Conference Season 2024 Has Begun! Photo Recap

July 3, 2024
Drew Milne
Sonoran Center staff Jacy Farkas, Celina Urquidez, Kelsey Montano, Lisa Ayo, and Jessica Rojas Franco behind a table with informational brochures about the Sonoran Center programs.

Like the monsoon rains, conference season has come once again. The Sonoran Center staff have been hard at work presenting their work at conferences and events throughout southern Arizona and beyond.

 

First was the Institute for Human Development Evidence for Success conference, held in Chandler, AZ. The event brought together representatives from a variety of  organizations dedicated to accessibility and disability rights. 

Lisa Ayo and Kelsey Montaño presents with Traci Przecioski from AZ Vocational Rehabilitation on Pre-Employment Transitions Services and the benefits of employer partnerships. Lisa is standing, speaking into a microphone in front of a crowd of attendees. Behind her is a powerpoint slide that reads "benefits of employer partnerships"

Lisa Ayo and Kelsey Montaño present with Traci Przecioski from AZ Vocational Rehabilitation on Pre-Employment Transitions Services and the benefits of employer partnerships.

 

Agnes Attakai (left) and Rosa Rojas-Franco (right) present on the Circle of Indigenous Empowerment. Agnes gesturing to a powerpoint slide in front of a crowd of attendees. The slide reads, "Circle of Indigenous Empowerment".

Agnes Attakai (left) and Rosa Rojas-Franco (right) present on the Circle of Indigenous Empowerment.

 

Sonoran Center staff Jacy Farkas, Celina Urquidez, Kelsey Montano, Lisa Ayo, and Jessica Rojas Franco behind a table with informational brochures about the Sonoran Center programs.

Left to right: Jacy Farkas, Celina Urquidez, Kelsey Montaño, Lisa Ayo, and Rosa Rojas Franco at the Sonoran Center’s booth at the Institute for Human Development Evidence for Success Conference. 


 

Austin Duncan presents about the Sonoran Center's project for pregnancy and parenting support for people with disabilities. Austin is gesturing in front of a projector with a powerpoint slide which reads "Suggestions and Recommendations".

Austin Duncan presents about the Sonoran Center's project for pregnancy and parenting support for people with disabilities.

 

 

Next, the Sonoran Center’s Circle of Indigenous Empowerment director Agnes Attakai and affiliate Jim E. Warne delivered the keynote at the 2024 Midyear CANAR Conference in Chandler, AZ. CANAR is the Consortia of Administrators for Native American Rehabilitation, and is a membership organization of administrators advancing and improving vocational rehabilitation services for Native Americans and Alaskan Natives with disabilities.
 

Jim E. Warne (left) and Agnes Attakai (right) at the CANAR conference. Both sitting and smiling, facing the camera.

Jim E.  Warne (left) and Agnes Attakai (right) at the CANAR conference.

 

 

Then, the Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE) conference was held in Charlotte, NC. This was an opportunity to showcase the Sonoran Center’s work with Employment First and learn from the successes of other programs on a national level.

Rosa Rojas-Franco presents on Indigenous Youth Transition Programs at the APSE conference. She is standing in front of a powerpoint slide reading "Braiding Possibilities for Indigenous Transition Youth Programs", and smiling.

Rosa Rojas-Franco presents on Indigenous Youth Transition Programs at the APSE conference.

 

Lorie Sandaine describes the Arizona Employment Landscape at the APSE conference. She is gesturing in front of a powerpoint slide which reads "Arizona Employment Landscape".

Lorie Sandaine describes the Arizona Employment Landscape at the APSE conference.

 

 

Look forward to more updates and presentations as conference season continues!