Reflections from the June NCA Leadership Conference

This past June, members of the Native Child Advocacy Resource Center team traveled to Washington, D.C. to attend the annual National Children's Alliance (NCA) Leadership Conference. In addition to our staff tabling and sharing information, our Project Director, Deanna Chancellor, presented a session titled, “Three Considerations for Engaging with Native Nations Around MDTs and CACs,” and took part in a panel focused on AI/AN grant awards and experiences. 

AI/AN Grantee Panel (L to R): Larry Swalley, Oglala Lakota Children's Justice Center; Arlana Bettelyoun, Oglala Lakota Children's Justice Center; Monica Pearce, NCA; Bethany Black, Leflore County Child Advocacy Network;  Erin Hourihan, Childhaven;  Deanna Chancellor, NCARC; and Jennell Diaz, NCA. 

We asked a couple of NCARC staff to share some reflections on their experiences at the conference. 

Kara Pasqua, NCARC Training and Technical Assistance Specialist 

"This was my second year to be able to attend the Leadership Conference, and my takeaway remains the same:  The sharing of heartfelt stories, perspectives, and lessons learned by so many diverse child advocacy professionals are the best part of the conference!  

 The conference activities started with NCA hosting an incredible reception for CAC grantees serving American Indian/Alaska Native Nations. Meeting so many in person after months of meeting on Zoom or Teams meetings was amazing. Those who attended the reception also had the opportunity to spend quality time with NCA CEO Teresa Huizar and other key NCA grant staff.  

The conference itself offered a wide range of sessions to choose from, and I have to say it was incredibly difficult to narrow down my choices, as I wanted to be able to attend so many of them! This conference did allow the presenters to make video recordings, which opened the door to attending some in-person sessions while still listening to video sessions.    

One of my most dynamic and profound sessions was the keynote speaker, Gaelin Elmore, who presented on the first day.   Gaelin Elmore shared his journey of being in the foster care system and how certain positive relationships he formed throughout his life genuinely impacted his personal trajectory into adulthood. He described how fundamental it is for us who are working with children and families to develop connections that foster a genuine feeling of belonging. His speech resonated as it spoke to the importance of actively centering our work in the care of our children.     I would encourage any child advocacy professional, if you have not been able to attend, or if it has been a while since you attended, to mark your calendars for the next conference, which is slated to occur June 9-11th, 2025!  

NCARC T/TA Specialist, LJ Sato, tabling at the NCA Leadership Conference.

LJ Sato, NCARC Training and Technical Assistance Specialist 

Because it was my first time attending the NCA Leadership Conference, I was unsure what to expect, aside from learning from some amazing speakers. I feel as though many of us have been in this field for quite some time, and it seems we have seen it all. One of the things I enjoyed most about this conference was the opportunity to listen to experts in child advocacy deliver on a specific topic while bringing in their own ways of thinking and experiences. What I also enjoyed was the opportunity to make connections. It is so important to build relationships in this profession, and it can be beneficial to all of us, no matter what discipline we choose.