2023

Staff Development Summit

A premier professional development conference for community engagement staff, Break Away’s Staff Development Summit is a 3-day event for campus and nonprofit staff. Sessions are led by Break Away staff and outside authorities on subjects of interest.

Past summits have included sessions on mental health and burnout, identity-based supervision, trauma-informed programming practices, and community partnership development.

The Staff Development Summit includes:

  • Presentation sessions and discussions facilitated by university professionals and Break Away staff

  • Networking and coalition-building with colleagues working on initiatives in community-based learning and social justice education 

  • Opportunities to share best practices among campus and community professionals

  • Five meals (dinner on 11.29, breakfast/lunch/dinner on 11.30, + breakfast on 12.1) and training materials included with registration

Staff Development Summit Overview


Associated Cost

Advantage: $320 | Associate: $360 | Access: $400 | Non-Member: $400 | Community Partner $320

Registration

Registration forms linked below and payment will be accepted by credit card, by check, or via invoice. Once you’ve completed the registration process, you’ll receive a confirmation email. You can expect more detailed conference information closer to the start of the event.

The last day to register is November 15, 2023.

Questions? Contact us at hello@break-away.org

  • We invite attendees to submit proposals on any area of interest within the field of alternative breaks, community-based learning, and social justice education. We’re interested in highlighting a variety of topics and levels of expertise. We welcome new practitioners and seasoned professionals to submit proposals!

    In order to offer a variety of presentation types, we have created three types of presentations that you may propose:

    • Workshop (60 minutes) will highlight the presenter(s) knowledge or expertise on a particular subject matter, theory, or topic.

    • Roundtable/Facilitated Dialogue (30-60 minutes) will be a structured discussion around a particular subject matter, idea, or quandary.

    • Practical Application sessions (30-60 minutes) will highlight and/or explain a particular program, event or practice on a campus.

    High quality submissions will include:

    • Theoretical or practical underpinning

    • Opportunities to discuss and share ideas around proposed topic areas

    • New skills or knowledge and the chance to apply it to individual work

    Proposals are due by 5pmPT on November 15th.

  • The Kellogg Center at Michigan State University is located at 219 S Harrison Rd, East Lansing, MI 48824.

    Staff Development Summit attendees have the option to utilize a block of rooms at the Springhill Suites at a reduced rate of $119/night (plus 13% tax) which includes free parking, wifi, and breakfast bar. Click here to book your room. The last day to book with the reduced price is NOVEMBER 14th.

    There are also many hotels in the area ranging from $140-$225/night. A quick search will also give you many quaint (and affordable!) options for those who are AirBnB inclined.

  • Participants may choose to fly into Detroit-Wayne County Airport (DTW) in Detroit (93 miles from Lansing) or the Capital Region International Airport (LAN) in Lansing.

    If you fly into DTW, you can either rent a car or take the MegaBus for $22/one way, which takes about 2.5 hours.

    Detailed arrival and parking information will be provided as we get closer to the event.

  • A sample schedule will be available in early November.