Upcoming Meetings
& Training Opportunities
AspireMN is developing the 2025 Training Calendar.
Many meeting and training opportunities have CEUs available.
Check back soon for updates!
If you are interested in sharing a learning opportunity with AspireMN or you have more questions about any of the events listed below, don't hesitate to get in touch with Eden Fitzgerald at efitzgerald@aspiremn.org for additional insight.
Leadership as Connection: Understanding, Elevating, and Collaborating with Kate Rickord
Leadership as Connection: Understanding, Elevating, and Collaborating with Kate Rickord
This 90-minute interactive training is designed to help individuals explore their unique leadership style, deepen their ability to attune to the needs of others, and foster collaboration across diverse roles. Participants will gain practical tools to empower their leadership while recognizing the importance of connection and shared purpose.
(Webinar is FREE for AspireMN Members)
Kate Rickord, MA, LP, SEP is a Master’s Level Licensed Psychologist, specializing in trauma, parenting, and somatic experiencing. Kate serves as the Director of Quality Parenting Initiative-Minnesota. She played a key role in bringing the national advocacy strategy to Minnesota in 2017. Additionally, Kate serves as the Quality Parenting Outreach (QPO) Lead at the Youth Law Center in California.
Kate is committed to supporting transformation across personal healing, family dynamics, organizational structures, and policy shifts. Her work with QPI fosters diversity in perspective, helping to reimagine the child welfare system through collaboration with youth, families, professionals, and communities. By bringing together diverse voices, she helps shape more inclusive and effective approaches to parenting.
Kate holds a Master of Arts in Counseling and Psychological Services from Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota and an Interdisciplinary Certificate in Trauma Studies from the University of Minnesota. Kate is a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner (SEP) and a board-approved supervisor for the Minnesota Board of Behavioral Health and Therapy. She is the Co-Director of the Resiliency & Health Institute.
Five Dysfunction of a Team with Mel Winkler
Mel Winkler, MSW, LICSW, Director of Quality Assurance, of Northwood Children’s Services. Mel is Chair of the AspireMN Leadership Development Committee.
Mel will highlight the dysfunctions that can arise in teams and the tools for creating stronger teams.
Save the Date - More Information Coming Soon….
(Webinar is FREE for AspireMN Members)
Board Leadership and The Importance of Participating on Boards
Board Leadership and The Importance of Participating on A Board
Save the Date - More Information Coming Soon….
(Webinar is FREE for AspireMN Members)
2025 September Leadership Retreat
Come up North and engage, relax and enjoy your AspireMN colleagues.
The AspireMN September Leadership Retreat is an opportunity to reset while learning about yourself in the beautiful Brainerd Lakes Area at Madden’s on Gull Lake.
-Earn CEUs
-Learn
-Have fun -- pontoon boat ride, game night and karaoke
SAVE THE DATE more information coming soon…
Having Hard Conversations // Sharing Culturally Responsive & Relationship Focused Feedback with Jody Nelson
Jody Nelson, Ed.D., LMFT is Senior Director of Change Inc.
Jody will lead a training focusing on how to have difficult conversations and providing culturally responsive and relationship focused feedback.
Save the Date - More Information Coming Soon….
(Webinar is FREE for AspireMN Members)
This training is part of the 2025 AspireMN Leadership Certificate. This training is the nineth training for the Certificate.
Training is open to all AspireMN members. You are not required to register for the AspireMN Leadership Certificate to participate in this training.
Does It Have to Be So Serious All The Time
Lisa Xiong, M.A., LMFT is Senior Director of Clinical Services at Change Inc.
Lisa will lead a training focusing on how play can help you become a better leader. She will use play to help you express yourself, process experiences, and build self-esteem. Play supports team development and creativity.
Save the Date - More Information Coming Soon….
(Webinar is FREE for AspireMN Members)
2025 November Member Meeting and Annual Awards Reception
November Member Meeting and Annual Awards Reception
Leadership & Celebration
November 13 & 14, 2025
Delta Hotel in NE Minneapolis
Join with your AspireMN community and register for your Member Meeting, November 13 & 14, 2025. We will gather to learn, review emerging models and reports and host the AspireMN Annual Awards celebration of outstanding leaders in the fields.
Annual Awards Reception will be held Thursday, November 13th 4:30-6:30 pm at the Delta Hotel.
Come celebrate the recipients of:
Distinguished Service Award for Outstanding Contributions to Children in Minnesota
Foster Caregiver of the Year Award
Sister Helen Louise Roth Award for the Commitment to Youth
The AspireMN Award Reception is a celebration of the field – all are welcome! Please consider inviting colleagues who may have an interest in the association, AspireMN alumni, future leaders, and all who will enjoy this social time to celebrate together.
REGISTER HERE
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November Annual Member Meeting is held at Delta Hotel in NE Minneapolis. Meeting is FREE.
2025 Member Meeting in Duluth
June 12 & 13, 2025 — Member Meeting with top Best Practices. Located at Pier B Resort in Duluth, MN
2025 June Residential Site Visits
June Residential Site Visits in Duluth
We invite you to the third 2025 Residential Site Visit on Wed, June 11th in Duluth! We will tour LSS Bethany Crisis Shelter and Northwood Children’s Services, where we will learn about their programming and how they are serving MN children and youth.
Agenda:
10:30 am LSS Bethany Crisis Shelter site visit
12:00 pm Drive to Northwood Children’s Services – West Campus
12:15 pm Lunch at Northwood - West Campus
1:00 pm Tour West Campus
2:00 pm Tour Northwood - East Campus
3:30 pm Depart Northwood Children’s Services
We encourage you to stay for the June Member Meeting on June 12 & 13th at Pier B
Registration is FREE. Visit June Member Meeting Registration Website HERE
AspireMN has a Room Block at Pier B.
Individual Guests can call front desk 218-481-8888 to book in the Aspire MN 2025 room block or online at www.pierbresort.com and reference the Group Code ASPI1125
Tuesday night and Friday night are available as part of this room block. Tues-Thurs are the same night rate. Friday night rate would be $289 for the classic view rooms and $319 for the Harborview rooms.
Beyond Compliance: The Strategic Value of Accreditation and Peer Review
Keith Kozerski is Chief Operating Officer of Catholic Charities, AspireMN Peer Review Trainer, and Reviewer for Council on Accreditation (COA).
Keith will share the leadership opportunities and organizational benefits of participating in AspireMN Peer Reviews and other accreditation processes.
Save the Date - More Information Coming Soon….
(Webinar is FREE for AspireMN Members)
Time, Stress & Energy Management with Justin Jacobson
Jason Jacobson of Northwood Children’s Services will lead a discussion regarding time, stress and energy management. During this discussion we will talk about how important it is to have these areas under control so that you bring the best version of yourself to work for your agency, coworkers and those that you serve. We will also discuss what it looks like when you don't have these areas under control and how it affects others.
REGISTER HERE (Webinar is FREE for AspireMN Members)
Leadership Ethics with Ann Gaasch
Ann Gaasch is the Chief Executive Officer of FamilyWise Services. She will lead a training on Leadership Ethics.
REGISTER HERE (Webinar is FREE for AspireMN Members)
More information coming soon….
2025 March Residential Site Visits
We are excited to share the registration and details of the March Residential Site Visits with VOA – Avanti, Rebound Inc. and VOA – Bar None on March 19th and March 20th. The January site visits were a huge success and we hope you are able to participate in the March Site Visits.
Event Dates: March 19 & 20, 2025
Wed, March 19th
2-3:30 pm VOA Avanti
4:30 pm Social Gathering at Twin Cities 400 Tavern at Delta Hotel
Thursday, March 20th
9am Meet at Rebound Inc. in Brooklyn Park
Learn about Rebound residential programs and the other programs
10 am Go to Namia House in North Mpls
11am Leave for VOA Bar None
11:30am Lunch at VOA Bar None
12:30pm Learn and tour location
1:30/2pm Depart for the day
Please do not hesitate to contact Eden at efitzgerald@aspiremn.org if you have any questions or concerns.
Leadership Styles with Mel Winkler
During this Leadership Style training, Mel Winkler, MSW, LICSW, Director of Quality Assurance of Northwood Children’s Services. Mel is Chair of the AspireMN Leadership Development Committee.
- Explore your leadership style
- How your leadership style influences your work and day-to-day life
- Effective leadership utilizing your style and your team's styles
This training is part of the 2025 AspireMN Leadership Certificate. This training is the second training for the Certificate.
You are not required to register for the AspireMN Leadership Certificate to participate in this training. It is open to all AspireMN members.
REGISTER HERE (Webinar is FREE for AspireMN Members)
Please contact Eden Fitzgerald at efitzgerald@aspiremn.org with any questions or concerns.
Foster Care Day on the Hill
We are excited to invite you and colleagues in your organization to the Foster Care & QPI-MN Work Day on Friday, February 21st at Northside Healing Space. We will meet from 10am to 3pm with lunch provided and followed by informal social hour at Tap In.
As we gather our goals are to deepen relationships and create agreements on our shared leadership as we support children and families in our child welfare space.
You are invited to share the invitation with all who have interest within your organization.
2025 AspireMN Advocacy Day at the Capitol
AspireMN is joining MHLN Day on the Hill on February 20th at the Capitol.
We will conclude the day with a Social Gathering to discuss the day’s events in a relaxing atmosphere.
Additional information will come soon.
Register HERE
Intro to AspireMN Leadership Certificate
Join the 2025 Cohort for the AspireMN Leadership Certificate Series
Date: Wednesday, February 12th, 2025
Time: 9:00 AM
Be part of the first-ever AspireMN Leadership Certificate Series! During this introduction session, you'll:
Understand the expectations and intended outcomes of the series.
Learn about the Leadership Certificate Participation Agreement
Get insights into upcoming trainings.
Connect and engage with other cohort participants.
Since this is our pilot year, we invite participants to bring deep engagement, helping to shape and refine the series for future success.
Residential Services Site Visit
We are very excited to launch the in-person Residential Site Visits in 2025. We will visit Little Sand Group Home in Remer and North Homes in Grand Rapids on January 7th and January 8th.
Please use this google form to let us know if you are able to join all or some of these site visits on January 7th and 8th.
January 7th
We will begin with a site visit at Little Sand Group Home in Remer, MN, from 2-4pm on Tuesday, January 7th then we will drive to Grand Rapids for a social gathering at Timberlake Lodge in Grand Rapids, MN, from 5:30-7:30pm. There is a room block available at Timberlake Lodge.
January 8th
On Wednesday, January 8th, we will meet at the North Homes Wellness Center in Grand Rapids at 9 am and visit multiple North Homes sites. We will concluded the site visit with a lunch provided by North Homes from 12-1 pm.
Timberlake Lodge
The room block at Timberlake Lodge on January 7th.
Please call 218-326-2600 and refer to AspireMN room block.
Room block is available until December 21st, 2024.
Corporate Rate: $149+ tax for King and $154+ tax for Dbl Queen room
Locations:
Little Sand Group Home, 5910 Little Sand Dr, Remer, MN 56672
Timberlake Lodge, 144 17th St SE, Grand Rapids, MN 55744
North Home Wellness Center - Residential Campus, 1918 River Road, Grand Rapids, MN 55744 (grey building)
Please use this google form to let us know if you are able to join all or some of these site visits on January 7th and 8th.
Please contact Eden at efitzgerald@aspiremn.org if you have any questions.
Advancing Solutions – Responding to the Urgent Need to Build In-Home Mental Health Services
Nov th, Advancing Solutions – Responding to the Urgent Need to Build In-Home Mental Health Services
2024 AspireMN November Member Meeting and Annual Awards Reception
November 7-8, 2024, AspireMN November Member Meeting and Annual Awards Reception
Leadership & Celebration
2024 AspireMN Innovation Summit InMotion
October 9-11: In Motion, 2024 AspireMN Innovation Summit (formerly Youth Work Leadership Summit) - DoubleTree Park Place Hotel in West End, St. Louis Park
September Leadership Retreat at Ruttger’s Resort in Deerwood
Come up North and engage in the Kolbe Index workshop led by Erin Werde, relax and enjoy your AspireMN colleagues.
Foster Care & Adoption: Uplifting Lived Experience - 4th Annual EDI Series
An annual event dedicated to growing inclusive, equitable communities through education and advocacy.
Two-Day Workshop: De-escalation and Processing Skills
De-escalation and Processing Skills by Colleen Davern, LSS of MN (Two 90-minute Trainings, FREE)
Neurodivergent in a Neurotypical World
Learning to navigate a Neurodivergent Person in a Neurotypical World. It’s About the Inherent Trauma of Autism and ADHD presented by Jessica Mertins, Fernbrook Family Center (90 minutes, FREE)