Schedule & Sessions

After enduring nearly six years of human trafficking, Rebecca emerged as one of the nation’s leading experts in the fight against human trafficking. She is the CEO of the Rebecca Bender Initiative and founder of Elevate Academy, the largest online school for survivors of human trafficking in the world. RBI's advanced trainings have equipped over 100,000 community professionals including FBI, Homeland Security, local law enforcement, medical professionals and aftercare programs to provide expert testimony during trial and investigation, trainings and consultation. Rebecca was appointed as an advisor to the National Advisory Council and consults for government agencies and some of our nation’s leading nonprofits. After escaping, Rebecca determined that all of what she had been through wasn’t for nothing and worked to build something that would make an impact for women to overcome their pasts and move into their futures. Walk away inspired, motivated and confident in helping yourself or others, tackle life’s most difficult seasons.

Women’s communities suffer when stories are not shared. Women are afraid to dredge up who they once were, despite how that can be an open door for others. It’s time we take the secrets out of core subjects like financial security, mental health and relationships so women can find a strong place in the world. These dialogues produce stories, and in stories there is power. Leaning into adversity truly shows the depth and power of our voice. Join Kim O’Hara as she walks participants through stories of resilience in the face of adversity, where there is no shame… only triumph.

A case study in how women have a different experience of money from the men in our lives and the ways that these obstacles can affect each of us. From there, we can talk about where you are today and where you want to go and some of the important steps to take along the way.

The Recipe for Resilience is a fun set of ingredients you can access to build your own resilience as well as that of your employees. Between the fires, COVID, financial and employment stressors, it gets harder to keep bouncing back. Resilience is more than bubble baths and self care. This workshop will give you the recipe you need to build resilience so you stop wishing hours or days away and enjoy each moment!

Learn communication strategies for breaking barriers from twenty diverse women leaders. Examine how African-American musician Lizzo, Portuguese artist Joanna Vasconcelos, disability activist Vilissa Thompson, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, and many more work towards justice by proclaiming identity, naming a problem, enriching systems, changing systems, and creating alternate systems. Participants will identify which communication tools they can use to make their own change, transform injustice, and practice leadership in breaking through barriers in their own lives.

Jolie Johnson was most known for her friendliness and positivity. Once you met her, she was unforgettable. She was larger than life and so were her accomplishments.

Johnson’s inspirational personal, philanthropic, and professional leadership made a tangible and lasting impact on our community. In celebration of Jolie’s significant contributions, including the Women’s Leadership Conference of Southern Oregon, we have created this award in her honor.

This award celebrates women in our community who advocate for others and support causes that echo Jolie Johnson’s legacy.

As women, we’re programmed from early on to achieve balance and that we must “balance” everything from succeeding at work to being a phenomenal PTA mom if we have kids and to be available for our friends and family, to look great, stay fit AND more! In this session, participants dive deep into examining how chasing balance puts us on the fast track to burnout! Dr. Sohee will show you how to get off that exhaustive balance treadmill and to live in an integrated way that honors our core values, our top priorities AND aligns us to the changing milestones and seasons of our lives.

Identifying and taking control of what is in the way of our most daring goals! By getting clear about our fears, as well as the real and perceived obstacles to our dreams, we can create a system to prevent, repair and diminish those barriers. During this one hour session you will learn a structure to identify what you really want, get excited about it, and create a plan to achieve it!

Introducing the City of Ashland Social Equity and Racial Justice Commission. Panelists will discuss removing external barriers through the lens of IDEA work. Each panelist will discuss barriers they experienced, both personal and structural (including but not limited to: culture, race, gender/sexual identity, age, and spiritual identity). Using case studies and personal histories, we will address structural barriers specific to our region.

It’s not where we think we are or where we’re “supposed” to be, but the reality of where we actually are that will bring growth and freedom in our life. Lying and hiding, pretending and denying, is exhausting. It’s keep us in the same place, without traction, spinning our wheels wishing for a better hand. Reality is a place, not a mindset, that can be found through action, not achievements or down payments. It sets us up for sustainability and freedom. It is the one true starting place for growth and overcoming personal, relational, and professional barriers. Reality brings us back from where we’re “supposed” to be, separates us from who we thought we were, and leaves us grounded, looking at the woman inside who is dying to get out. It’s time to get real; it’s time, to get quiet.