Empowerment Symposium: Inspiring Black & Brown Professionals To Lead

10/15/2024

At the 2024 Empowerment Symposium, it was crucial to hear from valued leaders across Eastern Iowa, and we were honored to have Joy Sallis as one of our keynote speakers.

Her insights and passion for growth in our communities resonated deeply with attendees, inspiring us all to strive for greater empowerment and community engagement.

Thank you, Joy, for sharing your wisdom and energizing our mission!

Hills Bank Black Professionals of Iowa Greater Iowa City Inc Iowa American Water PIP Marketing, Signs, Print Think Iowa City Dream City IA The Gazette Community Foundation of Johnson County Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance GreenState Credit Union Transamerica Veridian Credit Union The City of Iowa City Government Top RANK Iowa Economic Development Authority

10/14/2024

Resilient Leadership in Crisis

We recently held an engaging discussion Empowerment Symposium with leaders who demonstrated incredible resilience during tough times! They shared how they maintained calm under pressure, made tough calls, and led with strength when it mattered most.

Featured Leaders:
- RaQuishia Harrington
- Jacqueline Hunter
- Susan Martin Optimae LifeServices
- Elinor Levin

It was inspiring to learn from their experiences and see how they navigated challenges with confidence!



Hills Bank Black Professionals of Iowa Greater Iowa City Inc Iowa American Water PIP Marketing, Signs, Print Think Iowa City Dream City IA The Gazette Community Foundation of Johnson County Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance GreenState Credit Union Transamerica Veridian Credit Union The City of Iowa City Government Top RANK Iowa Economic Development Authority

10/14/2024

Did you know that as of October 2023, the representation of women in executive positions, such as presidents and CEOs of banks, has been gradually increasing, but it still remains relatively low compared to their male counterparts.

It was beautiful seeing these women sitting in those exact roles of our local banks have the conversation on how to change that narrative at Empowerment Symposium 2024.

Aminata Taylor Lindsay Rone Angela Weekley Lisa VanderWilt Shileny

Hills Bank Black Professionals of Iowa Greater Iowa City Inc Iowa American Water PIP Marketing, Signs, Print Think Iowa City Dream City IA The Gazette Community Foundation of Johnson County Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance GreenState Credit Union Transamerica Veridian Credit Union The City of Iowa City Government Top RANK Iowa Economic Development Authority

10/14/2024

We were thrilled to have Top RANK team Anthony Arrington Joy Sallis join us for a live podcast session at the 2024 Empowerment Symposium!! Their insightful discussions on key issues impacting our communities are both timely and essential. Huge thanks to the team for sparking important conversations and engaging with our audience.



The Gazette Black Professionals of Iowa Greater Iowa City Inc Iowa American Water PIP Marketing, Signs, Print Think Iowa City Hills Bank Community Foundation of Johnson County Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance GreenState Credit Union Transamerica Veridian Credit Union The City of Iowa City Government Dream City IA Iowa Economic Development Authority

10/14/2024

Beautiful connections were made at the 2024 Empowerment Symposium.

Negus Imhotep Sunday Ezekiel Fred Ebong The Gazette
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10/14/2024

We're grateful to have had the incredible Abena Sankofa Imhotep - Author as the keynote speaker at the 2024 Empowerment Symposium!

Abena, one of Iowa's true gems, shared her beauty and wisdom with us, leaving a lasting impact through her powerful insights and inspiring journey.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for this transformative event.



Hills Bank Black Professionals of Iowa Greater Iowa City Inc Iowa American Water PIP Marketing, Signs, Print Think Iowa City Dream City IA The Gazette Community Foundation of Johnson County Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance GreenState Credit Union Transamerica Veridian Credit Union The City of Iowa City Government Top RANK Iowa Economic Development Authority

10/14/2024

We were absolutely blown away by Randy Moore’s keynote speech at the Empowerment Symposium! With his unparalleled expertise and captivating storytelling, Randy truly knew how to engage and inspire an audience.

If you're looking for a keynote speaker who can deliver both passion and knowledge, Randy Moore is your guy.

Thank you, Randy, for sharing your wisdom and making this event unforgettable!



Dream City IA PIP Marketing, Signs, Print The Gazette Greater Iowa City Inc The City of Iowa City Government Iowa American Water Think Iowa City Hills Bank Community Foundation of Johnson County GreenState Credit Union Transamerica Veridian Credit Union Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance Top RANK Iowa Economic Development Authority

10/14/2024

Marketing is such a necessity for small business owners to major corporations.

Marketing & Communications- Establishing a cohesive brand strategy that aligns with the company’s mission, values, and target market.

Leading the discussion as the moderator was Faith Robinson, a talented Marketing Specialist and the Owner of 4K Photography.

Joining Faith on the panel were

Quinn Pettifer, Manager of Brand Initiatives and Editorial Board Member with The Gazette, is renowned for her strategic approach to brand management and storytelling.

Jav Ducker , a Multimedia Specialist with de Novo Marketing, excels in creating engaging and impactful multimedia content.

Robyn Hepker, a Designer with Benson & Hepker Design, has a keen eye for visual branding and design excellence.

Taylor Petersen Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion consultant at EMC Insurance.

The City of Iowa City Government Black Professionals of Iowa Transamerica PIP Marketing, Signs, Print Think Iowa City Hills Bank Community Foundation of Johnson County Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance GreenState Credit Union Iowa American Water Veridian Credit Union Dream City IA Greater Iowa City Inc

10/11/2024

10/11/2024

Health Care- Body-Mind Connection- Discuss the connection between physical health and mental well-being, emphasizing the importance of holistic approaches to wellness.

10/11/2024

At Empowerment Symposium when discussing workforce and addressing racism in the workplace it was an amazing conversation and opportunity to share experiences and perspectives from professionals on what it looks like to change the way it’s addressed.

The conversation was headed by Black Professionals of Iowa board president
Marcus Cooper

Genva Williams district attorney of City of Tama, IA

Carla L Anderson City of Dubuque Office of Equity & Human Rights

Stefanie Munsterman City of Cedar Rapids Iowa Government

10/11/2024

The Empowerment Symposium didn’t just focus on one thing. We touched bases on things that would also help organizations and entrepreneurs.

Marketing and Branding- Digital Marketing Strategies for Growth- Discuss effective digital marketing tactics such as SEO, social media marketing, and content marketing to help businesses expand their reach.

Leading the conversation:

Fred Ebong Creative Designer and CEO of Fe Studio

Joshua Booth Diamond Label Weddings Photo + Films

Karmen Kramer Wilhelm CMO Van Meter

Dyemond Pope Create The Platform

Dream City IA The Gazette Greater Iowa City Inc Iowa American Water PIP Marketing, Signs, Print Think Iowa City GreenState Credit Union Hills Bank Community Foundation of Johnson County Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance Transamerica Veridian Credit Union The City of Iowa City Government Top RANK Black Professionals of Iowa