The IAP2 USA Midwest Chapter Conference

The 2026 IAP2 Midwest Chapter Conference will be held in Dubuque, Iowa, from April 15-16, 2026 at the Hotel Julien Dubuque. The format will be a little different than in years past, with an all-day conference on Wednesday and Thursday and a pre-conference networking reception on Tuesday evening, April 14. 

Inspiring People, Partnership, and Participation

*Scroll to the bottom of this page to see locations and programs of past conferences.

Call For Session Proposals

The IAP2 2026 Spring Conference aims to bring together seasoned and new thought leaders, professionals, and practitioners in public engagement and related professions to foster collaboration, share best practices, and inspire innovation. We believe that the knowledge and skill sets of the P2 community is crucial in advancing the field, and your participation would greatly enhance the overall quality and diversity of our conference.

If you submit a proposal, we encourage you to think about designing a session that inspires, challenges, and energizes our collective practice in public participation. 

Ask yourself:

• What stories, lessons, or approaches have helped build trust, motivation, or shared purpose among diverse participants?
• How can we elevate and sustain the human side of engagement — empathy, creativity, and courage — in complex or changing environments?
• How can collaboration across sectors, disciplines, or communities drive better outcomes?
• What innovative methods or shared leadership models have helped you co-create solutions or navigate challenges together?
  What tools, technologies, or techniques have helped expand who participates and how?
• How can we move beyond participation as a process toward participation as a shared value and ongoing practice?
• How can we strengthen professional development, mentorship, and skill-sharing to inspire the next generation of engagement practitioners?
• What new ideas, strategies, or frameworks can help advance the practice and impact of public participation?

We are seeking presentations that align with our theme, “Inspiring People, Partnership, and Participation,” and showcases successful public engagement initiatives, highlight innovative methodologies, and/or address the challenges and opportunities in the realm of public participation. Presentations should highlight instructional levels, so please be ready to indicate if your learning objectives serve a new practitioner, an intermediate level learner, or an advanced member of the P2 community. Whether you have insights on community-building strategies, effective communication techniques, or case studies illustrating successful outcomes, we encourage you to submit your proposal by January 18, 2026 by 11:45 pm CT.

For additional questions, please contact MJ Lamon, mlamon@edinamn.gov, or Heather Tippey Pierce, HTPierce@cityofomaha.org, who are on the organizing committee for the conference.

Conference Sponsors

Conference Committee

The Midwest Chapter's annual conference is made possible through the collective efforts of volunteers. Conference committee work ranges from programming and logistics to sponsorships and marketing. Anyone, regardless of IAP2 USA member status, is welcome to serve on the conference committee comprise of the following working groups:

• Programming. Responsible for determining the content of the conference, including keynote speakers, breakout session, and posters, as well as ensuring the conference stays true to the selected theme.
  

• Marketing. Responsible for producing conference materials (save the date, social graphic, conference schedule/program) and creating awareness about the conference.

• Logistics + Connections. Responsible for details related to venue, catering, registration, and the like. This includes planning and facilitating networking activities at the conference.

• Financials. Responsible for managing the conference budget and coordinating with our generous sponsors.

The 2026 conference working groups are supported by the following individuals: