REFLECTING ON OUR TIME TOGETHER
Thank you to all who participated in the 2020 Meals on Wheels Virtual Conference and Expo! In total, we welcomed 1,875 senior nutrition program staff representing more than 900 Meals on Wheels America Member programs from across the country and 145 individuals from 40 sponsoring and exhibiting companies, all of whom made it possible for this year's event to be held at no cost to our Members. Attendees benefited from the knowledge and experience of 76 speakers – experts in the field, fellow Members, Meals on Wheels America staff and Sponsors – during 49 unique events over four days. As Board Chair Patti Lyons stated on day one, we certainly turned this year's lemons into lemonade.
WHAT ATTENDEES HAD TO SAY
"I loved how the presenters made it 'real.' Content was right in sync with the current affairs of the country and their impact on the nutrition program at every level from leadership to the ground and field staff."
"Although not in person, I liked I could 'see' everyone. The Meals on Wheels America staff did an excellent job."
"I am super happy that I can go back and watch it all over again."
"I wasn't exactly sure how it was going to work with the vendors, but it was still nice being able to have them contact us and offer us the samples and such."
"The Conference left me hopeful and recharged!"
"I picked up very valuable info that will impact our staff and Board in dealing with conversations about the social unrest, unconscious bias, and diversity issues."
"I loved being able to integrate the Conference into my work week. I truly enjoyed hearing from all of the speakers and networking with peers. I was inspired to hear successes at other programs."
"It was encouraging hearing from other peers and seeing how they were thriving during the pandemic."
"I am new to the Meals on Wheels network and this was a great introduction! I took away many great future goals for being a provider within this network! Also a great experience for attending my first virtual conference. It was easier than I thought."
We hope you enjoyed your time and had the opportunity to reflect, refocus and recharge for what's ahead. And even if you didn't get to spend as much time participating as you had hoped, you can still rewatch events when it's most convenient for you. Aside from the Communities of Practice and Networking Breakouts, Conference registrants can rewatch all of our 2020 Virtual Conference Events right in Swapcard through August 2021!
MUST-WATCH EVENTS
LEADING DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC: LESSONS THAT WILL SHAPE OUR FUTURE
Join the Administration for Community Living Administrator and Assistant Secretary for Aging Lance Robertson for remarks and a fireside chat-style discussion moderated by Meals on Wheels America President and CEO Ellie Hollander that will explore topics and questions that are top of mind for senior nutrition professionals. Funding, regulations, innovation, future, partnerships and alliances and more.
WATCH NOW
GENERAL SESSION: 2020 CONFERENCE KICK OFF
Join Meals on Wheels America Board Chair Patti Lyons and President and CEO Ellie Hollander as they reflect on all that the network has faced and accomplished amid these unprecedented times. We celebrated the 2020 Sister Alice Marie Quinn Award recipient and geared up for an exciting week of Conference events like we’ve never done before!
WATCH NOW
GENERAL SESSION: RACE MATTERS AND THE MEALS ON WHEELS NETWORK
This Listen & Learn Panel discussion provided an opportunity for Black Meals on Wheels professionals to share their insights and experiences both personally and professionally as we all witness one of the largest social justice movements since the 1960’s. Join us in our journey to listen, learn and challenge our own beliefs so that we can better serve our communities and more equitably run our organizations.
Thank you to our panelists:
- Calvin Moore, CEO, Meals on Wheels of Metro Tulsa, Inc.
- Antoinetta Mosley, Development and Communications Director, Meals on Wheels Durham
- Maurice Elder Jr., Director of Customer Serivce, Lifecare Alliance
WATCH NOW
GENERAL SESSION: THE IMPORTANCE OF STAYING SOCIALLY CONNECTED WHILE PHYSICALLY DISTANT
Now more than ever, the critical role Meals on Wheels plays to provide human connection to vulnerable, homebound seniors is intimately understood by much of the world. Join us for a fireside chat where Carla Perissinotto, MD, MHS, Associate Chief For Geriatrics Clinical Programs, Associate Professor, School Of Medicine at The University of California San Francisco and Christopher Lim, MD, Senior Clinical Advisor with Aetna discussed the ongoing importance of staying connected, the role of Meals on Wheels and healthcare partners in this space, and how COVID-19 is shaping our understanding of social isolation and loneliness.
WATCH NOW
MOST TALKED-ABOUT EVENT!
GENERAL SESSION: KEYS TO STAYING POSITIVE DURING A CRISIS
It’s time to put on your own oxygen mask! As nonprofit professionals, we tend to put our work first and our personal well being second. Now add being thrust to the frontlines of a pandemic amid a period of civil unrest. It is possible to not only thrive in the face of this new normal, but we can also become unstoppable as well. Join best-selling author Shola Richards to explore the key strategies to build resilience now, and in the future. If you are looking for an inspiring and actionable session to help you to navigate the current uncertainty with confidence, look no further! Meals on Wheels America President and CEO Ellie Hollander closed out this inspiring session with a look at what’s ahead.
PARTICIPANT WORKBOOK WATCH NOW
CONNECTING WITH OUR 2020 SPONSORS AND EXHIBITORS
The Virtual Expo Hall will remain open through August 2021 so we encourage you to check back and make new connections as your needs change over the next year.
VISIT THE VIRTUAL EXPO
You can also rewatch all of our 2020 Sponsor Spotlight webinars enabling you to learn all about their latest products, services or initiatives in 30 minutes of less!
Sponsor Spotlights
STEPHANIE ARCHER-SMITH OF MEALS ON WHEELS OF CENTRAL MARYLAND NAMED 2020 SISTER ALICE MARIE QUINN AWARD RECIPIENT
We were proud to announce Stephanie Archer-Smith, Executive Director of Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland in Baltimore, MD, as the recipient of the third annual Sister Alice Marie Quinn Award during our Opening General Session on August 31. Established in 2018, the award celebrates the life and contributions of one of the Meals on Wheels network’s most respected and influential leaders of all time. A registered dietician, Sister Alice Marie – affectionately known as SAM – founded St. Vincent Meals on Wheels in Los Angeles, CA, in 1977, and through her leadership and spirit, left an indelible mark on the national Meals on Wheels community.
Each year, this award honors a current leader of a local Meals on Wheels program who embodies Sister Alice Marie’s legacy through compassion, dedication and contribution, and who works to unite and advance the nationwide Meals on Wheels movement. In particular, the 2020 selection committee looked to highlight a leader who has rolled up their sleeves, navigated uncharted waters with skill and grace, and has rallied staff, volunteers, donors and supporters to ensure no senior is forgotten. In total, more than 50 worthy leaders were nominated by the Membership.
“Stephanie has dedicated a career of more than 35 years to working with vulnerable populations, and we’re all so fortunate that nearly a quarter of that has been spent helping Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland to grow through her incredible vision and skillful leadership,” said Ellie Hollander, President and CEO, Meals on Wheels America. “Like Sister Alice Marie Quinn, service is simply in Stephanie’s DNA, and we’re grateful to be able to honor her and all of the groundbreaking work she’s done to improve the lives of Maryland seniors and to serve as a beacon for our nationwide network of Meals on Wheels programs moving forward from the hardships brought on by COVID-19.”
ABOUT STEPHANIE ARCHER-SMITH
Stephanie has dedicated herself to working with vulnerable populations throughout the life cycle in private, public and not-for-profit human service organizations over the course of more than 35 years. Since 2012, she has been working with Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland, consistently nurturing and creating community relationships, programs and systems to address social determinants of health that disproportionately affect senior clients, such as social isolation and breakages in the continuum of care. Under Stephanie’s leadership, Meals on Wheels of Central Maryland has expanded programmatically and financially, enabling more meals than ever before to reach vulnerable Marylanders who need them the most.
SAVE THE DATES FOR OUR 2021 EVENT
Please save the date for next year's gathering in Baltimore, MD! It's set to take place August 30 - September 2, 2021, at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront. While we will optimistically plan for an in-person event, we'll keep you posted along the way as the COVID-19 situation evolves.