Schedule
April 22, 2026
Schedule, speakers and sessions subject to change.
Questions? uicurban@uic.edu
Schedule
| TIME | SESSION | DESCRIPTION | SPEAKERS |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. | Registration and Networking | Box lunch will be available. | |
| 12:15-12:30 p.m. | Welcome Remarks | Stacey Swearingen White, Dean, College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs, University of Illinois Chicago Marie Lynn Miranda, Chancellor, University of Illinois Chicago Joe Hoereth, Director, Institute for Policy and Civic Engagement, University of Illinois Chicago |
|
| 12:30-1:15 p.m. | Panel Discussion | Public Service in a Healthy Democracy This panel will explore what it means to work in public service in our current times and how effective public service contributes to a healthy democracy. | Clarisol Duque, State Director, Office of U.S. Senator Richard J. Durbin Rene Leyva, President-Elect, Illinois Library Association Rebekah Scheinfeld, CEO and President, Civic Consulting Alliance Deanna Shoss, Director of Communications and Outreach, Office of Inspector General (moderator) |
| 1:20-1:50 p.m. | Keynote Address | Brian Whittaker, Founder and Executive Director, Humans of Public Service (HOPS) | |
| 1:50-2:05 p.m. | Break | ||
| 2:05-2:50p.m. | Panel Discussion | The Next Generation of Public Service This panel discusses how the public and our institutions can continue to be supportive of the public service sector and the professionals who work in it. | Kate Albrecht, Assistant Professor, Public Policy, Management and Analytics, UIC (moderator) Kari Branham, Administrator of Research, Evaluation, & Innovation, IDHS Emily Egan, AICP, Director of Community Development, Village of Wilmette Kevin Jackson , Village Manager, Oak Park Drew Williams-Clark, Director, Build Up Cook, Bureau of Asset Management, Cook County |
| 3:00-4:00 p.m. | Lightning Talk Presentations | Katie Bell, Associate Director of Project Development, Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways Karlia Brown, Senior Research Specialist, Institute for Research on Race and Public Policy, UIC Liz DeChant, Assistant Director of Economic Development, Village of Schaumburg Lindsay Hollander, Assistant Deputy Bureau Chief, Financial Research and Analysis, Cook County Bureau of Finance Joe van Dyk, Executive Director, South Suburban Land Bank and Development Authority Ana Maria Vasquez-Gomez, Mental Health Practitioner, Healing Journeys Program, Marjorie Kovler Center-Heartland Alliance International Reuben Waddy, Vice President and Neighborhood Opportunity Fund Director, SomerCor |
|
| 4:00 p.m. | Closing Remarks |