2021 Conference Replays
So many tracks, so little time
Gearing up for the Iowa Ideas 2026 Conference this fall? Review any of our different sessions from 2025 on the issues that matter most to Iowans.
Keynote Speakers
David Gould
Thursday 8:30AM
Thomas Abt with special guests Rachel Rockwell, Cedar Rapids Police Chief Wayne Jerman, and Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller
Friday 8:30AM
Peggy Whitson
Friday 11:00AM
Community
Outdated Systems in Housing (DEI Session)
Thursday 9:15AM
A Fresh Look at Community
Thursday 10:30AM
New Life in a Tired Space
Thursday 2:00PM
A City by City Role in the Broadband Gap
Thursday 3:10PM
New Horizons for Iowa Tourism
Thursday 4:20PM
The Outlook on Rural Iowa
Friday 9:45AM
The Big Idea: Shop Iowa
Friday 12:15PM
Education
Lower College Enrollments
Thursday 9:15AM
Controversial Topics in Education (DEI Session)
Thursday 10:30AM
The Future of Higher Education
Thursday 2:00PM
Charter Schools
Thursday 3:10PM
Issues in Achievement (DEI Session)
Thursday 4:20PM
Future Training for Teachers
Friday 9:45AM
Energy and Environment
Iowa’s Water Supply with Ag Runoff Strategies
Thursday 9:15AM
Carbon Sequestration/Future of Ethanol and RFS
Thursday 10:30AM
Building the Grid
Thursday 3:10PM
Energy Storage and the Rise of Solar
Thursday 4:20PM
Environmental Justice in Iowa (DEI Session)
Friday 9:45AM</i
Health Care
Assessing Public Health
Thursday 9:15AM
In Home Caregiver Accountability
Thursday 10:30AM
Keeping Rural Care Centers Financially Viable
Thursday 2:00PM
Vaccine Acceptance (DEI Session)
Thursday 3:10PM
Rethinking Long-Term Care Facilities
Thursday 4:20PM
Maternal Health Disparities (DEI Session)
Friday 9:45AM
The Big Idea: The Future of Health Care
Friday 12:15PM
Human and Social Services
The Impact of the Pandemic on Iowa Youth
Thursday 9:15AM
Beyond Extremes for Youth Services
Thursday 10:30AM
Going Without: Relief, Recovery and Access to Information (DEI Session)
Thursday 2:00PM
From Foster to Adoption: Perspectives
Thursday 3:10PM
Mental Health Centers and Resources (DEI Session)
Thursday 4:20PM
Violence in the Home
Friday 9:45AM
The Big Idea: Ally, Advocate, Activist (DEI Session)
Friday 12:15PM
Infrastructure
Iowa’s Electrical Vehicle Infrastructure
Thursday 9:15AM
Safeguarding Critical Infrastructure
Thursday 10:30AM
A Focus on Cargo
Thursday 2:00PM
Policy
Bills and Individual Rights (DEI Session)
Thursday 9:15AM
Voting and Redistricting
Thursday 10:30AM
Changes in Criminal Justice Procedures (DEI Session)
Thursday 2:00PM
Why is Compromise so Hard to Find? (DEI Session)
Thursday 3:10PM
Modernizing the Legislative Process
Thursday 4:20PM
Child Care (DEI Session)
Friday 9:45AM
Workforce
Help Wanted: Job Market vs Demand
Thursday 9:15AM
Protecting Workers
Thursday 10:30AM
Apprenticeships
Thursday 2:00PM
Rural Survival in Workforce
Thursday 3:10PM
Workforce Issues in Upskilling and Seasonal Employment (DEI Session)
Thursday 4:20PM
Learn by Doing: Career Exploration
Friday 9:45AM
The Big Idea: Assessments in Action, DEI in the Workplace (DEI Session)
Friday 12:15PM
The Big Idea: Business to Business roundtable led by and for people of color (DEI Session)
Friday 12:15PM
