2025 Virtual Literacy Volunteer Management Conference

Register now for the 2025 conference!

The Volunteer Management Conference (VMC) is a one-day professional development opportunity that brings together Adult Basic Education staff who work with volunteers: coordinators, teachers and managers alike. The conference is virtual, on Zoom.

• Event Location: Virtual, via Zoom
• Cost: Free for participants in Minnesota and Wisconsin; $25 for participants outside of Minnesota or Wisconsin. Registration is not refundable, but recordings and materials will be available to registrants after the conference.

• The deadline to register is December 11, 2025.

   

Get Ready To:

• Learn new strategies and ideas through a keynote presentation and concurrent session offerings.
• Get practical resources you can use right away.
• Network and share your professional wisdom with colleagues.
• Earn CEUs.

Questions? Contact Sophie at [email protected] or 651-251-9063.

Literacy Minnesota is committed to providing access for people with disabilities at our trainings and events. To request accommodations, please contact Kelly at [email protected] or 651-251-9074 at least two weeks in advance.

Conference Schedule:

8:30-9 a.m. | Welcome

9:15-10:15 a.m. | Keynote presentation

The Evidence-Based Evolution of Volunteerism: Decoding New Trends and Collaborative Strategies 
Niila Hebert, Executive Director, Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement (MAVA)
The volunteerism landscape is rapidly shifting and evolving, changing the ways in which people choose to serve. Organizations need to understand what volunteering will look like in the future so we can move at the speed of the communities we serve and provide the opportunities that meet volunteers where they are. This crucial keynote session unveils the critical, data-driven insights you need to future-proof your strategy. Based on MAVA’s field-based research and network surveys, we will illuminate four key trends shaping the next decade of service.

10:30-11:30 a.m. | Concurrent sessions

Using Volunteers to Solve Classroom Challenges
Rob Podlasek, Natalie Seger, Literacy Minnesota 
Looking for ideas for how to best integrate volunteers into your ABE classroom? This session will explore some great roles and tasks that will help students while providing a meaningful experience for tutors and (hopefully) minimal  work for you! There will be plenty of opportunities for sharing and learning with peers.

Do You Know Your Neighbors? Volunteer Recruitment with Community Engagement
Sarah Petersen, Minnesota Math and Science Academy
The phrase "No man is an island" is an adage that can also be applied to schools, unable to be sustained as stand-alone institutions. Shared from the perspective of an educator, join this session to learn and dialogue about the ways volunteer recruitment and community engagement provide enriched student learning experiences. This session will also provide practical tips for broadening your networking contacts. Leave ready to build bridges with your neighbors!

Tracking Volunteers in SiD
Jenny Schlukebier, Mary Zimmerli, SiD Datasystem 
Learn the basics of creating volunteer records in SiD and tracking volunteer attendance and other information and how to run reports about your volunteer's activities. This session is designed for Minnesota programs.

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Lunch break

12:30-1:30 p.m. | Concurrent sessions

Building Cultural Literacy and Belonging Skills in Volunteer Management Systems
Cydnee Sanders, Literacy Minnesota
At Literacy Minnesota, we are working on how to nurture belonging, so that everyone’s cultures, identities and experiences are valued and can thrive, including volunteers! One way to do this is to build cultural literacy skills, such as learning more about different cultural perspectives, recognizing commonalities, and bridging across differences. In this session, we will look at a tool called The Culture Tree which will help us analyze our volunteer management systems and how we can adapt to volunteers of different cultures. That way, all volunteers can thrive in our programs.

The Fun Side of Volunteer Management: Tips, Tricks & Tutor Magic
Marsha Connet, Wisconsin Literacy
Get ready for a high-energy, idea-packed hour! In this upbeat session, you’ll discover the creative (and surprisingly fun!) strategies a Wisconsin Literacy program uses to recruit and keep amazing volunteers. Cheryl Hernandez, Executive Director of the Kenosha Literacy Council, will share her clever, tried-and-true approaches for building a community of happy, well-trained tutors who stick around because they love what they do. But that’s not all—Marsha Connet, SE Regional Consultant for Wisconsin Literacy, will take you behind the scenes of their statewide Tutor Coordinator Networking Calls. You’ll learn how these lively, collaborative meet-ups give coordinators from programs of all sizes the support, fresh ideas, and camaraderie they need to succeed. Join us for inspiration, practical tips, and maybe even a few “why didn’t I think of that?” moments!

Flex Time: Volunteers in HyFlex Classes
Elizabeth Bennett, Literacy Minnesota
HyFlex classes (where some learners attend in person and some attend online – at the same time) have the potential to make education more accessible and sustainable for learners. Teaching in this format, however, sometimes feels overwhelming and frustrating for teachers. Fortunately, volunteers can help! Learn how to help volunteers develop confidence assisting in HyFlex classes, whether they volunteer in person, online or behind the scenes.

1:45-2:45 p.m. | Concurrent sessions

What Is New (and Not-So-New) in Volunteer Training
Rob Podlasek, Literacy Minnesota
Come get an overview of what’s happening in volunteer training. We'll review the Minnesota ABE training standards and the Literacy Minnesota training resources designed to help volunteers meet those standards. You'll get a chance to ask questions and to provide feedback for future developments. While anyone is welcome, this session is geared towards Minnesota programs. 

First Steps: Onboarding and Risk Management
Matthew Miller, Metro North Adult Basic Education
Get an overview of how to integrate risk management into the volunteer onboarding process.

Building Community: Leveraging Volunteer Teachers for Accessibility and Inclusion 
Karin Bates, Intercambio Uniting Communities 
Volunteer teachers are a powerful resource for expanding program accessibility and fostering community connections. This workshop shares best practices for building and sustaining volunteer-driven programs that maximize impact on a limited budget. Learn how to empower volunteers as both classroom teachers and community ambassadors, creating welcoming spaces for learners and strengthening ties within diverse communities. Leave with actionable strategies to enhance your program’s reach and inclusivity.