O’Bannon Institute to feature panel with local change-makers, youth leadership presentations, closing conversation with Malala Fund co-founder

Ivy Tech Community College’s Bloomington campus is hosting its 12^th annual O’Bannon Institute for Community Service (http://obannon.ivytech.edu) on April 29-30 and May 1. Seats are still available for both the fundraising dinner with Sir Bob Geldof on Thursday, April 30 and for Friday, May 1 at Ivy Tech-Bloomington.

On Friday, May 1, a full day with a panel discussion, various workshops, youth leadership academy presentations, and closing conversation will focus on this year’s theme, Be the Change: Discover Your Super Power.

The panel will introduce four Hoosiers who had a vision for their community and turned their passions into real change.

Educational workshops will continue with this year’s Institute and will cover topics such as spending power, how one can contribute to his or her community with only one hour of time, discovering one’s own valuable skills they can use to contribute to community, and learning to leverage social media to benefit a valuable cause.

Inaugural Ivy Tech Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) presentations will be given by 13 middle school students from area schools (MCCSC, St. Charles, and The Project School). YLA is designed to foster civic engagement among youth. Participants develop leadership skills, create community service projects, build communication skills, and meet community leaders. This year’s projects include a Head Start book drive and a presentation for sixth graders with the goal of reducing their anxieties about transitioning to middle school (topics such as bullying, friend-making, and common worries like not finding the correct classroom are addressed).

The three-day Institute will close with a conversation with co-founder of the Malala Fund, Shiza Shahid, and editor of The Herald-Times, Bob Zaltsberg.

“Recently named one of TIME magazine’s ’30 Under 30 World Changers,’ we’re looking forward to Shiza’s engaging conversation about strengthening the global community through youth education, specifically for girls,” said Chancellor Vaughan. “As an open-access, comprehensive community college, we have a common goal with The Malala Fund– to change lives through the power of education, and to ensure access to it.”

Shahid is an entrepreneur and social activist of Pakistani origin. She is the co-founder and global ambassador of the Malala Fund, the organization representing the young Pakistani activist who was shot by the Taliban for her campaign for girls’ education.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. and a continental breakfast will be available. Opening remarks by Former Indiana First Lady, Judy O’Bannon, begin at 8:30 a.m.

Friday event schedule, panel members, and workshop facilitator listings are below.

Registration: 8 a.m. (Continental breakfast)

Welcome Remarks: 8:30 a.m.

Panel: Community Superheroes 9:15 – 10:30 a.m.
Cary Curry President, Curry Auto Center
Vicki Pierce Executive Director, Community Kitchen of Monroe County
Toby Strout Executive Director, Middle Way House
Mike Baker CEO, Retired

Workshops (Choose One Session): 10:45 a.m.
Spendstrong: Make an Impact
Morton J. Marcus, Economist, Author/Columnist, and Speaker/Consultant
The Power of an Hour
Bet Savich, Director, City of Bloomington Volunteer Network
Lucy Schiach, Assistant Director, City of Bloomington Volunteer Network
Discover Your Superpower
Jarvis Cooper, President and Owner of Envision Organizational Consulting (EOC)

Lunch and Youth Leadership Academy Presentations 12 p.m.

Workshops (Choose One Session): 1 p.m.
The Power of an Hour
Bet Savich, Director, City of Bloomington Volunteer Network
Lucy Schiach, Assistant Director, City of Bloomington Volunteer Network
Discover Your Superpower
Jarvis Cooper, President and Owner of Envision Organizational Consulting (EOC)
#SocialMediaActivism
Kyla Cox Deckard, Director of Public Relations and Community Outreach at IU Office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education

Conversation: 2:15 p.m.
Shiza Shahid, Malala Fund Co-Founder and Bob Zaltsberg, editor, The Herald-Times

The Institute takes place on Ivy Tech-Bloomington’s main campus at the Connie and Steve Ferguson Academic Building in the Hoosier Times Student Commons. Ivy Tech-Bloomington is located at 200 Daniels Way on the west side.

Admission for Friday, May 1 at Ivy Tech is with two canned goods or a free-will monetary donation made at the door for Hoosier Hills Food Bank. Morning refreshments and lunch are included in the day, but reservations are required to attend. To make a reservation, log on http://obannon.ivytech.edu/speakers, contact (812) 330-6001, or tphelps@ivytech.edu.

To purchase tickets to the Fundraising Dinner with Sir Bob Geldof on Thursday, April 30, log on http://obannon.ivytech.edu/speakers, contact (812) 330-6001, or tphelps@ivytech.edu.

Event sponsors of the 12^th annual O’Bannon Institute for Community Service include American Structurepoint, Bloomington Economic Development Corporation, Bloomington Ford, CFC Properties, Inc., City of Bloomington, Cook Medical, The Herald-Times, IU Credit Union, Markey’s Rental & Staging, Smithville, Sterling Real Estate, Inc., and Linda and John Whikehart.

About the O’Bannon Institute for Community Service

The O’Bannon Institute for Community Service (http://obannon.ivytech.edu) was launched 11 years ago by Ivy Tech’s Bloomington campus as an annual opportunity for the community to come together to discuss topics related to nonprofits, education and political and civic service. Previous speakers at the Institute have included former U.S. Senators, Pulitzer prize-winning authors, Governors, political advisers and columnists, and Laura W. Bush, former First Lady of the United States.