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Speaker Hub

Interested in one of our expert speakers or opportunities to speak at an IYI convening? Start your journey here and take the first step toward making an impact!

Learn more about IYI's convenings & content topics.

National Summit on Youth Well-Being

Description: A virtual conference hosted by Indiana Youth Institute, that’s all about tackling the big challenges facing today’s youth. We’re zeroing in on the kids whose physical, emotional, educational, or economic needs are unmet, and kids who’ve been through challenges like trauma or neglect.  

Audience Size: 600 

Delivery Style: Virtual 

Reach: National 

Selection Criteria: 

  • Demonstrates expertise in youth development, education, mental health, social work, community impact, or related fields. 
  • Possesses relevant academic background, certifications, or professional experience that reinforces IYI’s values and commitment to strengthening youth outcomes. 
  • Serves as a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, or author with a proven track record of addressing timely and relevant issues affecting youth. 
  • Offers high-quality supporting materials, such as videos, publications, and professional references.   
  • Delivers content in a dynamic, clear, and engaging manner—able to captivate large audiences and facilitate interactive breakout sessions. 
  • Provides actionable tools, strategies, and insights that attendees can immediately apply in their work. 
  • Offers high-quality supporting materials, such as videos, publications, and professional references. 
KIDS COUNT® Conference

Description: Considered one of the largest gatherings of youth-serving professionals and leaders in the Midwest, IYI’s KIDS COUNT® Conference is a two-day, interactive learning and networking experience with more than 60 distinctive workshop sessions and keynote speakers. 

Audience Size: 1,000 

Delivery Style: In-person 

Reach: Statewide 

Selection Criteria: 

  • Demonstrates expertise in youth development, education, mental health, social work, community impact, or related fields. 
  • Possesses relevant academic background, certifications, or professional experience that reinforces IYI’s values and commitment to strengthening youth outcomes. 
  • Serves as a practitioner, researcher, thought leader, or author with a proven track record of addressing timely and relevant issues affecting youth. 
  • Offers high-quality supporting materials, such as videos, publications, and professional references.   
  • Delivers content in a dynamic, clear, and engaging manner—able to captivate large audiences and facilitate interactive breakout sessions. 
  • Provides actionable tools, strategies, and insights that attendees can immediately apply in their work. 
  • Offers high-quality supporting materials, such as videos, publications, and professional references. 
College & Career Readiness Regional Conferences

Description: The  College & Career Readiness Regional Conferences are designed to help youth workers understand the multifaceted contributors and evolving strategies of college and career readiness, including workforce development, partnership with educational professionals, and family engagement. 

Audience Size: 200 per region

Delivery Style: In-person across 3 regions

Reach: Regional 

Selection Criteria: 

  • Demonstrates subject-matter expertise in college access, career pathways, workforce development, youth employment, or industry-aligned education. 
  • Brings practical knowledge of degrees, certifications, internships, apprenticeships, and employability skills that lead to successful career outcomes. 
  • Demonstrates familiarity with the needs of Indiana’s youth, particularly those from under-resourced or rural communities. 
  • Understands evolving industry trends and employer expectations for Gen Z and Gen Alpha. 
  • Highlights successful regional or cross-sector partnerships among schools, employers, postsecondary institutions, and community organizations. 
  • Shares replicable strategies and scalable programs that strengthen college and career readiness ecosystems. 
  • Provides concrete tools, resources, and frameworks that attendees can apply within their own communities or organizations. 
Webinars

Description: IYI’s webinars provide high-quality, no-cost, virtual learning opportunities designed to equip youth-serving professionals with relevant knowledge, practical tools, and research-informed strategies. Each session features subject-matter experts sharing insights on critical issues affecting Indiana’s youth. 

Audience Size: 100 

Delivery Style: Virtual 

Reach: Statewide/National 

Selection Criteria: 

  • Demonstrates in-depth knowledge of key issues impacting youth, with content rooted in evidence-based practices, research, or field-tested approaches. 
  • Tailors content to be practical, accessible, and relevant to a wide range of professional roles and settings. 
  • Engages participants through visuals, storytelling, polls, or Q&A to enhance learning and interactivity. 
  • Uses virtual platforms confidently and adapts content effectively for a digital audience. 
  • Provides specific tools, strategies, resources, or frameworks that attendees can apply immediately in their work with youth. 
  • Delivers well-organized content within a 60-minute format, allowing time for audience questions and engagement.
Youth Worker Cafés

Description: Youth Worker Cafés equip and empower the people, organizations, and communities that are focused on improving the status of Indiana youth. Cafés are local professional education, no-cost convenings designed to be responsive and relevant to the challenges that practitioners and youth face.   

Audience Size: 35 

Delivery Style: In-person & Virtual 

Reach: Local/County 

Selection Criteria: 

  • Brings real-world experience in youth development, mental health, education, family engagement, juvenile justice, or other youth-focused fields. 
  • Demonstrates a clear understanding of regional or community-specific issues affecting youth. 
  • Lives or works in Indiana, or has direct experience with local systems, schools, or youth programs. 
  • Facilitates interactive, discussion-based sessions rather than formal presentations. 
  • Encourages active participation, thoughtful questions, and peer-to-peer learning among attendees. 
  • Provides specific tools, insights, or frameworks that attendees can apply immediately in their work. 
  • Aligns content with the everyday challenges and opportunities youth workers face in their communities. 
School Based Trainings

Description: IYI’s School Based Trainings provide schools with resources to bring in a speaker/trainer on a topic relevant to the district’s mission and needs. IYI’s regional Outreach Manager provides an overview of IYI’s services and provides information on upcoming opportunities.  

Audience Size: 150 

Delivery Style: In-person & Virtual 

Reach: Local/County 

Selection Criteria: 

  • Demonstrates expertise in topics aligned with school or district priorities and understands the unique challenges facing K–12 educators, administrators, and support staff. 
  • Delivers engaging, clear, and well-structured presentations that resonate with education professionals. 
  • Utilizes a mix of visuals, storytelling, and real-world examples to reinforce learning. 
  • Provides practical tools, frameworks, and strategies that educators can implement immediately in classrooms or school culture. 
  • Emphasizes sustainable approaches grounded in best practices and current research.
Content Topics

Frequently requested topics from Indiana youth workers include:

  • Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
  • Building Healthy Relationships
  • College & Career Readiness
  • Family members with mental health problems
  • Family members with substance abuse
  • Mentoring
  • Organizational Capacity Building
  • Poverty
  • Trauma-Informed Care
  • Youth Behavioral/Mental Health
  • Youth Worker Well-Being

Have Questions?
Get Connected

Feel free to reach out to our Sr. Educational Content Manager, Joshua Long.

jlong@iyi.org