Rock Valley College
03/27/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/27/2026 12:04
Rock Valley College Announces Summer 2026 Culture of Belonging Conference
Rock Valley College Announces Summer 2026 Culture of Belonging Conference
- Events
- 03/27/2026
Rock Valley College will host the Rock Valley Culture of Belonging Academy Summer 2026 Kickoff Conference, a two-day regional event focused on advancing belonging and community engagement across organizations in the Rockford area.
The Rock Valley Culture of Belonging Conference will be held June 11 - 12 at RVC main campus Physical Education Center.
The conference, themed "Belonging in Action: From Intent to Impact," will take place June 11-12, 2026, at the Physical Education Center on the college's main campus. The event will bring together community organizations, educators, and leaders to explore strategies that turn conversations about belonging into measurable action.
The initiative is supported by a Healing Illinois grant through the Field Foundation of Illinois, along with in-kind facility support from Rock Valley College.
"I am thankful to Healing Illinois and the Field Foundation for trusting RVC with this generous grant to develop an enriching experience focused on healing through dialogue," said Dr. Keith Barnes.
The conference will feature keynote speaker Dr. Terrell Strayhorn, founder of Do Good Work Educational Consulting Group and a nationally recognized scholar on belonging and student success. Attendees will participate in listening circles, plenary sessions, panel discussions, and collaborative action-planning activities designed to strengthen partnerships across the Rockford region.
Organizers aim to engage at least 40 organizations and more than 200 participants, gather community insights through listening circles, and develop actionable plans that help participating organizations foster cultures of belonging within their workplaces and communities.
Community partners underscored the urgency of advancing belonging across the region and the role this conference will play in that work. They emphasize that the time to foster healing among divided groups in the greater Rockford community and chart a course to co-create a culture of belonging is now.
"This is a critical time to put our best effort forward to become a community where everyone, no matter race, ethnicity, sexual identity, age, physical ability, political party, or religion feels they belong. The Conference will generate action toward impact building bridges between diverse people and relationships that are meaningful and trust-filled while co-creating systems and structures, so all people prosper and thrive." - Pamela Clark Reidenbach, President/CEO N Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence
For more information about the conference, including registration details, visit Rock Valley Culture of Belonging Academy Summer 2026 Kickoff Conference.
"I encourage all organizations and institutions within our district to join us in our effort to promote Cultural Excellence and Belonging: Creating healthy, inclusive, and accessible work and learning environments."
Dr. Keith Barnes, Vice President of Cultural Excellence
Media Contact
- RVC Public Relations
- (815) 921-4510
- Email RVC Public Relations
- RVC Communications Page
Rock Valley College published this content on March 27, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on March 27, 2026 at 18:04 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]