Logistics
Location: Saemann Student Center, Wartburg College. You can find directions to campus and updates about any construction on their directions page.
Parking: You can find options for parking on Wartburg’s visitor parking map – Lot E is closest to the Saemann Student Center. There is also street parking.
Wifi: All guests will register themselves to access campus wifi. Select the “WC_Wireless” network, and then open a web browser to connect to the internet and begin the registration process.
Meals: Friday dinner and Saturday lunch are included in the registration fee. Thinkwell Coffee and snacks will be offered Saturday morning and afternoon.
Friday, November 14
Conference Check-in and Dinner | 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. | Knights Ballroom
Please allow about 45 minutes to check-in, get dinner, and get oriented to our opening evening. We invite you to get your dinner in the cafeteria and join us in the in the Knights Ballroom.
Friday Evening Activities | 6:30 – 9:00 p.m. | Knights Ballroom
Welcome and Orientation to the conference
Ice breaker led by Mount Mercy University’s Mustang Mentors.
“What’s your wish for America?” featuring Iowa State Representative Angel Ramirez
Saturday, November 15
Coffee & Networking | 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. | Knights Ballroom
Start your day slowly with coffee, granola bars, and networking with your peers.
Opening Large Group Session | 9:00 – 9:45 a.m. | Knights Ballroom
Energizer led by Mount Mercy University’s Mustang Mentors.
Breakout Sessions | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Beyond Blame: Rethinking Mental Health, Responsibility, and Growth in our Communities, Ava Carnes, WBC 116
This session explores how our cultural and institutional responses to adolescent mental illness often involve moral blame, and how this impacts character development and community belonging. Participants in this session will explore how to become civic leaders who promote empathy and justice and have the chance to design potential community-based responses to destigmatize and support mental health.
Transforming Pain Into Purpose Through Leadership, Hannah Brandt and Maddie Cunningham, WBC 117
Discover how to turn adversity into strength. This session explores using personal challenges to inspire growth, resilience, and purposeful leadership that drives meaningful change. By the end of the session, attendees will use their own experiences to help them lead with empathy, authenticity, and purpose in their communities.
Lead with Purpose: Communication Methods for More Effective Messaging, Dante Trinidad-Gomez, WBC 215
Leadership has traditionally been associated with age or seniority. Young leaders can challenge this perception by improving their skills in message delivery. Effective messaging can boost credibility for young leaders and increase the impact of their leadership.
The Leadership Web: Rethinking Leadership and Accountability, Gretta Grzadzielewski and Alaynna Kriz, WBC 217
Leadership isn’t about titles, it’s about shared responsibility, collaboration, and the courage to take action together. Participants in this session will gain tools to assess leadership within groups, recognize where meaningful change is needed, and take personal action to build stronger, more accountable, and collaborative teams. Discover strategies to empower you to stand up when change needs to happen.
Building Intercultural Competence through Student, University, and Community Work, Libby Gustafson, Kiley Rodarmel, and Catherine Van Wey, McCoy Conference Room
The Rural Intercultural Education Initiative focuses on alleviating educational and community engagement inequities for immigrants and fosters intercultural competence through community programs. Participants will learn about some of the educational and community barriers that immigrants face, and more importantly, how to work toward eliminating those barriers. Attendees will take away ideas that they can implement in their own communities.
Lunch | 11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Knights Ballroom
Lunch will be served in the Mensa – participants will get their meal in the cafeteria and take it to the ballroom for lunch and small group discussion.
Breakout Sessions | 12:15 – 1:15 p.m.
Doubt To Done: How To Turn Your Ideas Into Actions, Landon Shaw, WBC 116
Everyone has ideas; the hard part is making them happen. This presentation will exemplify ways to make it easier to take action and help participants construct concrete plans to help them achieve tangible actions.
The Feeling Brain: Turning Emotion into Learning, Keisya Park, WBC 117
Explore how the brain transforms emotion into creativity and connection. Through collaborative art, participants will visualize how feeling shapes learning at both neural and human levels — and reflect on educational systems and emotional design.
Peer to Peer Leadership Coaching, Emilee Burcham, WBC 215
In this session, we will explore various leadership styles, including what skills and tools people need to feel confident in occupying leadership roles. Participants will develop a deeper understanding of their personal leadership perspectives and self-identify their leadership style.
Mentorship Roles with Youth-Focused Community Programs, Arthur Fahnbulleh and Susin Zeki, WBC 217
Participants in this session will practice listening and giving advice to problems they themselves may not have faced by learning about the process within two youth-focused community programs.
Climbing the Social Ladder: How to Utilize Existing Connections and Build New Relationships, Chris Richter, McCoy Conference Room
This session will teach participants about the value of connections and experiences. We will be reflecting on connections we have made in the past and learning new skills to make more.
Community Crate, UpLift: The Central Iowa Basic Income Pilot, Meeting Point: Top of the stairs in the Student Center
Step inside a transformed shipping container and discover an eye-opening housing exhibit that brings the realities of housing stability to life. Note: This exhibit is located outside of the conference building. It will be approximately a five to ten minute walk from the Student Center.
Breakout Sessions | 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
From Passion to Practice: A Civic Professionalism Training Experience, Stephanie Cortes and Heloisa Texeira, McCoy Conference Room
A training that builds equity-focused civic leadership by developing student skills in empathy, reflection, and community engagement to empower peers in meaningful service and community-centered action.
Talking Trans Equity: Connecting Across Contexts Using Adaptive Education, Mikayla Morris, WBC 116
This session will reflect upon why trans equity is especially relevant today, how we talk about it, and ways we can adapt education around such charged topics to meet audiences where they are. Attendees grow their awareness of the importance of being vocal about trans equity, build skills to have conversations about these issues, and reflect on how they can approach such polarizing topics within their own work.
What is “Help” Post-AI?, Karen Miranda, WBC 117
Explore how AI reshapes the meaning of “help.” This interactive session examines empathy, equity, and resource efficiency to inspire more inclusive systems of support and collaboration. Attendees will leave with actionable ways to use technology and empathy to empower others in their communities.
Food Security in Rural Communities, Libby Gustafson, WBC 215
Explore how community-driven food assessments, like the Stevens County Food Assessment, can inspire local action. Learn to identify food system challenges and design practical, collaborative solutions for your own community.
Mental Health in a Civic Action Setting, Christina Graebner, WBC 217
How can student leaders living in a fast paced world stay grounded? Christina will share her experiences with mental health issues in civic action spaces, and provide space for participants to reflect upon and discuss their own strategies to prioritize their mental health.
Community Crate, UpLift: The Central Iowa Basic Income Pilot, Meeting Point: Top of the stairs in the Student Center
Step inside a transformed shipping container and discover an eye-opening housing exhibit that brings the realities of housing stability to life. Note: This exhibit is located outside of the conference building. It will be approximately a five to ten minute walk from the Student Center.
Closing Session: What, So What, Now What? | 2:45-4:00 p.m. | Knights Ballroom
Led by Wartburg College Social Work Seniors
Snacks will be served.
Speaker Bios
Hannah Brandt | Grand View University
Hannah Brandt is a senior nursing student at Grand View University. She is a View Crew coordinator, helping incoming freshmen transition into college life. She is most passionate about mental health advocacy, empowering survivors through storytelling, and creating spaces where vulnerability and leadership intersect to inspire healing and social change.
Emilee Burcham | Luther College
Emilee Burcham (she/her) is a senior studying Environmental Studies at Luther College. She’s passionate about environmental justice—particularly women’s reproductive and menstrual rights—student leadership, and sexual assault and domestic violence advocacy. A recent highlight of her civic engagement was working with Luther Votes to encourage student participation in the democratic process. Emilee enjoys kayaking the Upper Iowa River and spending time outdoors.
Ava Carnes | Simpson College
Ava Carnes is a junior studying education and history at Simpson College. She’s passionate about mental health advocacy, education equity, and reproductive rights. She is involved in Student Government as the Junior Class President and is deeply involved in her sorority’s philanthropy work, also serving on the Panhellenic Council. Last year Ava received Seed Coalition’s Engaged Campus Award for Emerging Innovation in 2025. In her free time she loves to read, write poetry, and collect CDs.
Stephanie Cortes | Loras College
Stephanie Cortes is a junior majoring in biology and psychology at Loras College, where she serves in the Civic Leaders program. She is passionate about making healthcare accessible and has volunteered at Crescent Community, a health center in downtown Dubuque where many uninsured people get access to quality healthcare services. This experience helped Stephanie not only see the impact that access to healthcare can make in people’s lives, but also the importance of meeting people where they are and helping them get through one struggle at a time.
Maddie Cunningham | Grand View University
Maddie Cunningham is a senior studying criminal justice at Grand View University. She’s an AmeriCorps member and passionate about mental health, women’s rights, and racial equity. She serves as secretary of the Black Student Union and Vice President of Student Life on the Viking Council, and throws on the track and field team. This is her third year at the Civic Action Academy!
Arthur Fahnbulleh | Concordia College
Arthur Fahnbulleh is a senior majoring in computer science at Concordia College, Moorhead. He is involved in the Mentorship Opportunities for People of Color program, which he sees as an opportunity to work with and guide kids in the same way he received support. Additionally, he is a Community Achievement Scholar and STEM Scholar, and serves as a youth pastor assistant and a juvenile detention center counselor. In his free time, he likes to make music.
Christina Graebner | University of Minnesota, Morris
Christina Graebner is a junior psychology student at University of Minnesota, Morris. She is passionate about spreading positive messages and supporting mental health. Christina is an intern at the Jane Addams Project, a weekly bilingual discussion and activity group that aims to connect members of the Latino community, broader community, and UMM community. She values the meaningful exchange that comes from sharing cultures and experiences, and also enjoys exploring new perspectives through creative writing and reading.
Gretta Grzadzielewski | College of Saint Benedict
Gretta Grzadzielewski is a student at the College of Saint Benedict studying Choral Music Education. As an active Bonner Leader and campus leader, she is passionate about community engagement, accountability, and creating inclusive spaces where leadership is shared and accessible to everyone. Gretta’s work centers on empowering others to take meaningful action within their communities.
Libby Gustafson | University of Minnesota, Morris
Libby Gustafson is an AmeriCorps VISTA member serving on the Food Systems Team at the University of Minnesota, Morris. Libby is passionate about food security and language access, serves on the Rural Intercultural Education Initiative (RIEI) Advisory Council, and is a recipient of the Bill and Ida Stewart Award for Racial Justice. She has taught community ESL classes for 4 years and enjoys seeing her students grow and participate in the community.
Alaynna Kriz | College of Saint Benedict
Alaynna Kriz is a junior studying Nursing at the College of Saint Benedict. She is a Bonner Leader who is passionate about supporting personal growth and leadership among her peers and building partnerships that uplift underserved communities. She enjoys working in roles that involve mentoring others, building strong teams, and creating meaningful connections between organizations and the people they serve.
Karen Miranda | Concordia College
Karen Miranda is a student of economics at Concordia College and holds a variety of leadership roles and awards including serving as Co-Chair of Profesionales Unidos and Vice President of the Entrepreneurship Club at Concordia, and winning the Concordia College Leadership Scholarship. Her passions include building equitable financial systems through a women-led fintech model for Latin American communities and advancing economic and educational opportunities for immigrants and first-generation students. She believes that help, when guided by empathy and inclusion, creates generational impact.
Mikayla Morris | University of Minnesota, Morris
Mikayla Morris is a senior in human services at University of Minnesota, Morris. They work as an advocacy intern with Gender Justice, where his passion for addressing queer health disparities through provider education and connection is channeled into expanding trans equity education programs into a rural context for greater accessibility and impact. Mikayla also promotes food accessibility through collaborations with campus-community food systems, the local food shelf, farmers market, and community garden, and they enjoy fostering community and inclusion in their campus improv club.
Keisya Park | Grinnell College
Keisya Park is a senior majoring in biology and studio art at Grinnell College. She is passionate about reimagining education through the lens of emotion, neuroscience, and design, and focuses on understanding how systems shape emotional expression in learning, and how creative, empathy-driven tools can make classrooms and communities more human-centered. Keisya recently joined the Summer of Service Program, leading a community-based systems mapping project on emotional well-being and education in rural Iowa.
Chris Richter | Minnesota State University, Mankato
Chris Richter is a senior majoring in Political Science at Minnesota State University, Mankato. He started his leadership journey as the Student Senate President at South Central College. He later became the youngest person in Minnesota’s history to be appointed to the Minnesota State Board of Trustees. As a Trustee, he represents approximately 260,000 students and has gained experience in engaging with legislators and negotiating organizational contracts. Chris will be starting his MS in Public Policy and Secondary Education Leadership in the Spring, and then in 2027 will start an Educational Leadership Doctoral Program.
Kiley Rodarmel | University of Minnesota, Morris
Kiley Rodarmel is the coordinator for the Rural Intercultural Education Initiative (RIEI) at the Center for Small Towns at the University of MN Morris. RIEI offers English as a Second Language classes along with childcare, the TERCERO Interpretation and Translation Workshop, and Puentes al Futuro (a series of college preparedness workshops offered in Spanish). Before her current position, Kiley was a student at UMN Morris where she majored in Communication, Media, and Rhetoric and Spanish. She also worked as a RIEI Student Leader for 3 years. Fun fact about Kiley – she lived in Suzhou, China for two years when she was in 5th and 6th grade.
Landon Shaw | University of Minnesota, Morris
Landon Shaw is a sophomore history and secondary education major at University of Minnesota, Morris. He has served on the Prairie Harvest Board where he helped to run a large community festival. This experience fed his passion for bringing groups together through its impact on his community. Landon also serves on the Morris Town Tourism Board.
Heloisa Sader Teixeira | Loras College
Heloisa Sader Teixeira is a junior majoring in biochemistry and Spanish at Loras College, where she serves in the Civic Leaders program and as the activism chair for Latinos Unidos. Her community engagement journey has been shaped by her time volunteering at Crescent Community, a health center in downtown Dubuque, where many uninsured people get access to quality healthcare services, and where she was able to see the positive impact of providing for people in need.
Dante Trinidad-Gomez | Central College
Dante Trinidad-Gomez is a senior at Central College in Pella, Iowa, majoring in political science and psychology, with a minor in philosophy. Dante is the captain of the mock trial team, a student senator, and a player on both the Football and Rugby teams. Dante also serves the community as board secretary of Emprende, a non-profit aimed at informing Latinos in the community about voting rights, education, and registration. All of Dante’s work is devoted to one goal: becoming an attorney and helping the people in his community that need it most!
Catherine Van Wey | University of Minnesota, Duluth
Catherine Van Wey is a fourth year student studying Spanish and English at University of Minnesota, Duluth. She is a member of Sigma Delta Pi and teaches ESL. She is a leader in the Jane Addams Project, and recently presented research about Jane Addams at the NCCLA conference. She is passionate about intercultural competence and community engagement.
Susin Zeki | Concordia College
Susin Zeki is a junior majoring in social studies education at Concordia College, Moorhead. She serves as a mentor for Community Achievement Scholarship recipients and in the Mentorship Opportunities for People of Color program. Susin is a TA and part of the orientation team, and wants to be an educator one day. She also hates olives.
