or not have time. If you don’t bother to spend time crafting your invitation\, it’s really easy to forget about shaping what you want and deciding what you want. And often shaping the invitation can help really filter is not quite the right word I’m looking for. \nI think it helps with pruning your event down to the essentials. We’ll get into that a little bit more later\, but y that’s what I was thinking. What about you? Do you have thoughts about invitations? \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (09:22) \nI do. I am probably very similar\, but coming at it maybe from a slightly different angle. This reminds me of something we’ve talked about in the past on this podcast\, in the way past\, I would say. And that’s something called the logic of co-production. And I don’t remember them all off the top of my head right now. But when you’re having an event\, whether you’re in charge of the event and people are just participating\, there’s still co production happening. You know\, people are showing up\, they are participating in whatever manner the invitation indicated\, or whatever manner you were trying to create. \nBut when you’re talking about those longer range community change types of efforts\, then you might be talking about a purpose where you’re trying to co create deeper\, longer relationships or you’re trying to co create in deeper and longer relationships with people. And so you’re trying to co create that change. \nAnd sometimes one of the logics of co production is that you invited people because to say that you invited them\, right? You invited them so that you could say\, “I invited them.” They didn’t come or I invited them and I got their opinion\, but you don’t really do much with their opinion. So there’s sort of that logic like you invite people in to say that you invited them in\, but you already knew what you were gonna do to begin with\, right? \nAnd then there’s the logic of co-production go all the way to\, of course\, the extreme of that\, which is more of that really co-creative an invitation not just to come in and share your opinion where the event is extractive of your thoughts and your perspective\, but an invitation where you are invited to share the power equally with everyone else. \nAnd you don’t put it that way on the invitation\, but basically\, you know\, meaning that this whole process\, no change is going to happen without all of us together. And it recognizes that. \nSo anyway\, I’m getting way too in the weeds on the these ‘logics of co-production\,’ but that’s what this reminds me of\, right? The invitation is super important to not only save yourself sort of time and headache and effort\, but also to really communicate what your purpose is so that like you said\, people can decide\, and be empowered to choose whether this is for them or not for them or whether to ask questions about the invitation or not. Does that make sense to you? \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (11:58) \nThat makes a lot of sense to me. Well\, I think we should dive into these principles before we start spilling the secrets. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (12:05) \nYeah\, do it. Do did I already start spilling secrets\, or I think we both did. \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (12:08) \nThat’s okay. Okay\, so the first one I read is Priya Parker’s book\, The Art of Gathering\, and she has a whole chapter called Let Your Purpose Be Your Bouncer. Her premise is that you decide what is the purpose of the gathering\, what’s the point of the gathering\, what are you trying to make happen at the gathering? And then you think about who can make that happen by showing up and who will prevent it from happening by showing up. \nAnd then if someone is either going to hinder or not contribute to the purpose of your meeting\, you don’t invite them. And that is scary\, but I think it is a very interesting principle to have. I also like to add\, ‘let your purpose be your bouncer and your recruiter\,’ because sometimes you need to think about well\, who is going to invest in this purpose with me and are they on my list of people to consider? \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (13:02) \nYeah. And I would think that with those longer term community change efforts\, for example\, that it’s not about not inviting the people who are going to be naysayers so much as it’s about maybe developing relationships with them before you start your effort\, and working with them on the change effort. So I think if they would prevent it from happening by showing up\, I think there’s a lot of ways to deal with that too before you get to the invitation stage. \nBut there’s a lot that we could talk about when it comes to those kinds of efforts. And this is not the focus of this episode. \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (13:41) \nYeah. You could go really deep on that. And also I don’t want to make this an hour long episode. So I’ll just say this is the principle that you start with\, because figuring out what you want to make happen and who’s going to help you do that\, you want to think about that before you even set the event\, before you pick the location\, before you pick the date and time. You want to think about what am I trying to do and who’s going to help me do it. \nBecause then we get to principle two\, which is\, figure out what will prevent people from participating fully\, and pivot. Which is essentially thinking about who wants to be a part of this\, and how do we make it easier for them to participate. So that’s location\, that’s time of day\, that’s place\, that’s if the meeting lasts the duration of a time when people normally eat dinner\, for heaven’s sake\, feed them. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (14:34) \nHa ha ha. \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (14:36) \nOr encourage them to bring dinner if they need to. If you’re talking to a parent group\, provide child care. That’s not always easy\, but if you want parents to participate in something\, as a community leader who’s specifically having an event for parents\, have a plan for how people aren’t going to be able to come if there’s nobody to watch their kids. Those are two kind of more basic things. \nBut another thought I have is there are lots of places where maybe they don’t have good internet access. So if your meetings are on Zoom\, how do they show up? Can they call in? Is there a way for people to participate if their internet’s too slow to do a video? Yeah\, that’s kind of the main principle there. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (15:20) \nOkay\, that’s great\, Erin. This is one of those things where we invite people\, and if you want to come\, well you’re on your own. You’ve got to figure out how you’re going to do it. And sometimes we do need to consider what those needs are and if there’s any barriers. So what’s the third principle for a good invitation? \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (15:36) \nYeah\, your invitation should match the participation you want. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (15:41) \nHmm\, explain. What does that mean? I think we’ve touched on this a little bit. \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (15:48) \nOne of the first things that comes to mind with this principle for me is avoiding a bait and switch. So I’ve been to a lot of events where the invitation is a networking event to connect with others around a topic. But you get there\, and it’s auditorium seating and you’re all staring at a speaker and the whole time is spent by somebody giving a presentation. \nAnd I just get so mad. It feels like someone specifically is rage baiting me because I learn and grow a lot through conversation. I specifically search out opportunities to have dialogue with people who have different ideas than me. And so when I come expecting that\, and then I get there and it’s one person standing at a microphone talking to an auditorium\, and you called it a discussion or a networking event\, I was just like\, “You lying liar! Your pants are burning.” Like\, what is happening here? \nAnd I think what that also gets at is this idea of your invitation should give people a picture of what their role at a meeting is. What is the expectation for them as a person? Are they showing up and listening? Are they showing up and participating? Should they bring something with them? Should they have something prepared to say? What do you want them to do? And that should match their actual experience at the meeting. Which seems intuitive\, but it’s really easy to accidentally bait and switch people. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (17:16) \nYeah. So if you had gone or if they’d\, as part of their invitation\, if they had said\, “We’ll start with about a thirty minute lecture\, and the last thirty minutes of our time together will be spent in discussion\,” or something\, is that what you’re talking about? Manage the expectations up front? \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (17:34) \nYeah\, absolutely. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (17:37) \nAnd so that tells them that\, like\, hey\, if you don’t want to talk with people\, leave after the presentation\, or if you wanted to talk to people\, stay. Like just bear with us and stay through the presentation\, and you’ll get a chance to talk about the topic after. \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (17:52) \nYes. Okay. And I think a lot of people are scared to include this type of information in an invitation\, because they don’t want to overwhelm people with too much information. And I definitely think this is a time where pruning is your friend. So write everything you think you want to say\, and then go in and make it shorter without losing content\, the best that you can. \nBut\, you know\, I think it’s also it could also look like getting a casual invite to something. “Hey\, we’re having this check-in meeting. Would you come just to meet this person?” And then you show up and everybody else is wearing a suit and it’s in like a fancy business suite\, and everybody has like an agenda and it’s very formal. \nBut you got the most informal invitation. So you didn’t come wearing your suit jacket today. And then you stand out and you feel awkward and uncomfortable and like\, “I don’t really fit here.” That’s the kind of thing we’re hoping to avoid. \nAnd that can look really different depending on where you are and what situation you’re in. So unfortunately\, all of these are principles because you have to actually stop and think about your circumstance\, the people you’re inviting\, what you’re trying to do. There isn’t like a magical\, ‘just do this.’ You have to actually think about it. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (19:09) \nSo that principle seems to go really hand in hand with the next one that you have down in our notes\, which is\, what will the person you invite get out of this meeting? it seems like those two really go hand in hand. \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (19:21) \nYeah. I almost combined them\, but I think they’re just separate enough. \nSomething I see frequently is people will come to me and say\, “Man\, we invited\, we did so much outreach to get people to come to this event\, and nobody showed up.” And then I was like\, “Well\, what was the event? Tell me about it.” And they told me about it. And I was like\, you wanted them to pay for that? And it’s something where you were asking them to pay to do work. \nOr like they weren’t going to get anything out of it\, or it just was a very thinly veiled timeshare pitch or something. I think those are really hard to sit through personally. So I think often this can happen in academic spaces\, or anytime someone’s like\, “Well\, come and tell us your opinions.” But then it’s like\, “Well\, what are you going to use them for? What are you going to do with them? Are we wasting our time?” \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (20:20) \n“Why should I?” \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (20:21) \nYeah. \nWhy should I? And I think it’s good to consider if we’re asking someone to show up and participate in something\, which as I said\, that’s what I think an invitation is\, is not show up to just stand at the back of the wall. We want participation. Or at least I do. You look like you maybe don’t agree with that. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (20:43) \nNo\, no\, no. I very much agree. I love participation. And in fact\, it’s mostly what I do. I’m a facilitator. I design meetings practically for a living\, it’s a big part of my role. But this reminds me though\, and I keep bringing it back to this idea of like long range community change projects. That’s not the only thing that we’re talking about here\, but I keep bringing it to that because that’s where my background is. \nAnd one of the things that comes up for me is that when there’s an immediate crisis or some sort of immediate need\, a lot of people are very interested in having the conversations and trying to get some solutions done. But when someone’s like\, “Hey guys\, this is something that could happen\,” or\, “If we don’t start talking about this now in twenty years\, we could be in a pickle.” I find that much fewer people want to talk about that and perhaps it’s partly the invitation. I’m not sure\, but I’m curious about whether\, you know\, the way we talk about long range planning is dry and droll enough that maybe we’re not – I don’t think we need to like zhuzh it up and make it super exciting. \nI just mean\, you know\, it seems like when you are in a role like I am and you’re trying to get people to think way ahead into the future\, when they’re not dealing with any crises right now related to the things they need to talk about for the future\, it’s difficult. Maybe this doesn’t match up with invitations\, but I do wonder how are we doing our invitations? \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (22:26) \nYes\, I think that that’s a good example. Because the thing here is when I say\, what will a person get out of this meeting\, my hope is that you will think through why would this be valuable to somebody else? Why would coming be valuable to somebody else? And how do I communicate that? \nAnd to be clear\, I’m not asking you to lie because that’s baiting and switching\, and we don’t want that. So I think in your example\, if you’re trying to get people to come help\, \n  \nmake decisions or work towards something that will prevent a future problem that could happen long distance from now\, you’re going to have to make the case for why it’s important now\, because there are currently crises happening. \nSo why are we taking time away from that to prevent these future things? And this is where you can strategically communicate this idea of the purpose of this meeting is to help us build the future that we want. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (23:21) \nYeah. \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (23:23) \nAnd it’s impacted by the things that are happening now. So we want to input it now. We want to think about our future now so that we can do it on purpose. And that\, of course\, is a hard sell and not everybody’s going to say yes to it. \nBut the people who have capacity to care about it now will hear that and go\, “I hate all of the things that we’re in now and that we’re responding to crises in the moment\, and making expensive\, hard decisions.” And what if we did this on purpose? Those are the people who are going to be like\, “Yes\, this is for me. This is my thing. I’m going to show up and come because I would love to solve things before they get bad.” \nAnd so that’s the point of this thing is\, what is the value for the person who’s attending\, and how can I say it clearly so that the people who value that thing want to say yes to the invitation. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (24:05) \nYeah. Great. Well\, I feel like this starts to get into the next one that you have in our notes. Don’t forget to share the details. \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (24:13) \nYeah\, look\, the amount of invitations that I get that don’t have an address\, where to park\, how to pay\, how to RSVP. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (24:21) \nMy gosh\, where to park?! \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (24:23) \nLook\, I live in the Milwaukee area. And if you do not share how someone will park\, people will not show up. Parking is a nightmare. And we’re not even that huge of – we’re a big city for Wisconsin\, but we’re not like a big\, big city. And maybe you’re in a community where parking is not a factor whatsoever\, there’s never missing parking. But you have to talk about like mosquitoes or you know\, like what is the thing that people need to know? \nAnd for me\, the most egregious thing is when you ask somebody to do something in the invitation and you don’t tell them how to do it. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (24:59) \nMm-hmm. \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (25:00) \nSo it’s if you want somebody to RSVP message this person\, but you don’t provide any contact details for that\, I have seen that shockingly more times than I thought possible. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (25:12) \nOr one is provided\, but they don’t answer questions. \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (25:17) \nSure. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (25:18) \nProbably because they’re an overworked volunteer. \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (25:22) \nYes\, sure. Exactly. So again\, some of these things are pretty basic\, but it’s so easy to forget the basics when you’re in a rush\, when you have a huge workload\, when you just need to get it done so you can make some progress. \nSo the reason I bring up the principles is just that they’re really helpful things to keep in mind to pause and just check before you send something. Because let me tell you\, I have been the person who has sent an invitation and then ten minutes later sent a follow-up email to an entire giant group being like\, “I apologize\, here is the correct link.” \nOr one time I accidentally put my personal cell phone number on something for work. And so I was getting all of these calls to sign up for a class to my cell phone. Horrifying. I wish I had spent just like two minutes rereading my email before I sent it. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (26:19) \nI can tell you though\, sometimes as someone who used to prepare public notices and stuff for a city\, you can have sometimes five people look at it and every one of you miss the mistake. And that might mean another thirty days to sixty days to wait for that project to begin. So that’s great… \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (26:37) \nYeah. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (26:38) \nOkay\, so what is the smallest step someone can take? \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (26:45) \nPause and think about what you’re doing. \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (26:50) \nAnd there we have it. Mic dropped. \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (26:53) \nYou know\, I think essentially all of these boil down to like\, “stop and think.” \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (26:59) \nYeah. I love that. And you know what? Just because you said stop and think\, and because you’ve got these\, they can’t see our notes\, but you’ve got these so beautifully summarized in our notes. I’m not going to summarize all of them\, but I am going to go through the five different areas if you don’t mind. So when Erin says pause and think about what you’re trying to accomplish\, keep these in mind. \nSo let your purpose be your bouncer and your recruiter. So what’s the purpose? Figure out what will prevent people from participating fully and pivot where you need to\, so what barriers might be in place? Your invitation should match the participation you want. What will the person you invite get out of this meeting? And don’t forget to share the details. Where are they gonna park? \n  \nERIN CARLSON RIVERA (27:46) \nIs there a bathroom there? \n  \nJESSICA BECKENDORF (27:48) \nExactly. \nWell that’s it for this episode. Thanks so much for joining us. If you like this episode\, please consider sharing it with a friend or coworker. We’ll be back next week. Until then\, keep practicing. \n  \nCREDITS: The Practicing Connection Podcast is a production of One-Op and is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture\, US Department of Agriculture and the Office of Military Family Readiness Policy\, US Department of Defense under award number 2 0 2 3 4 8 7 74 3 3.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://oneop.org/learn/inviting-on-purpose/
CATEGORIES:Community Engagement
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://oneop.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Practicing-Connection_Podcast-graphic-2.png
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261008T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261008T123000
DTSTAMP:20261008T203617Z
CREATED:20260630T184743Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261008T203617Z
UID:10001767-1791457200-1791462600@oneop.org
SUMMARY:Creative Approaches to Build Confidence in Clinical Practice with Children
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/QTAnAhKDfWc”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”20″ constrain_group_1=”yes” bottom_padding=”20″ left_padding_desktop=”15″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”About This Webinar” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Though clinicians receive general or initial training in work with children\, not many feel confident in this work if they have not primarily (or recently) worked with children in their professional positions. This webinar is for professionals seeking to build confidence in working with children\, particularly for adult-focused/Family Advocacy Program (FAP) staff who may be less familiar with the current clinical needs of children. The discussion will focus on developing key skills for professionals who may work with children.  \nWhile it is not required for clinicians to be ‘certified play therapists’ to work with children\, it is helpful to feel confident when approaching work with children or youth. This session will explore how to increase clinical confidence using creative approaches when interacting and working with children and youth\, ages 4 to 12.  \nLearning Objectives: \n\nIdentify the socio-emotional needs of children and youth present in this age group using a creative lens.\nDefine key emotions that children and youth in this age group experience when they are dysregulated.\nLearn about ways to co-regulate with children and youth in this age group.\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”13″ left_padding_desktop=”15″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Presenter” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”0″ bottom_padding=”20″ left_padding_desktop=”5″ top_margin=”0″ constrain_group_7=”yes” bottom_margin=”0″ left_margin=”0″ constrain_group_8=”yes” right_margin=”0″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”5px” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”left” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”230024″ image_size=”custom” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”5px” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default” position_desktop=”relative” custom_image_size=”thumb” margin_top=”10″][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”3/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Felicia Li\, MSW\, LCSW” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:25|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Felicia Li is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 20 years of clinical experience. She has worked with adults\, children\, youths\, and families in educational\, community\, and residential mental health settings. She brings invaluable experience in college counseling\, K-12 school counseling\, and residential milieu therapy. She has provided psychotherapy for individuals\, couples\, family and groups with a wide range of diverse clients. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”40″ bottom_padding=”20″ left_padding_desktop=”15″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”5px” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”top” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”2/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Continuing Education (CE) Credit” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][nectar_btn size=”jumbo” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” icon_family=”none” el_class=”Continuing Education Survey” button_id=”Continuing Education Survey” text=”Continuing Education Survey” url=”https://auburn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_24Uq0IHKXZYnk4S”][vc_column_text]\n\nCertified in Family and Consumer Sciences (CFCS): This webinar is approved for 1.5 continuing education (CE) credits from the American Association for Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close October 8\, 2028.\nBoard Certified Patient Advocates (BCPA): This webinar is approved for 1.5 CE contact hours by The Patient Advocate Certification Board. Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close October 8\, 2028. \nBoard Certified Case Managers: This webinar is approved for 1.5 CE clock hours from the Commission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close October 8\, 2027. \nCertified Family Life Educators (CFLE): This webinar is approved for 1.5 CE credits from the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close October 8\, 2029.\nCertified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES): This webinar is approved for 1.5 CE credits from the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close October 8\, 2028.\nDomestic Abuse Victim Advocates: This webinar is approved for 1.5 CE credits from the National Advocate Credentialing Program (NACP). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close October 8\, 2028.\nSocial Workers\, Licensed Professional Counselors\, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists: This webinar is approved for 1.5 CE credits from the University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work. Check with your state licensing agency for reciprocity and/or credit approval if licensed for other professions or in one of the following states: CO\, FL\, HI\, IA\, KS\, KY\, MI\, NY\, ND\, OH\, OK. Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close October 8\, 2028. \nOneOp Certificates of Attendance are available for those interested in additional documentation of professional development activities.\n\nIf the button above does not appear\, please access the continuing education survey through this link: https://auburn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_24Uq0IHKXZYnk4S. If you have any questions\, please email ce@oneop.org.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” top_margin=”0″ left_margin=”0″ constrain_group_2=”yes” right_margin=”0″ column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color=”#f7f7f7″ background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_color=”#f7f7f7″ column_border_style=”solid” enable_border_animation=”true” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Event Materials” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1689369183150{padding-left: 30px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1791394818381{padding-left: 15px !important;}”]Webinar slides (handout) \nWebinar resources[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”13″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Photo Credit: by Mediaphotos from Adobe Stock file#: 691865573[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://oneop.org/learn/160154/
CATEGORIES:Health and Well-Being
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oneop.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/AdobeStock_691865573-scaled.jpeg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261013T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261013T123000
DTSTAMP:20261014T130758Z
CREATED:20260708T143437Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261014T130758Z
UID:10001741-1791889200-1791894600@oneop.org
SUMMARY:Blended Retirement System and Survivor Benefit Plan Basics
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text][/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”20″ constrain_group_1=”yes” bottom_padding=”20″ left_padding_desktop=”15″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”About This Webinar” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]This webinar examines key decision points in military retirement planning\, including an overview of the Blended Retirement System (BRS) and the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)\, and equips service providers to guide informed\, client-centered conversations. Participants will explore continuation pay\, lump sum elections\, and Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participation\, and resources for military financial service providers to enhance client counseling and education. \nLearning Objectives: \n\nDescribe the structure\, eligibility\, and key decision points within the Blended Retirement System (BRS) and the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP).\nInterpret how BRS-related decisions (e.g.\, continuation pay\, lump sum options\, TSP contributions) affect retirement income streams and survivor benefits.\nDifferentiate SBP from other tools\, including life insurance.\nDevelop a strategy to incorporate BRS and SBP decision-support resources into routine client counseling and education practices.\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”13″ left_padding_desktop=”15″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Presenter” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”0″ bottom_padding=”20″ left_padding_desktop=”5″ top_margin=”0″ constrain_group_7=”yes” bottom_margin=”0″ left_margin=”0″ constrain_group_8=”yes” right_margin=”0″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”5px” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”left” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”228216″ image_size=”custom” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”5px” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default” position_desktop=”relative” custom_image_size=”thumb” margin_top=”10″][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”3/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Mr. Ronald T. Garner” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:25|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Assistant Director of Military Compensation and Financial Readiness\, Lead for Retired and Annuitant Pay Policy[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”40″ bottom_padding=”20″ left_padding_desktop=”15″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”5px” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”top” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”2/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Continuing Education (CE) Credit” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][nectar_btn size=”jumbo” button_style=”regular” button_color_2=”Accent-Color” icon_family=”none” el_class=”Continuing Education Survey” button_id=”Continuing Education Survey” text=”Continuing Education Survey” url=”https://auburn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_77Yvsun5typBE4C”][vc_column_text]\n\nAccredited Financial Counselors (AFC): This webinar is approved for 1.5 continuing education (CE) units by the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education (AFCPE). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close October 13\, 2029.\nCertified in Family and Consumer Sciences (CFCS): This webinar is approved for 1.5 continuing education (CE) credits from the American Association for Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close October 13\, 2028. \nCertified Personal and Family Finance Educator (CPFFE): This webinar is approved for 1.5 continuing education (CE) credits from the American Association for Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close October 13\, 2028.\nCertified Personal Finance Counselors (CPFC): This webinar is approved for 1.5 continuing education (CE) credits from The Center for Financial Certifications (FinCert.org). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close October 13\, 2029.\nCertified Family Life Educators (CFLE): This webinar is approved for 1.5 continuing education (CE) credits from the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close October 13\, 2029. \nOneOp Certificates of Attendance are available for those interested in additional documentation of professional development activities.\n\nIf the button above does not appear\, please access the continuing education survey through this link: https://auburn.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_77Yvsun5typBE4C. Please email CE@oneop.org.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” top_margin=”0″ left_margin=”0″ constrain_group_2=”yes” right_margin=”0″ column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color=”#f7f7f7″ background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_color=”#f7f7f7″ column_border_style=”solid” enable_border_animation=”true” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Event Materials” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1689369183150{padding-left: 30px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1791902856451{padding-left: 15px !important;}”]Slides \nResources[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”13″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Photo Credit: Photo by Staff Sgt. Alexandre Montes/dvids[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://oneop.org/learn/160141/
CATEGORIES:Military Service and Family Life
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oneop.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/3199578-Photo-by-Staff-Sgt.-Alexandre-Montes-scaled.jpg
LOCATION:https://oneop.org/learn/160141/
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261022T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261022T123000
DTSTAMP:20261007T150118Z
CREATED:20260901T134541Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261007T150118Z
UID:10001742-1792666800-1792672200@oneop.org
SUMMARY:The Gut-Brain Connection: Microbiome and Mental Health in Military Populations
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”20″ constrain_group_1=”yes” bottom_padding=”20″ left_padding_desktop=”15″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”About This Webinar” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]The gut microbiome is increasingly recognized as an important contributor to both physical and mental health through complex interactions among the gastrointestinal\, immune\, endocrine\, and nervous systems. This webinar will introduce the gut–brain axis and examine how diet\, environmental and occupational exposures\, social determinants of health\, medications\, and other life experiences can influence the gut microbiome and potentially contribute to health outcomes. Drawing on research involving military service members and Veterans\, Drs. Lisa Brenner and Andrew Hoisington will highlight emerging evidence linking the gut microbiome and intestinal permeability with posttraumatic stress\, traumatic brain injury\, depression\, and other health conditions. The presentation will also discuss the rapidly evolving science of microbiome-targeted interventions and distinguish promising findings from areas where the evidence remains preliminary. \nLearning Objectives: \n\nDescribe the gut–brain axis and the biological pathways through which the gut microbiome may influence physical and mental health.\nIdentify factors that can influence the gut microbiome\, including diet\, medications\, environmental and occupational exposures\, social determinants of health\, and military-related experiences.\nEvaluate current evidence linking the gut microbiome and intestinal permeability with mental and neurological health outcomes and discuss the emerging potential of microbiome-targeted interventions.\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”13″ left_padding_desktop=”15″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Presenters” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”0″ bottom_padding=”20″ left_padding_desktop=”5″ top_margin=”0″ constrain_group_7=”yes” bottom_margin=”0″ left_margin=”0″ constrain_group_8=”yes” right_margin=”0″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”5px” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”left” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”234306″ image_size=”custom” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”5px” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default” position_desktop=”relative” custom_image_size=”thumb” margin_top=”10″][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”3/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Lisa Brenner\, PhD” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:25|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Professor\nDepartment of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation\nUniversity of Colorado\, Anschutz Medical Campus[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”0″ bottom_padding=”20″ left_padding_desktop=”5″ top_margin=”0″ constrain_group_7=”yes” bottom_margin=”0″ left_margin=”0″ constrain_group_8=”yes” right_margin=”0″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”5px” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”left” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”234308″ image_size=”custom” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”5px” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default” position_desktop=”relative” custom_image_size=”thumb” margin_top=”10″][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”3/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Andrew J. Hoisington\, PhD\, PE\, LtCol Ret.” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:25|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Assistant Professor\nUniversity of Colorado\nAnschutz School of Medicine[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”40″ bottom_padding=”20″ left_padding_desktop=”15″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”5px” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”top” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”2/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Continuing Education (CE) Credit” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]\n\nCertified in Family and Consumer Sciences (CFCS): This webinar is pending approval for 1.5 continuing education (CE) credits from the American Association for Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close October 22\, 2028.\nCertified Nutrition and Wellness Educator (CNWE): This webinar is pending approval for 1.5 continuing education (CE) credits from the American Association for Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close October 2\, 2028.\nRegistered Dietitian Nutritionists (RD/RDN) and Nutrition and Dietetics Technicians\, Registered (NDTR): This webinar is pending CDR review and approval for 1.5 CPEUs.\nCertified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES): This webinar is pending approval for 1.5 continuing education credit from the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close October 22\, 2028.\nRegistered Nurses & Nurse Professionals: This nursing continuing professional development activity was approved by Montana Nurses Association\, an accredited approver with distinction by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. No individual with the ability to control the content of this activity has any relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose. 1.5 Continuing education credits are available. Completion of a post-test with 80% or higher is required to receive a certificate of completion via email containing verification you can submit to your credentialing agency to receive CEUs. Eligibility for CE credit will start on October 22nd\, 2026\, and will close on October 22nd\, 2028.\nCertificates of Attendance: OneOp Certificates of Attendance are available for those interested in additional documentation of professional development activities.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” top_margin=”0″ left_margin=”0″ constrain_group_2=”yes” right_margin=”0″ column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color=”#f7f7f7″ background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_color=”#f7f7f7″ column_border_style=”solid” enable_border_animation=”true” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Event Materials” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1689369183150{padding-left: 30px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1691082428112{padding-left: 15px !important;}”]Webinar slides and resources will be added the day prior to the live session.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”13″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Photo Credit: piotr_malczyk via iStock.com[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://oneop.org/learn/160142/
CATEGORIES:Health and Well-Being
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oneop.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/iStock-1301830934.jpg
LOCATION:https://auburn.zoom.us/j/87187010717
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261110T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261110T123000
DTSTAMP:20261012T192401Z
CREATED:20260901T134436Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261012T192401Z
UID:10001774-1794308400-1794313800@oneop.org
SUMMARY:TRICARE 101: What Service Providers Need to Know
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”20″ constrain_group_1=”yes” bottom_padding=”20″ left_padding_desktop=”15″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”About This Webinar” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]TRICARE is the healthcare program for uniformed service members\, retirees\, and their families worldwide. It provides comprehensive coverage through health plans\, prescription drug benefits\, special programs\, and dental and vision options. \nDesigned to help service providers better support military families as they navigate the TRICARE system\, this webinar provides an overview of TRICARE plan options\, including Prime\, Select\, and TRICARE Remote\, and examines key considerations that influence healthcare decisions. Presenters will discuss services covered by TRICARE\, enrollment requirements\, and how the evolution of the benefit may affect beneficiaries. Participants will also explore how healthcare benefits contribute to a service member’s total compensation and use this information to help equip families to account for healthcare expenses in their monthly spending. \nLearning Objectives: \n\nDifferentiate among major TRICARE plan options\, including Prime\, Select\, and TRICARE Remote.\nDescribe services\, enrollment requirements\, and factors that may influence TRICARE plan selection.\nExamine healthcare considerations for military families enrolled in the Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP).\nIdentify vetted resources that can help military families navigate TRICARE\, understand healthcare benefits\, and make informed healthcare and financial decisions. \n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”13″ left_padding_desktop=”15″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Presenter” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”0″ bottom_padding=”20″ left_padding_desktop=”5″ top_margin=”0″ constrain_group_7=”yes” bottom_margin=”0″ left_margin=”0″ constrain_group_8=”yes” right_margin=”0″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”5px” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”left” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”233472″ image_size=”custom” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”5px” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default” position_desktop=”relative” custom_image_size=”thumb” margin_top=”10″][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”3/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Zelly Zim” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:25|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Ms. Zelly Zim is a Health System Specialist in the Policy & Programs Division\, for the TRICARE Health Plan (THP)\, within the Defense Health Agency (DHA) in Falls Church\, VA.  Her primary role is as the policy manager for the TRICARE Select program. She is also a subject matter expert (SME) for the other private sector care enrollment policies\, involved in the promulgation of Statute into Regulation and Policy benefitting the Military Health System’s 9.6 million beneficiaries. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”40″ bottom_padding=”20″ left_padding_desktop=”15″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”5px” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”top” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”2/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Continuing Education (CE) Credit” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]\n\nAccredited Financial Counselors (AFC): This webinar is approved for 1.5 continuing education (CE) units by the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education (AFCPE). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close  11/10/29. \nBoard Certified Patient Advocates (BCPA): This webinar is pending approval for 1.5 continuing education (CE) contact hours by The Patient Advocate Certification Board. Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close 11/10/28.\nCertified in Family and Consumer Sciences (CFCS): This webinar is approved for 1.5 continuing education (CE) credits from the American Association for Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close 11/10/28. \nCertified Nutrition and Wellness Educator (CNWE): This webinar is approved for 1.5 continuing education (CE) credits from the American Association for Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close 11/10/28. \nCertified Personal and Family Finance Educator (CPFFE): This webinar is approved for 1.5 continuing education (CE) credits from the American Association for Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close 11/10/28. \nBoard Certified Case Managers: This webinar is pending approval for 1.5 continuing education (CE) clock hours from the Commission for Case Manager Certification (CCMC). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close 11/10/2027. \nBoard Certified Disability Management Specialists: This webinar is pending approval for 1.5 continuing education (CE) clock hour from The Commission for Case Manager Certification. Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close 11/10/2027. \nRegistered Dietitian Nutritionists (RD/RDN) and Nutrition and Dietetics Technicians\, Registered (NDTR):This webinar awards 1.5 CPEUs in accordance with the Commission on Dietetic Registration’s (CDR) CPEU Prior Approval Program. Eligibility for CE credit will close June 22\, 2029.\nCertified Personal Finance Counselors (CPFC): This webinar is approved for 1.5 continuing education (CE) credits from The Center for Financial Certifications (FinCert.org). **Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close 11/10/2029. \nCertified Family Life Educators (CFLE): This webinar is pending approval for 1.5 continuing education (CE) credits from the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close 11/10/2029. \nNursing (MNA): This webinar is pending approval for 1.5 CE credits from the Montana Nursing Association (MNA)\, an accredited approver with distinction by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. No individual with the ability to control the content of this activity has any relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose. Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close 11/10/2028.\nCertified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES): This webinar is approved for 1.5 continuing education credit from the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close 11/10/2028. \nSocial Workers\, Licensed Professional Counselors\, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists: This webinar is pending approval for 1.5 continuing education (CE) credits from the University of Texas at Austin School of Social Work. Check with your state licensing agency for reciprocity and/or credit approval if licensed for other professions or in one of the following states: CO\, FL\, HI\, IA\, KS\, KY\, MI\, NY\, ND\, OH\, OK. Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close 11/10/2029. \nOneOp Certificates of Attendance are available for those interested in additional documentation of professional development activities.\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” top_margin=”0″ left_margin=”0″ constrain_group_2=”yes” right_margin=”0″ column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color=”#f7f7f7″ background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_color=”#f7f7f7″ column_border_style=”solid” enable_border_animation=”true” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Event Materials” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1689369183150{padding-left: 30px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1691082428112{padding-left: 15px !important;}”]Webinar slides and resources will be added the day prior to the live session.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”13″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Photo Credit: Christopher Binnie\, Directorate of Prevention\, Resilience and Readiness\, DVIDS 9678261[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://oneop.org/learn/160156/
CATEGORIES:Military Service and Family Life
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://oneop.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Photo-by-Christopher-Binnie-Directorate-of-Prevention-Resilience-and-Readiness-dvids-9678261.png
LOCATION:https://auburn.zoom.us/j/83469322476
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261117T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261117T123000
DTSTAMP:20260924T174718Z
CREATED:20260922T143718Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260924T174718Z
UID:10001766-1794913200-1794918600@oneop.org
SUMMARY:Dietary Supplements\, Energy Drinks\, and Operation Supplement Safety
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”20″ constrain_group_1=”yes” bottom_padding=”20″ left_padding_desktop=”15″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”About This Webinar” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Many service members choose to consume dietary supplements to improve their physical performance\, build muscle\, lose weight\, enhance their cognitive function\, boost energy\, and more. Unfortunately\, some dietary supplements can compromise rather than improve performance through the production of adverse events and positive drug tests. This presentation will highlight tools and resources available from Operation Supplement Safety (OPSS)\, the U.S. Department of War’s established program of record for anything related to health\, wellness\, and performance products\, to help service members and general consumers make informed choices about the use of dietary supplement products and energy drinks and other trending consumer products. \nLearning Objectives: \n\nDescribe how dietary supplements are regulated.\nDiscuss key topics related to dietary supplements and performance enhancing substances.\nIdentify concerns associated with the use of energy drinks.\nExplain how to use Operation Supplement Safety tools and resources to educate patients\, clients\, and service members on the informed use of dietary supplements.\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”13″ left_padding_desktop=”15″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Presenter” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”0″ bottom_padding=”20″ left_padding_desktop=”5″ top_margin=”0″ constrain_group_7=”yes” bottom_margin=”0″ left_margin=”0″ constrain_group_8=”yes” right_margin=”0″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”5px” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”left” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”234944″ image_size=”custom” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”5px” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default” position_desktop=”relative” custom_image_size=”thumb” margin_top=”10″][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”3/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Andrea T. Lindsey\, MS” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:25|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Andrea T. Lindsey is the Director of Operation Supplement Safety (OPSS)\, Chair of the DoD Dietary Supplements and Other Self-Care Products Subcommittee\, and Assistant Professor at Uniformed Services University. A recognized expert in dietary supplements\, she oversees the Department of War (DoW) program of record\, reviewing\, evaluating\, and interpreting complex scientific literature on dietary supplements and performance-enhancing substances. She speaks regularly at national conferences and also educates Service Members\, military leaders\, and clinical professionals across military and civilian sectors. Partnering with federal and civilian organizations\, Ms. Lindsey translates applicable scientific research into actionable guidance\, driving national initiatives to safeguard consumer health\, ensure product quality\, and advance public health outcomes across the DoW enterprise and beyond.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”40″ bottom_padding=”20″ left_padding_desktop=”15″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”5px” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”top” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”2/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Continuing Education (CE) Credit” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]\n\nCertified in Family and Consumer Sciences (CFCS): This webinar is pending approval for 1.5 continuing education (CE) credits from the American Association for Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close November 17\, 2027.\n\n\nCertified Nutrition and Wellness Educator (CNWE): This webinar is pending approval for 1.5 continuing education (CE) credits from the American Association for Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close November 17\, 2027.\nRegistered Dietitian Nutritionists (RD/RDN) and Nutrition and Dietetics Technicians\, Registered (NDTR): This webinar is pending CDR review and approval for 1.5 CPEUs.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nCertified Health Education Specialist (CHES) and Master Certified Health Education Specialist (MCHES): This webinar is pending approval for 1.5 continuing education credit from the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing (NCHEC). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close November 17\, 2027.\n\n\nCertificates of Attendance: OneOp Certificates of Attendance are available for those interested in additional documentation of professional development activities.\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” top_margin=”0″ left_margin=”0″ constrain_group_2=”yes” right_margin=”0″ column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color=”#f7f7f7″ background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_color=”#f7f7f7″ column_border_style=”solid” enable_border_animation=”true” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Event Materials” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1689369183150{padding-left: 30px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1691082428112{padding-left: 15px !important;}”]Webinar slides and resources will be added the day prior to the live session.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”13″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Photo Credit: Image via iStock[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://oneop.org/learn/160153/
CATEGORIES:Health and Well-Being
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://oneop.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/iStock-1414955598.jpg
LOCATION:https://auburn.zoom.us/j/81825126953
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20261208T110000
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20261208T123000
DTSTAMP:20261013T152438Z
CREATED:20260818T183955Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20261013T152438Z
UID:10001779-1796727600-1796733000@oneop.org
SUMMARY:2026 Military Personal Finance Year in Review
DESCRIPTION:[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”20″ constrain_group_1=”yes” bottom_padding=”20″ left_padding_desktop=”15″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”About This Webinar” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]This webinar explores key developments that shaped the finances of service members and their families in 2026. Drawing on insights from Personal Financial Managers\, this session describes military-specific financial events\, highlighting relevant research published in 2026\, and anticipated changes in 2027. Designed for financial professionals supporting military families\, this webinar strengthens your professional capacity to navigate the evolving military financial landscape. \nLearning Objectives: \n\nIdentify legislation and events that have impacted military personal finances during 2026.\nIncrease knowledge of personal finance research studies published in 2026.\nPrepare for anticipated changes impacting military personal financial counselors in 2027.\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”13″ left_padding_desktop=”15″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_custom_heading text=”Presenters” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”0″ bottom_padding=”20″ left_padding_desktop=”5″ top_margin=”0″ constrain_group_7=”yes” bottom_margin=”0″ left_margin=”0″ constrain_group_8=”yes” right_margin=”0″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”5px” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”left” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”233110″ image_size=”custom” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”5px” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default” position_desktop=”relative” custom_image_size=”thumb” margin_top=”10″][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”3/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Olivia N. Pierce\, M.S.\, LPC\, AFC®” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:25|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Financial Readiness Program Manager\nDepartment of the Army[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”0″ bottom_padding=”20″ left_padding_desktop=”5″ top_margin=”0″ constrain_group_7=”yes” bottom_margin=”0″ left_margin=”0″ constrain_group_8=”yes” right_margin=”0″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”5px” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”left” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][image_with_animation image_url=”233861″ image_size=”custom” animation_type=”entrance” animation=”None” animation_movement_type=”transform_y” hover_animation=”none” alignment=”” border_radius=”5px” box_shadow=”none” image_loading=”default” max_width=”100%” max_width_mobile=”default” position_desktop=”relative” custom_image_size=”thumb” margin_top=”10″][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”3/4″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Richard ‘Rich’ Gomez\, AFC®” font_container=”tag:h3|font_size:25|text_align:left” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Personal Financial Manager (PFM) at Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) Lackland[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”40″ bottom_padding=”20″ left_padding_desktop=”15″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”5px” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”top” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”2/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Continuing Education (CE) Credit” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]\n\nAccredited Financial Counselors (AFC): This webinar is pending approval for 1.5 continuing education (CE) units by the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education (AFCPE). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close 12/16/2029.\nCertified in Family and Consumer Sciences (CFCS): This webinar is pending approval for 1.5 continuing education (CE) credits from the American Association for Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close 12/16/2028.\nCertified Personal and Family Finance Educator (CPFFE): This webinar is pending approval for 1.5 continuing education (CE) credits from the American Association for Family and Consumer Sciences (AAFCS). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close 12/16//2028.\nCertified Personal Finance Counselors (CPFC): This webinar is pending approval for 1.5 continuing education (CE) units from The Center for Financial Certifications (FinCert.org). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close 12/16/2029.\nCertified Family Life Educators (CFLE): This webinar is pending approval for 1.5 continuing education (CE) credits from the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR). Note: Eligibility for CE credit will close 12/16/2029.\nOneOp Certificates of Attendance are available for those interested in additional documentation of professional development activities.\n\n[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column column_padding=”padding-2-percent” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” top_margin=”0″ left_margin=”0″ constrain_group_2=”yes” right_margin=”0″ column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color=”#f7f7f7″ background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/3″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_color=”#f7f7f7″ column_border_style=”solid” enable_border_animation=”true” column_padding_type=”default” gradient_type=”default”][vc_custom_heading text=”Event Materials” use_theme_fonts=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1689369183150{padding-left: 30px !important;}”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1691082428112{padding-left: 15px !important;}”]Webinar slides and resources will be added the day prior to the live session.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” top_padding=”13″ text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overflow=”visible” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none” gradient_type=”default” shape_type=””][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_direction_desktop=”default” column_element_spacing=”default” desktop_text_alignment=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_backdrop_filter=”none” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” column_position=”default” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” animation_type=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]Photo Credit: AI generated/ChatGPT[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
URL:https://oneop.org/learn/160157/
CATEGORIES:Community Engagement
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://oneop.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/light-purple-MPFYIR-1-scaled.png
LOCATION:https://oneop.org/learn/160157/
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR