Institute for Leadership and Services Hosts Second Annual Bridge/Work Conference

This Saturday, April 2, Valparaiso University’s Institute for Leadership and Service will hold its second annual Bridge/Work Conference. Titled “Send Money, Prayers, & People,” the daylong event will explore the interplay between belief and action in global humanitarian work. The program includes a keynote address from Allison Schnable, Ph.D., assistant professor in the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University, as well as research presentations from five exceptional Valpo undergraduates and a practitioner panel moderated by Linda Hartke, president and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service.

Professor Schnable’s keynote address, entitled “The Era of Do-it-Yourself Aid: Possibilities and Perils,” will anchor a day built around both the policy and practice of global humanitarianism, how it impacts those served as well as those serving, and the role religion plays throughout.

“We often talk about the Institute as a bridge, not a destination, and the Bridge/Work Conference is an excellent example of that in action,” says Elizabeth Lynn, Ph.D., director of the Institute for Leadership and Service. “Building on the success of our inaugural event last year, this conference provides the opportunity for students and other interested parties to engage with major questions — in this case, around global humanitarianism — by hearing from a wide array of stakeholders. Rather than let one voice tell the story, we are making connections between scholars and practitioners, policy makers and frontline providers, and the many interested parties in between. The Valparaiso University community is recognized for its strong commitment to service, and conferences such as this one help form more conscious, constructive servant leaders.”

The conference will be held from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. on April 2 in the Helge Center, adjacent to the Chapel of the Resurrection.