AGENDA

We’re excited to offer opportunities to energize attendees with fresh ideas, renewed commitment, and practical paths forward. Over three days, leaders and innovators from across Virginia’s community navigation sector will come together to explore new strategies, share success stories, and strengthen our collective impact.

You can click here to learn more about all the sessions and speakers.

Most session slide decks can be accessed through the hyperlink listed under each session’s location. The PowerPoint file will automatically download when you click the link.

Day 1

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Time	Session
11:00	Lunch On Your Own
12:00	Check-in opens - please pick up your badge and summit participant materials
1:00	Plenary: One DARS: How the NWD initiative both leverages and strengthens Virginia's Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services Speakers: Kiersten Ware, Dr. Nedra Moncrief-Craig Location: Ballroom
1:45	Breakout: Working Together, For Real: Creating Stronger Partnerships and Meaningful Collaboration (Part 1 of a 2-part Partner Series) Speaker: Colleen Wilhelm Location: Ballroom View the "Working Together For Real" slide deck Breakout: Accessibility: Become an Information Access Champion! The importance of using plain language to empower accessibility. (Part 1 of a 2-part Accessibility Series) Speaker: Teri Morgan, Linh Thi Nguyen Location: Salon 4 View the "Become an Information Access Champion" slide deck Breakout: The National Family Caregiver Support Programs: Exploring Programs that Help the Helper Speaker: Kim Vivaldi Location: Salon 5 View the "Programs that Help the Helper" slide deck
2:45	Break
3:00	Breakout: Opening the Door Isn’t Enough: Building Tables That Include Everyone (Part 2 of a 2-part Partner Series) Speaker: Gayl Brunk Location: Ballroom View the "Opening the Door Isn't Enough" slide deck View the Accessible Events Handout View the Accessible Meetings Handout Breakout: How VDDHH is Strengthening Language Access and Disability Inclusion Across Services and Community Life (Part 2 of a 2-part Accessibility Series) Speaker: Karen Rhoads Location: Salon 4 View the "VDDHH Strengthening Language Access" slide deck Breakout: Caring for the Care Workforce: Supporting and Retaining Frontline Staff Speaker: Jenn Case Location: Salon 5 View the "Caring for the Care Workforce" slide deck
4:00	Wrap Up
6:00	Evening Networking Event - Dinner Provided

Day 2

Wednesday, May 6, 2026

Time	Session
7:30-9:00	Breakfast Provided - Ballroom
8:00	Check-in opens - please pick up your badge and summit participant materials
8:45	Morning Wellness Activity
9:00	Breakout: Finding Resources in the Community: Aligning Tools and Teams to Help Virginians Find the Right Resources Panelists: Kim Tarantino, Amanda Holcomb, Erika Okonsky Location: Ballroom View the "Finding Resources in the Community" slide deck Breakout: Foundations of the Older Americans Act and the Aging Services Network (Part 1 of a 2-part AAA series) Speakers: Nick Slentz, Jodi Winship Location: Salon 5 View the "Foundations of the OAA" slide deck Breakout: Beyond Transit: Transforming Travel with DRPT’s Mobility Hub Concept Speaker: Jess Maffey Location: Salon 4 View the "DRPT Mobility Hub Concept" slide deck
10:00	Breakout: The PATH of No Wrong Door Virginia Speaker: Val Murphy Location: Salon 4 View the "PATH of No Wrong Door Virginia" slide deck Breakout: Introduction to Trauma Informed Care Speaker: Melissa Armstead White Location: Ballroom View the "Trauma Informed Care" slide deck Breakout: Beyond the Basics: Operational Alignment Between AAAs and NWD (Part 2 of a 2-part AAA series) Speaker: Nick Slentz, Jodi Winship Location: Salon 5 View the "Alignment Between AAAs and NWD" slide deck
11:00	Break
11:15	Plenary: Stronger Together: State Agencies Driving Cross‑System Alignment for NWD Panelists: Eric Williams, Teri Morgan, Katie Morris Location: Ballroom
12:00	Lunch Provided - Ballroom
12:45	Afternoon Wellness Activity / Lunch Continues
1:00	Break
1:15	Breakout: Elder Justice Shelter Innovation: Lessons in Communication, Collaboration, and Cooperation (Double Feature: This session will be offered twice!) Speaker: Gigi Amateau, Choice East, Jen Johnson Location: Ballroom View the "Elder Justice Shelter Innovation" slide deck Breakout: Tools and Best Practices to Apply for and Manage Funds (Part 1) Speaker: Devin Bowers, John Carpenter Location: Salon 5 View "Part 1: Apply for Funds" slide deck Closed Meeting: NWD Ambassadors Location: Salon 4
2:15	Break
2:30	Breakout: Elder Justice Shelter Innovation: Lessons in Communication, Collaboration, and Cooperation (Double Feature: This session will be offered twice!) Speaker: Gigi Amateau, Choice East, Jen Johnson Location: Ballroom View the "Elder Justice Shelter Innovation" slide deck Breakout: Tools and Best Practices to Apply for and Manage Funds (Part 2) Speaker: Devin Bowers, John Carpenter Location: Salon 5 View the "Part 2: Manage Funds" slide deck Closed Meeting: NWD Ambassador Meeting Location: Salon 4
3:30	Break
3:45	Plenary: From Systems to People: Implementing Person-Centered Approaches Across HHS Panelists: John Stewart, Adyam Redae, Nickie Brandenburger Location: Ballroom View the "Person-Centered Approaches" slide deck
4:45	Wrap Up / NWD Team Drop-In

Day 3

Thursday, May 7, 2026

Time	Session
7:30 - 9:00	Breakfast Provided - Ballroom
8:00	Check-in opens - please pick up your badge and summit participant materials
8:45	Morning Wellness Activity
9:00	Breakout: Building a Dementia Capable Virginia: Dementia Friends Certification (Part 1 of a 2-part Dementia Series) Speaker: George Worthington Location: Ballroom Breakout: Data with Dignity: An Equity-Centered Approach for Supporting Older Adults (Part 1 of a 2-part Data Series) Speaker: Rachel Coates Location: Salon 4 View the "Data with Dignity" slide deck Breakout: Veteran Directed Care: Promoting Independence through Self-Direction Speaker: Melissa Blake Location: Salon 5 View the "Veteran Directed Care" slide deck
10:00	Breakout: Building a Dementia Capable Virginia: Supporting Cognitive Health Across the Lifespan (Part 2 of a 2-part Dementia Series) Speaker: George Worthington, Location: Ballroom View the "Building a Dementia Capable Virginia" slide deck Breakout: Data: Leveraging PeerPlace Tools for Meaningful and Essential Data (Part 2 of a 2-part Data Series) Speaker: Christy Miller, David Baker Location: Salon 4 View the "Leveraging PeerPlace Tools" slide deck Breakout: General Assembly 101 and 2026 Aging-Related Legislation Update Speaker: Sara Stowe Location: Salon 5 View the "General Assembly and Aging Legislation" slide deck
11:00	Break
11:15	Plenary: Improving Access for Virginia: Implementing a No Wrong Door Framework Speakers: Lauren Solkowski, Christina Neill Bowen Location: Ballroom View the "Improving Access for Virginia" slide deck
12:15	Wrap Up / Lunch On Your Own

The information on this page is up to date at the time of publication. Speakers and session topics are subject to changes.

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