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AmeriCorps Utah Member Gathering

Wednesday, March 18 | Utah Cultural Celebration Center
1355 W 3100 S, West Valley City, UT 84119
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Registration is now closed. Please contact Janessa Edwards at [email protected] with any registration questions.

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Schedule

7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Check in and breakfast
Crossroads and Great Hall

8:30 a.m.
Welcome
Great Hall

8:45 a.m.
Morning plenary
Great Hall

10:30 a.m.
Break and benefits hall
Crossroads

11 a.m.
Breakout session 1

12 p.m.
Lunch Plenary
Great Hall

1:30 p.m.
Breakout session 2

2:30 p.m.
Break and benefits hall
Crossroads

3 p.m.
Afternoon Plenary and service project
Ballrooms A&B, plaza level

4:15 p.m.
Closing remarks
Ballrooms A&B, plaza level

4:30 p.m.
Adjourn

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Sessions

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Main Level
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Plaza Level
Floor plan of a venue showing the locations of the Ballroom A & B, Plaza Suites C, D, and E, restrooms, and a service project area.

Schedule

Sessions

Speakers

Surveys

Sessions

Making the most of your Segal AmeriCorps Education Award

Janell Torres | Program Director, One Utah Service Fellowship

Start a game plan for how to use your Education Award strategically and confidently. This breakout session is designed to demystify the award and help participants understand the wide range of ways it can support their educational and financial goals, both now and in the future.

Room 204

Prior learning assessment, portfolio development, and college readiness

Steve Hood | Assistant Commissioner, Utah System of Higher Education

Students participating in AmeriCorps-sponsored programs gain skills that enhance their prospects for being accepted into competitive academic programs.  Their immersive experiences help them make intellectual connections to the theories that form the foundational knowledge of academic disciplines and the background they need to be prepared for twenty-first century careers.  Studies affirm that students who have organizational experiences in their fields of study not only do better academically, they are better able to synthesize information, make ethically-informed decisions, think creatively and critically, and make authoritative judgments.

Room 205

From Service to Strategy: Learn how to maximize your experience, leverage technology, and discover the right career path for you

Kelly Lemons | Department of Workforce Services

Your AmeriCorps service has built a powerful foundation of skills—now it’s time to strategically map where they can take you. This interactive session moves beyond the generic job search to show you how to use data-driven tools and cutting-edge technology to identify high-impact opportunities. We will dive into the Utah Economic Data Viewer—specifically the WOOD tool—to translate your unique experience into high-demand occupations. You’ll also learn how to use AI to expand your possibilities and target your search with precision. Join us to turn your service into a strategic launchpad for your future.

Plaza Suite C, AM Session

From Service to Action: Learn how to leverage technology to maximize your resume and master the interview process

Kelly Lemons | Department of Workforce Services

Your AmeriCorps service has provided the experience—now you need the tools to prove it. This session offers a focused look at creating a professional image that commands attention, from the first sentence of your resume to the final question of your interview. I will demonstrate how to use AI to build dynamic, targeted resumes and career documents that highlight the unique value of your service. You’ll also learn how to use technology to prepare for interviews and articulate your impact with confidence. Join us to turn your service into a competitive advantage and take the next step in your professional journey.

Plaza Suite C, PM Session

Navigating your service year finances

Kelan Combe | Empowering Financial Wellness Program, USU Extension

In this session, you will learn the basics of creating a values-based spending plan that can help you make intentional choices with your service year finances. You will learn how to identify your values, how to make a simple budget, how to plan for irregular expenses, and other barriers that may get in the way of a successful budget.

Plaza Suite D, AM Session

From Stipend to Savings: Building financial stability

Vincenza Vicari-Bentley | Empowering Financial Wellness Program, USU Extension

Building Financial Stability This session covers simple, practical ways to save money and understand the basics of investing. Participants will learn how to start small, build consistent habits, and take first steps toward long-term financial stability — even with limited income.

Plaza Suite D, PM Session

Self-Full Service

Jeremy Brown | Chaplain

Serving others is meaningful work, but repeated exposure to poverty, trauma, injustice, and crisis can quietly take a toll. Many volunteers assume that exhaustion or emotional heaviness can mean they are not "strong enough." In reality, service activates two powerful internal systems: our stress response and our moral conscience. Each requires different care.

This session introduces the concept of "Self-Full Service," the practice of protecting your own well-being so you can serve sustainably and effectively. Participants will learn how exposure to suffering can activate both the body (stress and overwhelm) and the conscience (moral tension and frustration), and why these experiences feel different.

Most importantly, this session is practical. Volunteers will walk away with simple, usable tools for four time windows: 30-90 seconds in the moment, 5-15 minute resets during the workday, structured reflection after difficult experiences, and longer restoration practices to prevent build up over time.

We will also discuss healthy boundaries, role clarity, and how to avoid absorbing more responsibility than your position allows. Self-care is not selfishness, its strategic sustainability. Strong helpers do not eliminate stress or moral tension. They learn how to care for both.

Plaza Suite E

Your path from service to career: the Youth Mental Health Corps example

Required for YMHC members

Yvette Woodland | Special Project Manager, UServeUtah

Utah is at the forefront of a national movement, and you’re right in the center of it. Join us for a high-energy session where we pull back the curtain on how the Youth Mental Health Corps (YMHC) is changing lives across the state.

Whether you’re already in the corps or just curious about a career in behavioral health, this is your space to:

  • Hear the Real Story: Get the unfiltered experience from current YMHC members on balancing high-impact service with professional certification.
  • Expand Your Network: Connect with peers who share your passion for mental health.
  • Map Your Future: Discover how a second term or a career in this field can kickstart your professional journey from service to career. 

Note: This session is mandatory for YMHC members and highly recommended for anyone interested in mental health, social work, or future service terms

Room 202, AM session

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Speakers

A young woman with long brown hair smiles at camera wearing black shirt and light blue blazer in outdoor setting

Madeleine Jones

Keynote Speaker | The Dignity Index

Madeleine Jones is a higher education associate at the Dignity Index and co-founder of Students for Dignity. She works to embed dignity-centered practices in colleges and universities, helping students and faculty bring dignity to campus dialogue. A graduate of the University of Utah with a background in political science, psychology, and sociology, Madeleine is committed to fostering a culture where dignity becomes a shared and lived value.

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Jeremy Brown

Session: Self-Full Service

Jeremy Brown is a board-certified chaplain and pastoral counselor with over a decade of experience serving military members and trauma survivors in clinical and operational settings. He currently serves as the lead chaplain for the Strong Hope program, an intensive inpatient PTSD treatment track specifically for military service members, where he facilitates the moral injury program. His work focuses on helping individuals navigate the spiritual and psychological aftermath of trauma, with a particular emphasis on moral injury and its unique impact on healing.

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Kelan Combe

Session: Navigating your service year finances
Kelan Combe is an Accredited Financial Counselor and Program Coordinator for the Empowering Financial Wellness Program with USU Extension. He has earned his BA in Family Sciences and Spanish from Brigham Young University and has been working in the financial industry helping people better manage their finances since 2019. He is an experienced trainer and teacher in both English and Spanish and has a passion for helping others learn.
A man in a dark suit and red tie stands against a gray background. He has short, white hair and glasses, conveying a professional demeanor.

Steven Hood

Session: Prior learning assessment, portfolio development, and college readiness
Steven Hood is the Assistant Commissioner for Academic Affairs in the Utah System of Higher Education. He served as the academic vice president and provost at Snow College in Utah and as the director of the first-year program at Ursinus College in Pennsylvania. His current work focuses on the core curriculum in Utah’s public colleges and universities, credit for prior learning, and on student transfer and articulation policy. He serves on the Utah Launch Years Math Task Force in conjunction with the Charles A. Dana Center at the University of Texas.
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Kelly Lemons

AM Session: From service to strategy
PM Session: From service to action

With more than two decades of hands-on experience assisting job seekers, Kelly Lemons possesses an understanding of the challenges professionals encounter in today's fast-paced digital landscape. He has been an employment counselor, workshop presenter, and is currently a program specialist over job seeker services. By leveraging his extensive experience and passion, with an unwavering commitment to staying ahead of industry trends and best practices, Kelly has positively impacted the lives of countless job seekers, equipping them with the skills they need to thrive in today's competitive job market.
Woman with curly hair wearing a green top, smiling in front of a plain light background.

Janell Torres

Session: Making the most of your Segal AmeriCorps Education Award
Janell Torres has been advancing national service and service-learning opportunities since 2018, with a focus on workforce development and creating accessible pathways for young adults. A Utah transplant, she earned dual bachelor’s degrees in Anthropology and International Studies, along with a Certificate in Diversity, from the University of Utah. Janell currently serves as Program Director of the One Utah Service Fellowship, where she helped guide the program from legislative concept to a fully operational statewide initiative. She remains committed to ensuring meaningful service experiences that support education, career readiness, and community impact.
Smiling woman with shoulder-length blonde hair wearing a white blouse and floral necklace stands outdoors, with a blurred background of buildings and greenery.

Vincenza Vicari-Bentley

Session: From stipend to savings, building financial stability
Vincenza Vicari-Bentley, ChFC, AFC, is a chartered financial consultant, an accredited financial counselor, and the lead coordinator for the Empowering Financial Wellness program at Utah State University Extension. Her passion for personal finance is matched only by her appreciation for excellent food!  She began her career in personal finance over 10 years ago, working as a military financial counselor overseas. She is a lifelong learner that thrives on supporting others to make informed financial decisions.
Black and white portrait of a smiling woman with short hair, wearing a dark top and earrings. The background is softly blurred, conveying a warm tone.

Yvette Woodland

Session: Your path from service to career, the Youth Mental Health Corps example
Yvette Woodland is a dedicated public servant with over 30 years of experience of building better communities. With an extensive background in workforce development, she knows what today’s employers are looking for and how to help you stand out. Yvette has been part of UServeUtah team for over the past year where she supports AmeriCorps programming, the rollout of the Utah Youth Mental Health Corps, and pathways that start with service and lead to career. She’s an honest broker and trusted partner guilty of telling corny jokes and turning ideas into impact. Get ready to learn how her passion for service can help fuel your future! 

Schedule

Map

Sessions

Surveys

Benefits Hall

Visit the Benefits Hall to connect with organizations offering valuable resources, opportunities, and support you can use during your AmeriCorps service and as you prepare for what comes next. Be sure to visit each booth and collect a stamp. Once your card is full, you can enter it for a chance to win a prize.

Utah Department of Workforce Services logo
Utah Division of Human Resource Management logo
The Dignity Index logo
International Volunteer HQ logo
United Way of Utah County logo
UServeUtah logo with green hand and text: Utah Commission on Service & Volunteerism
Peace Corps logo
211 logo
TechCharities logo
Utah Department of Health & Human Service logo