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Thursday Schedule |
| 8:30AM |
Kirk & Mary Ferentz
8:30AM
Kirk & Mary Ferentz
Track: Keynote Sessions
599
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| 9:35AM |
Finding cash flow in changing nonprofit streams
9:35AM
Finding cash flow in changing nonprofit streams
From sudden federal funding cuts to shifting corporate priorities, the changing winds of 2025 have presented large-scale, fundamental challenges to the norms for nonprofit funding. How are nonprofits adapting to survive, and what do these changes mean for the future of securing funding? As more organizations are forced to cast a wider net for funding, will an increase in competition pit nonprofits against each other?
Track: Arts & Culture
550
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9:35AM
Track: K12 Education
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9:35AM
Track: Higher Education
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Economic Efforts and Growth
9:35AM
Economic Efforts and Growth
Local businesses and other attractions are vital to maintaining a healthy economic ecosystem. When state and federal funding is scarce, how can local sources help development projects come to life? Can communities balance the maintenance of current projects with a desire to grow? How can local assets support the effort?
Thank you, Cedar Rapids Bank Trust, Cedar Rapids Economic Alliance, and Kirkwood Community College for being Content Sponsors for Iowa Ideas 2025!
Track: Community and Economic Development
562
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Anaerobic Digesters: Friend or foe of the environment?
9:35AM
Anaerobic Digesters: Friend or foe of the environment?
Anaerobic digesters have been lauded for their ability to capture methane from manure and turn it into a renewable fuel that can be sold. But critics warn that the quest for more renewable fuel production can lead to larger animal herds, which could result in accidents that further degrade the quality of Iowa’s water. This session will explore the debate over digesters -- the benefits they offer, and the risks associated with them.
Track: Energy and Environment
578
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Access to Medicaid
9:35AM
Access to Medicaid
The future of Medicaid – and who will be covered – is uncertain at the state and federal levels. How might Medicaid cuts or work requirements for Medicaid recipients change who can access coverage? This session will explore how Medicaid cuts could affect patients and what impacts could this have on public health?
Track: Health Care
585
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Competition and collaboration in the nonprofit sphere
9:35AM
Competition and collaboration in the nonprofit sphere
As funding at the federal level may change, many nonprofits are looking for local means to supplement support. With limited outlets of local funding, will nonprofits experience a new level of resource competition? In this session, we’ll discuss the balance of collaboration with the need to meet budget demands.
Thank you to Four Oaks Family and Children's Service for being a Track Sponsor of Iowa Ideas 2025!
Track: Human and Social Services
592
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| 10:40AM |
Federal funding cuts and impacts on Iowa’s arts and culture
10:40AM
Federal funding cuts and impacts on Iowa’s arts and culture
Arts and Culture organizations have had to adjust on the fly as major funders like the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) have made major priority shifts away from DEI. Some grants have been cut with little notice. Meanwhile other groups, like the Corporation for Public Broadcasting are shutting down in the wake of federal cuts, which are also impacting PBS and NPR. What impacts have these cuts had in Iowa? Who will emerge to continue to support of cultural programming – particularly as support for minoritized communities wanes?
Track: Arts & Culture
551
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10:40AM
Track: K12 Education
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10:40AM
Track: Higher Education
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Arrive and Thrive: Recruiting workers to Iowa
10:40AM
Arrive and Thrive: Recruiting workers to Iowa
At state, regional, and city levels, who is helping employers recruit people to Iowa? Once newcomers have arrived, what are communities doing to keep them? This session will reflect on the wins and challenges of past campaigns and hear from those leading Iowa efforts in out-of-market recruiting.
Thank you, Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance and UFG Insurance, for being Content Block Sponsors for Iowa Ideas 2025!
Track: Community and Economic Development
563
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An uncertain future for electric cars
10:40AM
An uncertain future for electric cars
Nearly every county in Iowa saw new electric vehicle registrations grow between 2022 and 2024. In his first week in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order rolling back a Biden Administration target to have 50 percent of new vehicles sold in the U.S. be electric by 2030. How might politics change the adoption of electric cars? What would this mean for Iowa?
Track: Energy and Environment
579
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Challenges with health care staffing in Iowa
10:40AM
Challenges with health care staffing in Iowa
The Iowa Legislature and Gov. Kim Reynolds have attempted to address the shortage of physicians with proposals that would consolidate student loan repayment programs, leverage federal funding to create new residency spots, and prioritize Iowa students for medical school admission. How can you continue to attract people into all health care roles, and what do you do to increase wages among some of the medical support staff?
Track: Health Care
586
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Political impact on human and social services
10:40AM
Political impact on human and social services
In a time of fast and furious policies that may directly affect many of Iowa’s most vulnerable populations, can social service providers leave politics at the door when working for the good of their staff and clients? In this session, social service providers will discuss board, staff and mission dynamics when political polarization occurs, and how to approach it when funding sources may dry up unexpectedly.
Thank you to Four Oaks Family and Children's Service for being a Track Sponsor of Iowa Ideas 2025!
Track: Human and Social Services
593
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| 11:45AM |
Hedge Your Bets: A look at how a casino impacts the arts scene
11:45AM
Hedge Your Bets: A look at how a casino impacts the arts scene
Casinos can be a jackpot of new funding streams for Iowa cities. But as all-in-one stops for arts, entertainment, dining and lodging, they also pose a change in the dynamics of a community and its long-standing players, like nonprofit cultural organizations and entertainment venues. What do cities win when new casinos come to town, and what do they stand to lose? Which players have come out on top in other Iowa cities that built casinos?
Track: Arts & Culture
552
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|
11:45AM
Track: K12 Education
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11:45AM
Track: Higher Education
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Creating Housing
11:45AM
Creating Housing
Ask most Iowans what their community needs and they'll say affordable housing. But what form should that housing take? And who should fund it? If we agree on the need, how can communities work together to find a solution to one of Iowans' most basic needs?
Thank you, Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust, for being a Content Sponsor for Iowa Ideas 2025!
Track: Community and Economic Development
564
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Conservation by Fire
11:45AM
Conservation by Fire
Prescribed fire has been used for centuries to control invasive species, support natural habitat and prevent wildfires. How are natural burning methods being used in Iowa. How can Iowans with natural spaces conduct their own prescribed burns themselves? What’s being done to harness the power of fire in Iowa, and are preparations being made in the event of a wildfire here?
Track: Energy and Environment
580
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Empowering the mental health providers for a diverse population
11:45AM
Empowering the mental health providers for a diverse population
When people need mental health care, it’s important they find a professional they can trust. Studies have shown having a mental health care professional whose lived experiences are similar to the patient’s can build empathy and reduce feelings of isolation. What can be done to encourage more LGBTQ people, refugees, people of color and people in recovery to join the profession? How might this better serve Iowans?
Track: Health Care
587
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|
Food insecurity remains an issue in Iowa
11:45AM
Food insecurity remains an issue in Iowa
Food insecurity in every one of Iowa’s 99 counties grew, according to Feeding America’s annual Map the Meal Gap study. With demands increasing an tighter limits being placed on assistance programs, how are folks pulling together to provide stopgaps? In 2025, 1 in 8 Iowa adults and 1 in 6 kids face food insecurity, with nearly 385,130 not knowing where they will find their next meal. We’ll look at what’s being done to keep supports going, and talk about how stressed the system is.
Thank you to Four Oaks Family and Children's Service for being a Track Sponsor of Iowa Ideas 2025!
Track: Human and Social Services
594
|
| 12:45PM |
Break
12:45PM
Break
Track: Break
395
|
| 1:55PM |
Charting the course in choppy waters for arts and culture
1:55PM
Charting the course in choppy waters for arts and culture
With museums and cultural institutions like the Smithsonian and Kennedy Center facing increased political pressures to align content and exhibits to align with federal messaging, what trickle down effects are being felt in Iowa? How are organizations working to take smart risks, and what are boards and others having to do to make sure the organizations move forward while remaining true to their mission?
Track: Arts & Culture
553
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1:55PM
Track: K12 Education
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1:55PM
Track: Higher Education
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Building vibrant resident retention programs
1:55PM
Building vibrant resident retention programs
Resident retention and citizen engagement are a key part of ensuring a community’s long-term success, but how can a city best convince its residents to stick around? For some Iowa communities, the answer is to start early through the creation of newcomer services programs. In other places, faith-based communities fulfill a key role. Retention programs — which aim to provide support and foster belonging — encourage newcomers to stay and contribute to the long-term success of their new home.
Track: Community and Economic Development
565
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The future of renewable energy growth in Iowa
1:55PM
The future of renewable energy growth in Iowa
Iowa ranks second in the U.S. in wind production, and solar projects have expanded in some areas. How can and will the state continue to expand renewable energy? This session will discuss the growth and future of renewable energy in the state, and what the change in federal tax credits could mean in Iowa.
Track: Energy and Environment
581
|
What it means to have AI in health care
1:55PM
What it means to have AI in health care
Artificial intelligence, when used responsibly, can be a powerful tool. It’s present in almost every part of our society, including health care. This session will explore how health care professionals are using AI, what that means for patients, and what the future may hold for AI in medicine.
Track: Health Care
588
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Mobilizing when you feel minimized: nonprofit advocacy
1:55PM
Mobilizing when you feel minimized: nonprofit advocacy
Advocacy plays an important role in the work of Iowa nonprofits, but issue-specific positions can be risky when thinking about donors and other funding sources. Can nonprofits unite on issues to ensure a voice is present and how much emphasis can these groups put on political strategies? We’ll explore strategies for non-profits of all sizes and whether there are strategies that can be helpful.
Thank you to Four Oaks Family and Children's Service for being a Track Sponsor of Iowa Ideas 2025!
Track: Human and Social Services
595
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| 3:00PM |
Creating new pipelines for the arts
3:00PM
Creating new pipelines for the arts
Having viable arts in Iowa means supporting viable artists. What artistic career paths are viable in Iowa, and how can Iowa’s workforce broaden its horizons? This session will explore the new pipelines being created to foster talent, untapped options to shape new career paths and how those shaping them envision Iowa’s future through new infrastructure.
Track: Arts & Culture
554
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3:00PM
Track: K12 Education
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3:00PM
Track: Higher Education
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How to foster community engagement
3:00PM
How to foster community engagement
Between volunteering, joining a board or commission and/or attending public meetings, there are myriad opportunities for Iowans to get involved in their community. But with so many options and only so much time, how can people prioritize their involvement for the best results? This panel takes a look at how Iowa cities and nonprofits are working to help people identify ways to effectively and enjoyably use their voice and efforts to support their community.
Thank you, Cedar Rapids Bank & Trust and UFG Insurance, for being Content Sponsors for Iowa Ideas 2025!
Track: Community and Economic Development
566
|
Iowa’s response to growing power demand
3:00PM
Iowa’s response to growing power demand
Americans’ demand for power is growing. Data centers, which serve our growing use of artificial intelligence, use massive amounts of electricity. We’re seeing that in Iowa, which is home to dozens of data centers with more planned to come online in the next five years. How will we meet the demand and prepare for increased demand in the future? What does this mean for power generation in Iowa going forward?
Thank you, Miron Construction, for being a Content Block Sponsor for Iowa Ideas 2025!
Track: Energy and Environment
582
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Weighing the cost and benefits of anti-obesity drugs
3:00PM
Weighing the cost and benefits of anti-obesity drugs
Anti-obesity drug usage in Iowa appears to be higher than in neighboring states, and Iowans will likely get a better idea of financial impacts as the Iowa HHS and DAS are tasked with reviewing the costs, effectiveness and eligibility requirements for state programs. What’s drawing so many Iowans to take them and what are the potential long-term impacts to be mindful of?
Track: Health Care
589
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Surviving the Times
3:00PM
Surviving the Times
What can nonprofit teams do to keep well when stressful times are afoot? What are common stressors that put team members at risk, and what are ways to address and overcome potential negative impact to the mind or body?
Thank you to Four Oaks Family and Children's Service for being a Track Sponsor of Iowa Ideas 2025!
Track: Human and Social Services
596
|
| 4:00PM |
Curious Iowa: How did European immigration in the 1840s shape Iowa?
4:00PM
Curious Iowa: How did European immigration in the 1840s shape Iowa?
Old country culture is proudly on display in many areas of Iowa, hundreds of years after the second wave of European immigration brought Czechs, Norwegians and Germans, among others, to the Midwest. Decorah is known for its Norwegian heritage, for example, just as Cedar Rapids is known for its Czech heritage. In this session, we'll explore the history of European immigration to Iowa and how the land known today as Iowa became home.
Track: Curious Iowa
569
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Civic engagement in Iowa
4:00PM
Civic engagement in Iowa
Engagement in local communities is crucial to their vibrancy and success. We’ll look at what engagement is looking like in Iowa and help make suggestions in communities that seem to be getting participation from the same groups of people. What are some strategies for drawing new voices into groups? What does the next generation look like in service-oriented groups and how can communities that are losing population leverage help to lighten the load?
Thank you, Cedar Rapids Metro Economic Alliance, for being a Content Block Sponsor for Iowa Ideas 2025!
Track: Bonus Sessions
561
|
|
Friday Schedule |
| 8:30AM |
Heather Gudenkauf
8:30AM
Heather Gudenkauf
Track: Keynote Sessions
600
|
| 9:40AM |
Keeping a pin in flyover country: Vamping up Iowa’s arts economy
9:40AM
Keeping a pin in flyover country: Vamping up Iowa’s arts economy
Iowa has changed politically, socially and economically over the years. How can Iowa put a pin in the map to avoid being a “flyover state” for artists, musicians, speakers and authors? How is Iowa’s quality of life impacted with the loss of cultural giants like the International Writing Program? This session will explore how to further develop Iowa’s talented arts scene, and how can a region known more for its farmers than its artists elevate itself in marketing?
Track: Arts & Culture
555
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|
9:40AM
Track: K12 Education
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9:40AM
Track: Higher Education
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Aging in Place: What are communities doing to help?
9:40AM
Aging in Place: What are communities doing to help?
The U.S. population is older today than it has ever been, and that demographic shift is only expected to continue thanks to ongoing medical advancements and overall quality of life improvements both in the Midwest and nationwide. As the general population — and workforce — get older and live longer, how are Iowa communities adjusting to help older residents continue to embrace and engage with their communities?
Track: Community and Economic Development
567
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Conservation reductions in Iowa
9:40AM
Conservation reductions in Iowa
Federal funding freezes and cuts to the workforce have left conservation programs and nonprofits scrambling to come up with the money and manpower to continue operating. Meanwhile, proposed funding cuts to programs that farmers use for conservation face massive budget cuts. What’s been hit hardest, how are the gaps being filled, and what’s at risk if Iowans can’t make up the difference?
Track: Energy and Environment
583
|
Cost of Prescription Drugs and Pricing Transparency
9:40AM
Cost of Prescription Drugs and Pricing Transparency
The majority of Americans take at least one prescription each day, and nearly one-third are concerned about being able to pay for the drugs they need, recent polling suggests. While there’s been some movement around drug price transparency policies, there are still significant policy fights playing out. We’ll look at what impacts are coming from Iowa’s recently enacted bill barring pharmacy benefit managers from steering patients to specific pharmacies and requires PBMs to apy unaffiliated pharmacies at the same rates they do for ones in their networks.
Track: Health Care
590
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Checking in on Iowa’s new behavioral health system
9:40AM
Checking in on Iowa’s new behavioral health system
Iowa launched a new behavioral health system this summer, aimed at better connecting Iowans with mental health and disability services. We’ll talk about how the rollout is going and what it means for Iowans across the state. Is it helping provide more streamlined services? What’s being done to adjust as the rollout continues?
Thank you to Four Oaks Family and Children's Service for being a Track Sponsor of Iowa Ideas 2025!
Track: Human and Social Services
597
|
| 10:45AM |
Curious Iowa: Why doesn't Iowa have a National Park?
10:45AM
Curious Iowa: Why doesn't Iowa have a National Park?
Thirty states and two U.S. territories are home to National Parks, but not the state of Iowa. Although the state has Effigy Mounds, a National Park Service Monument, and the Herbert Hoover National Historic Site, past attempts to establish a National Park in Iowa have failed. This conversation will look at why these efforts have not come to fruition.
Track: Curious Iowa
570
|
The challenges of local news
10:45AM
The challenges of local news
There is an ongoing crisis when it comes to producing local news. While local news is trusted by more people, the business models on multiple platforms remain under duress. We’ll talk about what’s happening in Iowa’s media landscape and how it compares to the national picture.
Track: Bonus Sessions
560
|
| 11:50AM |
Finding your passion for art later in life
11:50AM
Finding your passion for art later in life
Not everyone finds their way into the arts at an early age. We’ll talk to some folks who made their way into Iowa’s arts scene later in life. How and why did they feel compelled to try something different and embrace the arts? What are the benefits for keeping active in the arts later in life?
Track: Arts & Culture
556
|
|
11:50AM
Track: K12 Education
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11:50AM
Track: Higher Education
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Community Impact & Support Networks
11:50AM
Community Impact & Support Networks
At both the personal and organizational level, support networks are essential to helping Iowans succeed. But how are these support networks created, and how are they working to connect with community members in times of need? This panel takes a look at some of the Iowa organizations that have stepped up to connect their communities, despite or even because of ongoing societal challenges.
Thank you, Kirkwood Community College and UFG Insurance, for being Content Block Sponsors for Iowa Ideas 2025!
Track: Community and Economic Development
568
|
What will it take to fully fund outdoor recreation and conservation in Iowa?
11:50AM
What will it take to fully fund outdoor recreation and conservation in Iowa?
Iowans have demonstrated they care about outdoor recreation and conservation. In 2010, 63 percent of voters approved a trust fund that would provide money for improving soil, water and air quality, and increasing outdoor recreational opportunities. Fifteen years later, the fund remains empty. The state parks need millions of dollars in infrastructure upgrades, but funding remains stagnant. What will it take to fund these improvements? And why hasn’t it happened yet?
Track: Energy and Environment
584
|
Medicaid and Hospitals
11:50AM
Medicaid and Hospitals
Iowa hospitals are in a period of "uncertainty" as changes to Medicaid enacted as part of a sweeping tax and spending bill take effect. Is a fund allocating billions to some rural hospital losses easing concerns? What does this mean for the state’s rural providers? We’ll unpack the changes in Medicaid and what it means for Iowa’s hospitals and providers and how those changes might impact you.
Thank you, Miron Construction, for being a Content Block Sponsor for Iowa Ideas 2025!
Track: Health Care
591
|
|
Vaccines and Medical Research
11:50AM
Vaccines and Medical Research
We’ve seen significant changes to federal investments in medical research, while new efforts are being undertaken to reduce vaccine hesitancy in Iowa. What impact will this have on Iowans both from a jobs and health perspective? vaccines. We’ll talk about the Iowa impacts to these changes, what they mean both in terms of economics and public health.
Thank you to Four Oaks Family and Children's Service for being a Track Sponsor of Iowa Ideas 2025!
Track: Human and Social Services
598
|
| 1:00PM |
Doug Goettsch
1:00PM
Doug Goettsch
Doug Goettsch is a seasoned hospitality professional with over 38 years of experience in the food and beverage industry. As the co-founder of Big Grove Brewery in Solon, Iowa, and a partner in the Big Grove Brewery and Taproom locations in Iowa City, Des Moines, and Cedar Rapids, Doug has been instrumental in shaping the local culinary landscape. His impressive portfolio also includes partnerships in four renowned Iowa City restaurants: Pullman Bar & Diner, St Burch Tavern, Barrett’s Quality Eats, and the revitalized Hamburg Inn #2.
Doug’s passion for exceptional food service is backed by a robust educational foundation. He holds a B.A. in Foodservice Management and earned a certificate from The Culinary Institute of America’s Accelerated Culinary Arts Program (A.C.A.P.), along with his credentials as an A.C.F. Certified Chef de Cuisine. His career highlights include serving as the Director of Corporate Relations at The Culinary Institute of America in Napa Valley—a role that enriched his vision of blending elevated cuisine with the relaxed charm of casual upscale dining.
Driven by a love for hospitality, Doug is dedicated to delivering memorable experiences that echo the high standards he encountered during his travels and professional journey across the United States. His mission is to bring a refined yet unpretentious dining experience to Iowa, ensuring that every guest feels the passion and precision he brings to the table.
When he’s not innovating in the restaurant scene, Doug enjoys balancing his busy professional life with family time, sharing life’s adventures with his wife, Sarah, and his three wonderful boys. Whether managing multiple establishments or keeping up with family life, Doug approaches every challenge with the same commitment and enthusiasm that defines his culinary career.
Track: Keynote Sessions
601
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