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Conference Schedule & Presentations: To access our conference venue spaces, use the elevators and/or stairs in the Aloft lobby and follow directions to the W XYZ bar and the 1914/Fuhrmann Rooms. Event staff and/or APHE Board of Directors members will be present to help guide you. Wednesday, April 24 Registration and Exhibitors Open 10:00 - 10:30 A.M. Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (Fuhrmann Room) Pre-Conference Workshop #1: Smooches and Pooches: Empathy, Compassion, and Fundraising 10:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. Looking for fun, impactful ways to fundraise for your programs while spreading empathy and compassion? Learn all about East Bay SPCA's Smooches for Pooches program where students develop ways to raise funds for their local animal welfare organization and are rewarded with an engaging visit from one of our smoochable pooches.Presenter: Heather Franco, East Bay SPCA Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (1914 Room) Pre-Conference Workshop #2: Bridging Accessibility and Empathy: Building Inclusive Programs with Bugs! 10:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M. As humane educators we have the opportunity to provide accessible programming for diverse learners through inclusive and multifaceted teaching methods. If you enjoyed the session last year, or are just joining us this year, we explore how to incorporate user-led teaching techniques of Inquiry Based and Project Based Learning into programming making them accessible to all types of learners. Also, discover how invertebrates in programming can forge relevant and impactful connections with diverse learning styles. Presenter: Karen Verderame, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (Fuhrmann Room) Lunch for Pre-Conference Participants 12:00 - 1:00 P.M. Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown Registration Continues 1:00 - 1:30 P.M. Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown Opening Remarks and Keynote Speaker Introduction 1:30 - 2:00 P.M. Presenters: Melissa Logan, APHE Board of Directors President, and Maddie's Fund Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (Fuhrmann Room) Keynote Address 2:00 - 2:30 P.M. Today Humane Education faces many obstacles. Funding is difficult, school systems are reluctant to take part, inner city schools struggle with violence in the classroom, generally the pay scale is low and attracting good educators is difficult, and then there are the problems of social media. Being a Humane Educator today is not for the faint of heart. The Key Note Address will seek to have you think beyond Compassion and Empathy to new ways of thinking about your mission. You will be asked to reconsider your programs and your approach, to find new and exciting ways to deliver your message in a world with so much negativity. We will examine what may be missing in your approach while celebrating the great strides and magnificent achievements being made in humane education today. Keynote Speaker: Barbara Carr Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (Fuhrmann Room) Break and Exhibitors 2:30 - 2:40 P.M. Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (Fuhrmann Room) Panel: Everyone is on the Education Team: The Changing Role of Humane Education within Animal Welfare 2:40 - 4:00 P.M. We encourage you to join us during this year’s APHE Conference Panel, “Everyone is on the Education Team: The Changing Role of Humane Education within Animal Welfare”! Attendees will hear from 3 panelists who work in various roles, all while encouraging empathy towards others through education. Each panelist will present information about their role and how they incorporate humane education into their work, including successes and challenges they’ve faced. Following each panelist presentation, there will be 20 minutes of Q&A from the audience, moderated by APHE Board Member, Robin O’Brien. Panelists: Darlene Blackman (Marin Humane), Kelly Muhovich, DVM (Caring Pathways), Lauren Golpl (Buffalo Public Schools), and Sharon Spencer (Jacksonville Zoo and Gardensj) Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (Fuhrmann Room) Closing Remarks 4:00 - 4:05 P.M. Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (Fuhrmann Room) Exhibitors 4:05 - 5:00 P.M. Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (Fuhrmann Room) Networking Mixer 6:00 - 8:00 P.M. Join your APHE Board Members for a networking happy hour to unwind and socialize! Hosted at our event location (Aloft Buffalo Downtown), this mixer will be a casual space to meet other members, reconnect with old friends, and build lasting connections with fellow humane educators. There will be games, door prizes, and more, designed to engage attendees but also keep you within your comfort zone. Don’t miss this opportunity to vibe with your hive! Light appetizers and drinks will be provided. Hosted by APHE Board of Directors Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (W XYZ Bar)
Thursday, April 25 Registration, Breakfast, Marketplace, and Exhibitors Open 7:30 - 8:30 A.M. Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (Fuhrmann Room) Welcome and Opening Remarks 8:30 - 8:50 A.M. Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (Fuhrmann Room) The Downside to Empathy and How to Overcome It 8:50 - 9:35 A.M. Empathy involves understanding, sharing, and caring about the feelings of others. It’s a general term that describes different ways people respond to one another (including animals) and is the core skill we aim to foster in our work as humane educators. However, empathy is complicated! We don’t always apply it equitably to people or animals and this can inadvertently cause harm. It can be easier to empathize with certain people, like friends or family than with strangers. The same is true with animals - empathizing with a dog is likely easier than with an octopus. However, these biases lead to discrepancies in our empathetic responses that can cause harm from discrimination towards groups of people to poorer welfare outcomes for animals we have difficulty relating to. This session will discuss some of the downsides to empathy and explore ways to overcome these issues. Presenters: Melissa Logan and Don Seller, Alberta SPCA Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (Fuhrmann Room) Break and Exhibitors 9:35 - 9:45 A.M. Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (Fuhrmann Room) Yes, And: Fostering Empathy through Improvisational Theatre 9:45 - 10:30 A.M. Join us for an engaging and hands-on talk centered on the art of utilizing improvisational theatre to cultivate empathy in educational settings. We'll delve into how improv's fundamental principles of spontaneity, active listening, and collaboration provide a dynamic foundation for nurturing empathy. This approach not only strengthens the connection between educators and students but also fosters deeper understanding and empathy among students. Presenter: Margaret Hanzlick-Burton, Wayside Waifs Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (Fuhrmann Room) Introducing and Exploring Guiding Principles for Veterinary Community Engagement 9:45 - 10:30 A.M. Presenter: Karen Verderame, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (1914 Room) Break and Exhibitors 10:30 - 10:45 A.M. Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (Fuhrmann Room) Roundtable: On the Struggle Bus 10:45 A.M. - 12:15 P.M. Do you feel like professionally, everything goes exactly your way? Are all your programs supported by your organization, attended in record numbers by your community, and making financial profit for your department? Have you no worries in the world? If you answered no to any of those questions, then this session is for you! Join this session that is all about providing an ear to others and being provided an ear as we share our struggles, challenges, and experiences as humane educators. You will walk away knowing that there is a community within APHE that supports you during your highs and your lows, and can be a great source of ideas! Presenter: Monica Kothe, Humane Society of Southern Arizona Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (Fuhrmann Room) Lunch 12:15 - 1:15 P.M. Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown The Kids are Alright: Empowering Teen Advocates 1:15 - 2:00 P.M. Young people are passionate supporters of animal welfare and they are in a unique position to affect change in their communities, sometimes they just need a little help to get started! Whether your organization is already known for its advocacy efforts, or is just getting started, getting teens involved with your work has benefits for you and for them. Learn about how Humane Teen Club members at Seattle Humane are making a difference and tips for starting your own teen program. Presenter: Heidi Muir, Seattle Humane and Rahni Singh Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (Fuhrmann Room) Break and Exhibitors 2:00 - 2:15 P.M. Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (Fuhrmann Room) Agency-Centered Humane Education: Transformative Practices for Nurturing Empathetic Connections with Other Animals 2:15 - 3:00 P.M. Deepening empathy is one of the primary goals of humane education. In this session, we’ll explore nonhuman agency and consent and its importance in building empathetic connections between humans and other animals. We’ll discuss what agency and consent look like in other species and how humane educators can practically apply these understandings to transform their daily work in both in-person and virtual settings. This presentation will also include a recognition of the inherent challenges involved in this work as well as a set of guiding questions for humane educators who are interested in cultivating more empathy through agency-centered practices. Presenters: Emily Tronetti, Antioch University/Coexistence Consulting and Andie Springirth, Open Sanctuary Project Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (Fuhrmann Room) Closing Remarks 3:00 - 3:05 P.M. Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (Fuhrmann Room) Exhibitors, Marketplace, and Networking 3:05 - 4:00 P.M. Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (Fuhrmann Room) Dinner and Nathania Gartman Heroes Award Presentation 6:00 - 9:00 P.M. Our annual APHE Dinner and Nathania Gartman Heroes Award presentation will take place at The Bijou in downtown Buffalo. This trendy, vibrant restaurant is located .2 miles away - a short 5-minute walk - from the hotel. We hope you'll join us for an evening of food, fun, and festivities! Location: Bijou, 643 Main St., Buffalo, NY 14203
Friday, April 26, 2024 Breakfast and Exhibitors Open 7:30 - 8:30 A.M. Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (Fuhrmann Room) Welcome and Announcements 8:30 - 8:35 A.M. Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (Fuhrmann Room) Membership Meeting, Group Photo, and Gryphon Press Book Drawing 8:35 - 9:35 A.M. Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (Fuhrmann Room) Break and Exhibitors 9:35 - 9:45 A.M. Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (Fuhrmann Room) Neurodiversity and Empathy, Appearances May Vary 9:45 - 10:30 A.M. Neurodiversity is recognized more each year in children and adults. The old thought that Autism Spectrum Disorder equates will lack of empathy is generally recognized as incorrect. As we move forward with more recognition of neurodiversity do we know enough about expressive and receptive empathy in all populations? Come learn how neurodiversity impacts one's ability to give and receive empathy. Common expressions of empathy in the neurodiverse population will be covered. Sharing meaningful empathy with neurodiverse children and adults will also be covered. Presenter: Kerry Muhovich DVM, Caring Pathways Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (Fuhrmann Room) And Welfare for All: Improving Socio-Emotional Learning Outcomes for Vulnerable Youth Populations with Evidence-Based Dog Assisted Interventions 9:45 - 10:30 A.M. We will demonstrate through the One Welfare model & evidence-based evaluation how to enhance outcomes for youth in detention settings training shelter dogs. We draw on data from our dog-assisted intervention programs at 4 detention centers in Chicago & Detroit to discuss our curriculum which embeds therapeutic, socio-emotional learning & vocational components. Youth who have completed these programs have shown increased empathy and patience, skills which can then guide the youth towards re-entry into the community with stronger pro-social and vocational skills, and less anxiety and aggression. We will discuss the curriculum, evaluation & implications for programs such as these to improve outcomes for vulnerable and justice-involved youth while increasing the adoptability in shelter dogs. Presenter: Amy Johnson, University of North Florida/Safe Humane and Keri Burchfield, Northern Illinois University Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (1914 Room) Break and Exhibitors 10:30 - 10:45 A.M. Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (Fuhrmann Room) Roundtables and Reflection 10:45 - 11:50 A.M. Join us for one final roundtable session before the close of the conference. We will come together once more to discuss how the conference has challenged our perspectives or encouraged personal or professional growth. What strategies and ideas will we be bringing back to our own education programs? What are some of the biggest challenges we face in promoting humane education? How can we address these obstacles and take steps to advance humane education? We'll dive into these topics and more in this collaborative, reflective session. Facilitators: APHE Board of Directors Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (Fuhrmann Room) Closing Remarks 11:50 - 12:00 P.M. Location: Aloft Buffalo Downtown (Fuhrmann Room) Excursion (Optional) Tentative: 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. Join the education team from the SPCA Serving Erie County for an exciting behind-the-scenes tour of their facility! The tour will be approximately 90 minutes in length and include a meeting with one of their ambassador animals Attendees must arrange their own transportation to the SPCA - ride sharing options are available! Location: SPCA Serving Erie County, 300 Harlem Rd, West Seneca, NY 14224 |
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Stacey Zeitlin