Power Up Summit 2025
PRESENTERS
Emcees
Jennifer Redford
Jennifer Redford
Keynote Presenters
Mónica Guzmán
Mónica Guzmán
Tyler Norris
Tyler Norris
Breakout Sessions
Power Up Summit 2025 Program
2025 Power Up Summit RESOURCES
State of ION address
Anna Almerico, Senior Director Idaho Out-of-School Network
Looking Upstream for Youth Well-being: Strengthening Protective Factors to Power Youth Futures
Andrea Hill
Andrea Hill
Out-of-school programs are uniquely positioned to be a powerful force in supporting youth mental health and well-being. This session will explore how upstream prevention—addressing the root causes of mental health challenges before they arise—can be woven into the fabric of after-school environments. Discover practical strategies for building protective factors into your programming by creating safe, supportive, and empowering spaces that foster connection and help young people develop the skills they need to thrive—now and in the future. Together, we’ll reimagine out-of-school programming as a catalyst for long-term youth wellness and success.
Insights for Impact: Amplify Success with Idaho Data
Anne Wolverton
Anne Wolverton
Anne Wolverton serves as the Director of Community Impact at United Way of Treasure Valley, where she leads the strategy and implementation of transformative initiatives to address critical community needs. With over a decade of experience in non-profit management, Anne excels in leveraging data, cultivating partnerships, and driving innovative solutions that create lasting change for individuals and families across Idaho.
This session will showcase multiple free Idaho data sources specifically tailored for community organizations and schools. Participants will receive hands-on training on how to access and effectively use these resources to support planning, programming, and community engagement. Discover how to harness local insights to drive meaningful impact and make informed, data-driven decisions that strengthen your efforts and outcomes.
Their Voice, Their Choice: Ways to Support Youth Engagement
Carly Decker
Carly Decker
Carly Decker is the Teen Program Coordinator at Mountain Home Air Force Base’s Child and Youth Programs, where she has served for the past four years. Prior to that, she spent five years as a high school educator. In her current role, Carly designs and leads youth-led initiatives that have directly impacted more than 95 young people, helping them find their voice and develop leadership skills. She is deeply committed to creating spaces where youth feel heard, valued, and inspired to lead. Carly specializes in equipping program facilitators with actionable strategies to empower youth and foster inclusive, supportive environments.
Let’s reimagine engagement by putting youth at the center of the conversation. Explore innovative strategies to amplify youth voices and foster engagement to promote a sense of well-being and belonging. Together we will investigate reasons why amplifying the voices of youth is important and how to implement practical strategies and tools that foster youth engagement.
Animal Dances
Corrie Befort
Corrie Befort
Corrie Befort is a professional dancer, choreographer, filmmaker and visual designer with deep respect for children’s imaginations and innate movement sense. A lifelong improviser and inter-media explorer, her teaching background includes classical dance forms, alignment-focused conditioning, dance for people with Parkinson’s and MS and children with Autism, and movement for folks in recovery from homelessness and trauma. Based in Seattle and Tokyo/Yokohama and performing and presenting internationally for over 20 years, she currently lives on a farm outside Pullman with her sound-artist husband and brilliant 7 year old swan/panther/frog/dancer Harvey.
Megan Mack
Megan Mack
Megan Mack, Education Director at Moscow Contemporary, holds an MFA from Pratt Institute (2021) and brings over 15 years of experience as a portrait and commercial photographer in Los Angeles and New York. Now working as a photographer, videographer, and interdisciplinary artist, she joined MosCo in October 2022 and has been instrumental in expanding its education programs. Her work includes developing NSAP (free no-school day programs), ASAP (after-school arts and movement classes), and regular adult workshops. She also helped launch the Dance for Parkinson’s+ program with Corrie Befort. Passionate about building community through the arts, Megan continues to grow MosCo’s vibrant education offerings.
(Moscow Contemporary’s After School Arts Program) What “special powers” do animals have? How is our anatomy similar to hawks, mountain goats, cheetahs, octopus? Can we imitate herds, packs and flocks to make powerful, graceful and ferocious dances together? In Animal Dances kids manipulate models and wearables and handle bones and taxidermy. Biomechanics underlying contemporary modern and ballet technique, aikido and yoga intertwine with sensory exploration and improvisational play to empower and amplify children’s physical voices and natural inner animals. Session participants will be guided through a short class, handle teaching materials and see teaching structures that successfully move students of all levels toward confident, full-bodied expression.
Centering Family and Community Voice through Mindfulness and Art
Daniel Hatcher
Daniel Hatcher
Join Healthier Generation for an interactive workshop where we’ll explore simple, meaningful ways to lift up community and family voices. We’ll try out real, research-backed tools—like mindfulness and creative arts—that build trust and create lasting impact. Through solo reflection and small group conversations, you’ll leave feeling more grounded, refreshed, and connected to the people around you.
Empowering Youth Futures: Building Purpose and Agency Through Futures Thinking
Deana Brown
Deana Brown
In a world full of uncertainty, today’s youth need more than just knowledge — they need a sense of purpose, agency, and the tools to shape the future they want. Help youth and your peers navigate uncertainty with purpose and confidence! In this interactive session, you’ll learn how strategic foresight and futures thinking create rich, engaging experiences that empower students to shape their futures. Explore tools like backcasting, forecasting, and The Futures Thinking Playbook to inspire agency in youth while strengthening staff competence and motivation through ongoing professional development. Leave equipped to foster empowered, future-ready learners — and a future-focused, energized team.
Stronger Together: Building Meaningful Community Partnerships to Empower Idaho’s Youth
Dr. Kristen McAdams
Dr. Kristen McAdams
Discover how community partnerships can elevate youth programs by building strong relationships and providing new experiences for Idaho youth. Drawing from experiences enhancing Girl Scouts programming through local collaborations, this session offers practical strategies that can be applied across out-of-school and youth education settings. Explore real-world examples, lessons learned, and simple steps for building meaningful partnerships. We’ll also discuss how these partnerships can support staff by offering professional development opportunities and helping to reduce workload, ultimately creating more sustainable programs. Participants will leave with an action plan to engage community partners and strengthen their programs.
Powering Up Afterschool STEM with Learning Blade: Engaging Hands-On Activities & Career Exploration
ReBekha LuLu
ReBekha LuLu
ReBekha Lulu is a leader in STEM education and workforce development, serving as a key representative of Idaho STEM Ecosystem (EcosySTEM). She is passionate about expanding access to STEM opportunities for students in out-of-school settings. ReBekha specializes in creating engaging learning experiences that integrate career exploration and hands-on STEM activities, making STEM accessible and exciting for all learners.
Discover how Learning Blade can bring STEM career awareness and hands-on learning to afterschool programs! This session will showcase engaging, easy-to-implement activities that align with Learning Blade’s missions and help students explore STEM careers in a fun and interactive way. Participants will learn how to integrate Learning Blade into their afterschool programs, blending digital learning with real-world applications through hands-on STEM challenges. Walk away with strategies, resources, and ready-to-use activities that will inspire students to explore future career pathways.
SPARK a CONNECTION
Lacie & Tayce Robinson
Lacie & Tayce Robinson
Lacie and Tayce are passionate educators and community builders rooted in Burley, Idaho. Lacie teaches at Burley Junior High and has dedicated her career to civic engagement, youth development, and creative learning. She is active in local initiatives including the Burley Farmers Market, SPARK Afterschool, and Southern Idaho Youth Theatrics. Tayce is the Director of the Burley Public Library, where he has expanded youth programs and partnerships. A former academic librarian, he now serves on local boards, directs youth theater, and teaches for the College of Southern Idaho. Together, they champion the power of mentorship, creativity, and community connection. Above all, they are devoted parents who bring care and joy to everything they do with youth and families.
In a world full of screens, our students need real, meaningful connections. This session will explore how to promote student-to-student, student-to-family, student-to-mentor, and student-to-community relationships. We will dive into why connection matters and how to naturally incorporate it in our after school culture and communities. Participants will leave with practical ideas and inspiration to help students unplug, engage, and thrive. Let’s reignite the power of human connection—LET’S SPARK A CONNECTION.
Bullying?? Or Is It??
Lisa Billings
Lisa Billings
Lissa Billings is the Director of Youth Programs at Mountain Home AFB, overseeing four nationally recognized programs that serve over 200 military youth. With a BA in Early Childhood Education and more than 30 years of experience in child and youth development, she has held roles from direct care to program leadership. Lissa is a BGCA Tier 1 trainer with certifications in Social Emotional Learning and School Age Care Management. A former National Afterschool Alliance Ambassador, she is passionate about youth voice and advocacy, having led over 40 workshops for youth, families, and professionals.
How often do you hear “Their bullying me!” or “I’m being targeted!” by a youth in your program? Are you tired of being the “solver” or “police” of all kid related relationship conflicts? Would you like a better understanding of developmentally appropriate youth interactions and be given tools to use to help empower youth to solve most of their own conflicts? Using a hands-on approach this session covers real-life practical strategies that give youth development staff the tools to enable youth to successfully navigate their way in social emotional regulation and interpersonal communication amongst peers.
From Collaboration to Change: Engaging with Community Schools
Jamie Garza
Jamie Garza
Jamie Garza is an educational leader committed to advancing equity through innovative programs and partnerships. As Programs Director for the American Falls School District, she oversees Migrant Education, English Language Learners, Dual Immersion, Early Learning, and the Community School project. With over 20 years of experience—as a teacher, Federal Programs Coordinator, and Migrant Liaison—she has championed culturally responsive practices and data-driven decisions. Jamie holds master’s degrees in Educational Leadership and Instructional Technology. Bilingual in Spanish and English, she is recognized for engaging professional development and her ability to build strong school-community partnerships.
Katie Marshall
Katie Marshall
Katie Marshall (she/her) is the Community Schools Engagement and Sustainability Manager at United Way of Treasure Valley and serves on the Board of Directors for the Meridian Library Foundation. A former teacher with a degree in Education from Boise State University, she is dedicated to fostering educational growth. As a lifelong Idahoan, Katie is passionate about expanding Community Schools in rural areas. When she’s not working on community initiatives, you’ll find Katie enjoying her hobbies of reading, baking, and spending time with her family.
Discover how community organizations can transform lives by partnering with community schools. Participants will learn practical strategies for forming meaningful partnerships and see firsthand the impact these collaborations have had in a rural Idaho school district. Gain insight into how organizations like yours can contribute to creating thriving schools and stronger communities everywhere.
SPONSORS
Thank You For Your Generous Support!
SUMMIT SESSIONS
Resources
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