Operating a volunteer program is no small feat. It takes a tremendous amount of time, effort, patience, perseverance, managerial skill, long-term vision, and a willingness to engage in continuous learning and improvement to keep the program operating successfully year after year.

The Governor’s Outstanding Volunteer Manager of the Year Award was created by former Governor John Sununu to honor volunteer administrators and salute their excellence in the leadership and management of volunteers in New Hampshire. The awardee will be announced during this time!

Presenter: Johanna Corcoran, Lighthouse Credit Union Foundation

Session Description: This interactive session explores why the most impactful nonprofit programs start with disciplined listening, and how community convening is one of the most powerful (and underused) tools for understanding what a community actually needs before designing something for them. Drawing on over two decades of nonprofit leadership, including five years leading a statewide food insecurity organization and a current role leading a credit union foundation, I’ll share frameworks for designing community conversations that surface real needs, build cross-sector trust, and lead to programs that stick. The session combines a short teaching segment with a live facilitated convening: attendees will actually participate in a community conversation and then debrief.

By the end of this session, participants will have learned: 

• More info coming soon!

Topic(s): More info coming soon!

Suggested Audience: More info coming soon!

Presenter Bio Coming Soon!

Presenter: Kathy DesRoches, EdD, retired Adjunct Professor

Co-Presenter: Dr. Jo Oliver-Yeager, Program Director of Human Services, University of New Hampshire CPS-Online

Session Description: Strong communities are built by strong teams. When volunteers care for themselves, listen well, and work collaboratively, their collective impact grows. This interactive session explores how personal well-being, active listening, and intentional team practices support effective service. Participants will reflect on the strengths they bring to their team, examine practical self-care habits that sustain energy, and learn simple listening strategies that strengthen trust and communication.

The central idea is practical and hopeful: when team members feel supported and heard, collaboration improves—and so does community impact.

By the end of this session, participants will have learned: 

• Describe at least three practical self-care strategies that help sustain personal energy and effectiveness in volunteer work.
• Demonstrate key listening skills—such as paraphrasing, asking clarifying questions, and minimizing distractions—that strengthen team communication.
• Identify one specific action they can take to contribute to a more supportive and collaborative team environment.

Topic(s): Organizational Management/Culture, Personal/Professional Development, Mental Health & Wellness

Suggested Audience: Volunteer managers, Other volunteers, AmeriCorps members and/or AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers, AmeriCorps program staff 

Kathy DesRoches, EdD is retired Program Director from the University of New Hampshire. She is a 200 Hr Yoga Teacher in Kripalu yoga. She works as an adjunct at SNHU in the area of leadership. She is the chair of the planning board in Epsom. She has spent many years as a volunteer in politics, homelessness, and animal rights. She was a founding member of NHVEGFEST and later president. She lives with her husband and dog, Pierre. In her spare time, she likes to read, knit, weave, and sketch.

Jo Oliver-Yeager EdD is an author who created a non-profit children’s book series highlighting children with differences. She is currently the Program Director and faculty in the undergraduate and graduate programs in Human Services at the University of New Hampshire CPS-Online. Jo started her career as a therapist working with children, teens, and adults with trauma. Jo is a member of the National Organization for Human Services (NOHS). She creates and teaches courses for The Child Welfare Education Partnership, which helps caregivers and foster families learn effective ways to support children. In her personal life, Jo lives with her husband, three dogs, and two cats in Vermont, where she is a mother to three adult children, an avid hiker, and a bird watcher.

Presenter: Cris Blackstone, freelance photographer

Session Description: With some tips to increase your awareness about what a cell phone camera can do, this session will help participants learn ways available that don’t require technology interface or manipulating photos with apps. Putting together some philosophy of photographic techniques and analyzing some photos participants will gain insights about how to mindfully put more “story” in each photo they take. Thinking about emotion, sentiment and information, and putting those concepts in place, photos will be more meaningful, enhancing newsletter stories or personal experiences.

By the end of this session, participants will have learned: 

• What a smart phone camera is capable of, and meant to do
• How to work with photo subjects, whether in still life format or with individuals or groups of people
• How to capture photos to use beyond newsletters, and showcase their photography

Topic(s): Volunteer Recruitment/Management, Organizational Management & Culture, Civic Engagement

Suggested Audience: Volunteer managers, Directors of nonprofits/public agencies, Other volunteers

Cris Blackstone’s interest in photography spans creative captures of nature, travel and people alongside focusing on authentic photos of people, places and things for publicity purposes. She’s an experienced public school educator, school administrator and now, focuses on teaching others how to improve their own photography skills, to meet their needs.

Presenter: Christina Huntress, Merrimack County Director of Community Engagement at Granite United Way

Co-Presenter: Kerry Folkins, Greater Seacoast Region Director of Community Engagement at Granite United Way

Session Description: Corporate volunteer programs are often treated as one-day events—but when designed intentionally, they can become powerful drivers of nonprofit growth, visibility, and long-term engagement. This session challenges that one-day mindset and explores how nonprofits can strategically leverage corporate volunteerism to build stronger volunteer pipelines, increase organizational capacity, and develop lasting partnerships.

Using Granite United Way’s Day of Caring as a case study, presenters will demonstrate how large-scale service initiatives can deliver real operational support while introducing new audiences to your mission. Participants will learn how to design volunteer experiences that align nonprofit needs with corporate goals and create clear pathways for continued involvement. Attendees will leave with practical, proven strategies to turn one-time volunteers into ongoing supporters and partners.

By the end of this session, participants will have learned: 

• How to use corporate engagement not just for project completion, but to expand capacity, visibility, and long-term support
• How to structure meaningful, well-aligned volunteer opportunities that convert one-day participants into repeat volunteers, advocates, and partners
• How to identify practical ways to align nonprofit needs with corporate goals to create mutually beneficial, sustainable relationships

Topic(s): Volunteer Recruitment/Management, Fundraising, Corporate Volunteerism, Community & Partnership

Suggested Audience: Volunteer managers, Directors of nonprofits/public agencies, Other employees of nonprofits/public agencies, Other volunteers

Christina Huntress is the Director of Community Engagement at Granite United Way, where she leads corporate volunteer initiatives that connect businesses with meaningful, high-impact service opportunities across New Hampshire. She works closely with companies and nonprofit partners to design experiences that strengthen communities while deepening employee engagement. Her work focuses on aligning business goals with community needs to create lasting impact.

Kerry Folkins is the Director of Community Engagement for Granite United Way’s Greater Seacoast region, where she leads corporate volunteer initiatives that connect businesses with meaningful service opportunities. She partners with local nonprofits and companies to design impactful volunteer experiences that strengthen communities and support employee engagement. Kerry is passionate about building collaborative partnerships that drive lasting community impact.

Presenters: Andrea Johnston, Volunteer NH & Sarah Morrissey, New Hampshire Employment Security

Session Description: What’s in store after your AmeriCorps service concludes? Are you planning to attend a college or university, look for a job, or something else? Do you know how to make that goal come to fruition. Fear not, because we have resources to help!

Presenter: Nicole McKenzie, Data Dissemination Specialist, U.S. Census Bureau

Session Description: This workshop is designed for non-profit and volunteer-based organizations looking to better understand and serve their communities. Participants will learn how to easily access U.S. Census Bureau data to support community needs assessments, program planning, and strategic decision-making. The session introduces key Census Bureau surveys and user-friendly data tools that can be used to research local populations, identify service gaps, prioritize projects, strengthen outreach efforts, and support grant-writing and reporting requirements. Through live demonstrations, participants will explore census.gov and practice using tools such as data.census.gov, QuickFacts, and Narrative Profiles to create community profiles, data tables, and simple maps that compare neighborhoods or service areas. The workshop will also cover how to download, use, and share data to communicate impact with funders, partners, and stakeholders.

By the end of this session, participants will have learned: 

• About the different surveys and data available to their organization
• How to use Census Bureau data tools that will allow them to customize their data queries to provide data to support their planning, community analysis and outreach/marketing
• How to download data into Excel and other formats to include in reports, grants, and outreach.

Topic(s): Fundraising, Community & Partnership, Personal/Professional Development

Suggested Audience: Volunteer Managers, Directors of nonprofits/public agencies, Other employees of nonprofits/public agencies, Members of a nonprofit Board of Directors, Other volunteers, Business owners/employees, AmeriCorps members or AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers, AmeriCorps program staff

Nicole McKenzie began at the U.S. Census Bureau in 2019 as a Partnership Specialist and currently works within the Data Dissemination and Training Branch providing training on data products and tools for customers in New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Prior to working at the Census Bureau, Nicole was president and co-founder of a grant acquisition and management company in New Hampshire where she helped private businesses, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, and government entities research, write and manage grant-funded projects.

Presenter: Mikayla Collins, Operations Manager, NH Granite State Ambassadors

Session Description: What separates a forgettable icebreaker from a surprising conversation that sticks with you (in a good way)? According to author and facilitator Priya Parker, the answer lies in the “magical question” – one where everyone is genuinely interested in answering AND hearing each other’s answers.

In this interactive session, we’ll explore the magical question framework rooted in Parker’s philosophy of intentional gathering from The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters, and her ongoing work. Participants will discover how a question can transform the energy of any professional context, from volunteer orientations and donor events to staff meetings and networking receptions.

Come learn a new way of thinking about the simplest and most powerful tool in any gathering: the questions you choose to ask.

By the end of this session, participants will have learned: 

• How to distinguish between questions that close conversations down and questions that open them up
• Why and how to complicate the individual instead of unifying the group
• How to design your own magical questions for any gathering

Topic(s): Volunteer Recruitment/Management, Organizational Management & Culture, Personal/Professional Development

Suggested Audience: General Audience, Volunteer Managers, Nonprofit Staff

Mikayla Collins is a dedicated capacity-builder for NH nonprofits, currently serving as the Operations Manager at NH Granite State Ambassadors. She brings a decade of experience supporting volunteer programs, facilitating groups, and delivering training – she even spent a few years as lead planner for this very conference! Mikayla is passionate about bringing people together and creating the conditions for meaningful connection.

Presenter: Kelli Anaya, MPH, Volunteer Coordinator, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention-New Hampshire Chapter

Co-Presenter: Gabrielle Amarosa, Volunteer Coordinator, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention-New Hampshire Chapter

Session Description: This session will focus on the workflow of volunteer recruitment, training, and retention, with a particular focus on leveraging technology (Discord) to curate a volunteer community communication platform. Session attendees will walk away with practical tips and examples.

By the end of this session, participants will have learned: 

• Building community among volunteers through consistent communication via an interactive communication platform
• The benefits of using a communication tool other than email to provide organized spaces for targeted volunteer asks, as well as places for celebrating or facilitating community building between volunteersHow to build, refine, and delegate a workflow to recruit, vet, train, and integrate volunteers into their organization efficiently and with minimal manual or repetitious labor

Topic(s): Volunteer Recruitment/Management, Organizational Management & Culture, Civic Engagement

Suggested Audience: General Audience, Volunteer Managers, Nonprofit Staff

Gabrielle & Kelli are the volunteer coordinators for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention- New Hampshire Chapter. They both serve as members of the Board of Directors and have been involved with the New Hampshire chapter for three years

Presenter: Heather Turner, Owner, Forfeng Designs

Session Description: Learn how to plan a content calendar for both your online and offline nonprofit marketing for this coming year. Having your marketing planned out ahead of time can save a nonprofit time, money and ease a lot of the stress that comes with preparing for holidays, nonprofit giving, and other events your nonprofit cycles through every year.
We will also cover how to plan for special events in terms of time to start advertising prior to the event, how to plan out your advertising schedule for the event, and post-event wrap-up advertising and donor and volunteer appreciation.

By the end of this session, participants will have learned: 

• A fully mapped 12-month marketing and content calendar framework
• A step-by-step event marketing timeline they can reuse for any event
• A repeatable system for donor and volunteer follow-up and retention

Topic(s): Marketing & Technology, Community Relations & Partnership

Suggested Audience: Nonprofit/Agency Leadership, Nonprofit Staff, Business Owners/Employees

Heather Turner has owned Forfeng Designs since 2003, primarily doing restaurant and hospitality consulting, and currently teaches marketing and operations seminars for small businesses and professional groups including many nonprofits. She is also a SCORE certified business mentor. She received the 2022 Small Business Champion Award from the NH SBA for her work with clients and as a workshop presenter.

Presenter: Danielle Heaton, Executive Director, Twenty-One Senses

Co-Presenter: Sarah Gould, Director of Suicide Prevention Programs, Connor’s Climb Foundation

Session Description: This session will focus on better understanding the science behind the way our brains work and your role to support yourself and others in managing and regulating emotions to deal effectively with stress, anxiety and other mental health difficulties. Participants will leave the session with better knowledge about their own nervous system and how they can influence others, through co-regulation. This session will expand on the foundation of mental health, strategies to address when one is overwhelmed, and how to recognize concerning mental health behaviors.

By the end of this session, participants will have learned: 

• An understanding about the neurobiology of of the brain and nervous system.
• Tools and techniques to use proactively to stay regulated and reactively when someone is overwhelmed.
• How to identify warning signs of suicidal behaviors.

Topic(s): Mental Health & Wellness 

Suggested Audience: Volunteer managers,  Volunteers, Nonprofit Staff, AmeriCorps Members

Danielle Heaton (she/her) is the Executive Director & Co-Founder of Twenty-One Senses, a nonprofit focused on advancing inclusion for individuals with invisible disabilities. Danielle’s greatest strength is understanding complicated concepts and translating it into an easy to understand format. A mother of two amazing neurodiverse teens, she has over 25 years of lived experience navigating the medical, educational and social systems for herself and her family. Danielle brings her personal and professional experience to every endeavor and is passionate about creating an empathic and inclusive community.

Sarah Gould is the Director of Suicide Prevention Programs for Connor’s Climb Foundation. She holds a Master’s degree in Counseling. She has over 15 years of experience working with and on behalf of children and families. She finds all aspects of suicide prevention rewarding, but facilitating training is her passion. She loves the “aha” moments when participants make connections through the information.

Presenter: More info coming soon!

Session Description: Every 3 years, Volunteer NH creates a State Service Plan with input from New Hampshire residents to identify the most pressing focus areas in our state and pinpoint key issues that we can work to address through service & volunteerism. For 2026-28, the identified focus areas are Affordable Housing, Job Skills Training, and Access to Mental Health Resources.

Topic(s): More info coming soon!

Suggested Audience: More info coming soon!

Presenter: Mackenzie Murphy, Director of Admissions, University of NH at Manchester

Session Description: This interactive workshop empowers career professionals to strengthen their professional presence through LinkedIn. Participants will explore how to craft an authentic, compelling digital brand that reflects their leadership strengths, career goals, and contributions. Through guided strategies and hands‑on examples, attendees will learn how to elevate their profiles, expand their networks, and use LinkedIn as a tool for visibility, collaboration, and career advancement. This session supports professionals at every stage of their career journey in building confidence, amplifying their voice, and positioning themselves for future opportunities.

NOTE: Attendees must bring a laptop to participate in this session.

By the end of this session, participants will have learned: 

• How to create and share content that positions you as knowledgeable, engaged contributors to your field
• Leverage LinkedIn to elevate your professional voice
• How to engage meaningfully with colleagues, mentors, and sector leaders through posts, comments, and shared content

Topic(s): Marketing & Technology, Community Relations & Partnership, Personal/Professional Development, Leadership Development

Suggested Audience: Anyone, Volunteers,Nonprofit Staff, Business Owners/Employees

Mackenzie Murphy, as a graduate of our NH Public Higher Education System, is proud to be the Director of Admissions at UNH Manchester! Mackenzie has been awarded the President’s Leadership Award through Campus Compact for NH and the 2017 Student Engagement Award at Nashua Community College. Mackenzie served as the student representative on the University System of NH Board of Trustees while pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree and later went on to serve as the Alumni Trustee from 2021-2025.

Mackenzie currently serves on the Board of Directors for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention NH Chapter, the NH Women in Higher Education Conference Planning Committee, the City Year NH Recruitment Advisory Committee and is on the Board of Directors for the NH Manufacturing Extension Partnership. She recently completed her tenure on the Merrimack Town Council, Merrimack Parks and Recreation Committee and Merrimack 250th Anniversary Committee which she has served on for the past three years. In addition to this, Mackenzie has served on the Merrimack School District Budget Committee as Chair/Vice-Chair and on the Town of Merrimack Ethics Committee. She has worked on campaigns at the Presidential, Congressional and Executive Council level in NH and ran for public office several times. In addition to this, Mackenzie has served as a judge for several Miss NH Local Competitions, served on the Merrimack School District Strategic Planning Committee, was the 2025 HiSet commencement speaker for the Adult Learning Center in Nashua and served on the 2025 21st Annual Student Leaders Summit Local Market Selection Committee for the Bank of America. Mackenzie has also served on the Board of Directors for the Nashua Police Athletic League and the State Employees Association (SEA/SEIU 1984) Board of Directors.

Due to her meaningful contributions in NH, Mackenzie was recognized by WZID as one of the “20 Outstanding Women of 2025” by WZID and recognized by Volunteer NH with the 2025 Volunteer Service Award and People’s Choice Award.

Presenter: Patrick Curley, Founder & Continuous Improvement Lead, NH Food Link Project

Session Description: Too often, well-intended referrals turn into a “black hole”—a client is given a phone number or website, and no one knows whether they ever connected to help. This session gives volunteer managers, nonprofit staff, and frontline volunteers a practical, lightweight method to improve follow-through without building a new system or turning volunteers into case managers. Using a simple closed-loop workflow (Screen → Intake → Refer → Service → Confirm), we’ll show how to standardize handoffs between volunteers and partner agencies so fewer people fall through the cracks, duplication decreases, and partnerships get stronger. Participants will work through realistic scenarios (food assistance, mental health resource access, and common cross-agency referrals) and leave with templates they can use immediately.

By the end of this session, participants will have learned: 

• How to map a referral using the 5-step closed-loop workflow (Screen → Intake → Refer → Service → Confirm) and identify the single “confirmation point” that proves the referral outcome (e.g., scheduled, engaged, unable to reach, declined).
• To create a one-page handoff standard for their program that includes (1) minimum info to collect, (2) consent language, (3) what to send to the partner, and (4) a clear definition of “done.”
• How to use a simple follow-up tracker to run a 7-day closed-loop check on referrals and apply one corrective action to reduce drop-off (e.g., warm handoff step, updated contact method, eligibility pre-check, assigned follow-up owner).

Topic(s): Volunteer Recruitment/Management, Organizational Management & Culture, Marketing & Technology

Suggested Audience: Volunteer managers, Volunteers, Nonprofit Staff

Pat Curley is a healthcare operations and continuous improvement leader with deep experience improving access, workflow, and cross-organization handoffs in healthcare and human services. He is the founder of the NH Food Link Project (independent), focused on practical closed-loop referral practices that help volunteers and agencies reduce “referral drop-off” and strengthen partnerships. Pat has led multi-site operational improvement efforts using Lean/Six Sigma methods and simple, measurable process standards.

Presenter: James T. McKim, PMP, ITIL, Founder/Managing Partner, Organizational Ignition, LLC

Session Description: Picture this: you’re chatting with a friendly AI. It seems helpful, insightful, almost human… until you realize it doesn’t “think”—it predicts. Suddenly, its flaws aren’t just technical—they’re human. Welcome to “Beyond the Buzz: The Unspoken Realities of Artificial Intelligence”—an interactive exploration that dares to go beneath the algorithmic surface.

By the end of this session, participants will have learned: 

• Identify and articulate common misconceptions versus realities around AI capabilities and challenges
• Analyze examples of AI implementation to uncover ethical issues and practical barriers
• Identify AI generated fakes

Topic(s): Marketing & Technology, Civic Engagement, Personal/Professional Development

Suggested Audience: General Audience, Nonprofit/Agency Leadership, Business Owners/Employees

James McKim is a sought-after consultant, facilitator, speaker, and advisor working with both private sector and public sector entities internationally in many industries to spark efficiency and growth through aligning people, process, and technology. He is the author of the bestselling book The Diversity Factor: Igniting Superior Organizational Performance.

In addition to being a Spirit of NH awardee, he has played leadership and technical roles in for-profit and nonprofit organizations and associations over his 40+ year career. His current research is on how human thought impacts the use and development of technology.

Presenter: Dr. Kendra Lewis, State Specialist for Health & Wellbeing, UNH Extension

Session Description: A.I.D. (Awareness, Interaction, Direction) is an evidence-based mental health awareness training. Participants learn to recognize signs that someone is experiencing distress, how to have a supportive conversation, and how to locate and direct them to the appropriate resources. Participants will engage in discussions about mental health, terminology and stigma.

NOTE: This is Part 1 of a 2-part series. Part 1 will include discussions about mental health, terminology and stigma, and learning and practicing the A.I.D. action plan.

By the end of this session, participants will have learned: 

• How to recognize signs of distress
• What the appropriate resources are for someone in distress
• How to foster supportive conversations and address stigma

Topic(s): Mental Health

Suggested Audience: Anyone

Dr. Kendra Lewis is a State Specialist for Health & Wellbeing at UNH Extension. Her work focuses on coordinating and delivering social, emotional, and mental health programming to NH residents. She has extensive experience in evaluating both school-based and out-of-school-time social-emotional and positive youth development programs. She has a background in human development, a proficiency in program evaluation, and a passion for promoting mental health for all ages. 

Session Description: Do you have questions about how to manage your organization’s volunteer program? Are you looking to make it easier to bring in new volunteers? What about if you have a great resource to share with your fellow nonprofit staff? This is the time to come together to discuss these topics!

Presenter: Maura McGowan, Program Director, NH Teen Institute

Session Description: How can we create a safe space for our staff, clients, volunteers, and other stakeholders to be themselves? While large gestures, decorations, and statements can be important, what are some of those smaller steps that can be woven through from day to day, in structured programming and services, as well as during more informal interaction points? Through activities and discussion, participants will explore ways to put our organizations forward as safe spaces for individuals of any and all identities in which to feel respected and comfortable being their full selves. Participants will learn activities and actions we can do both as professionals and with our stakeholders that help them connect with each other and feel that they are able to embody the unique combination of all of their identities. This workshop is appropriate for participants with various levels of experience of having put these ideals into action.

By the end of this session, participants will have learned: 

• How to identify the breadth of cultural identities that make up the groups we work with in an ever evolving understanding of cultural identity
• Some of the activities that can be utilized to quickly and safely create culturally responsive spaces
• Language to engage participants or stakeholders in discussions involving cultures and intersecting identities without telling them how to think or feel

Topic(s): Volunteer Recruitment/Management

Suggested Audience: Volunteer Managers, Nonprofit/Agency Leadership, Board of Directors Member

Maura McGowan, she/her/hers, CPS, is the Program Director of the NH Teen Institute, a non-profit agency whose mission is to empower youth through personal leadership development and community engagement. Maura has worked in the field of prevention since 2002 and became involved with the NH Teen Institute in 2008 when she began volunteering for programs and working on a curriculum updating and development board. In 2017, Maura became Program Director in charge of youth programming and volunteer engagement in addition to being a facilitator for professional development trainings offered by the NH Teen Institute. She is a graduate of the New England ATTC Leadership Development Program and has served as a mentor in the New England PTTC Prevention Mentorship Program during its first two cohorts. In 2021, Maura was appointed as an advisor to the NH Governor’s Youth Advisory Council, is on the advisory committee for the NH Prevention Community of Practice, and in 2025 joined the NH Prevention Certification Board.

Presenter: Heather Turner, Owner, Forfeng Designs

Session Description: Do you know what makes a website attractive to a donor or volunteer? When people find you online, do you know what makes them convert? Learn some pointers about what works and what doesn’t for nonprofit websites. Whether your nonprofit has already built its website or it’s in the works, now is the time to analyze it and see what improvements can be made. While not everyone has access to edit their own website, this session is to give nonprofits information on some of the key things that need to be addressed, what may be driving away traffic and driving away donors, volunteers, and other supporters. We will also touch on ADA website compliance and global privacy laws as both need statements on the website. This session will share helpful advice for nonprofits to improve their website, make it easier for people to use, and clearly explain their goals.

By the end of this session, participants will have learned: 

• A clear understanding of what drives (and blocks) donor and volunteer conversions
• A practical framework to evaluate and improve any nonprofit website
• Working knowledge of essential compliance and trust elements (ADA + privacy)

Topic(s): Volunteer Recruitment/Management, Marketing & Technology, Fundraising

Suggested Audience: General Audience, Nonprofit/Agency Leadership, Business Owners/Employees

Heather Turner has owned Forfeng Designs since 2003, primarily doing restaurant and hospitality consulting, and currently teaches marketing and operations seminars for small businesses and professional groups including many nonprofits. She is also a SCORE certified business mentor. She received the 2022 Small Business Champion Award from the NH SBA for her work with clients and as a workshop presenter.

Presenter: Dr. Kendra Lewis, State Specialist for Health & Wellbeing, UNH Extension

Session Description: A.I.D. (Awareness, Interaction, Direction) is an evidence-based mental health awareness training. Participants learn to recognize signs that someone is experiencing distress, how to have a supportive conversation, and how to locate and direct them to the appropriate resources. Participants will engage in discussions about mental health, terminology and stigma.

NOTE: This is Part 2 of a 2-part series. Part 2 will include more in-depth scenarios discussions and use of the A.I.D. action plan, as well as self-care techniques.

By the end of this session, participants will have learned: 

• How to recognize signs of distress
• What the appropriate resources are for someone in distress
• How to foster supportive conversations and address stigma

Topic(s): Mental Health

Suggested Audience: Anyone

Dr. Kendra Lewis is a State Specialist for Health & Wellbeing at UNH Extension. Her work focuses on coordinating and delivering social, emotional, and mental health programming to NH residents. She has extensive experience in evaluating both school-based and out-of-school-time social-emotional and positive youth development programs. She has a background in human development, a proficiency in program evaluation, and a passion for promoting mental health for all ages.