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.
Registration closes April 3! |
Hotel BlockA discounted room block has been reserved at Hotel Julien Dubuque, located at 200 Main St., Dubuque, IA 52001. To make a reservation, please contact the hotel directly at 800‑798‑7098 or 563‑556‑4200. Be sure to reference the group name “IAP2 Midwest Conference 2026” to receive the discounted rate. Please note that as of Friday, March 27, the room block is fully booked. Reservations made after this date may still be eligible for the conference rate of $129.00 per night; however, availability and the discounted rate are no longer guaranteed. All bookings must be made by phone. Online reservations are not available for this room block. |
Traveling to DubuqueFlying to Cedar Rapids, Iowa is a great travel option for the conference as there is an inexpensive shuttle that runs from there to Dubuque. Daily fares between 6 am and 6 pm are $40 one way. After those hours it is $50. See Airport Shuttle Service | Anaman Concierge's DBQ/CID Shuttle for more details. |
Draft Schedule Overview |
April 15, 2026
| April 16, 2026
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Events in Dubuque Wednesday, April 15, 5:30-7:00pm. Dubuque's Magnificent Murals by Trolley Space is limited. Register in advance at the conference registration table. Meet at the trolley in front of the Hotel Julien. After operating for 11 years as a month-long arts festival, in 2016 Voices Productions transformed into an incubator for dozens of large-scale public murals that would be vibrant, challenging, and (somewhat) controversial. The Voices team sought out internationally-famous street artists and paired them up with building owners to commission large-scale murals that became instant icons. Explore Dubuque with us to see well-known murals plus some hidden gems. Learn about how they've changed our civic dialogue about public art. We'll get off the trolley for a special tour of Voices Studio and meet the visionaries behind this innovative project. Thursday, April 16, 6:30pm. PechaKucha Night at the Dubuque Museum of Art, 1000 Jackson St. PechaKucha is an international, fast paced story telling event that inspires, creates connections, and hopefully provides a few laughs. This is a free event for friends & neighbors get up and tell short stories about their lives, experiences, and passions. https://www.pechakucha.com/events/pechakucha-nigh-dubuque-event-vol-26 Saturday, April 18-Saturday, April 25. Julien Dubuque International Film Festival at Dubuque Museum of Art , 1000 Jackson St.
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Conference Sponsors
Conference sponsorship is one of the most impactful ways to show your organization’s commitment to meaningful public participation (P2). It also offers a valuable opportunity to share your mission and message with P2 professionals from across the Midwest. A big THANK YOU to our 2026 sponsoring organizations. We offer four sponsorship levels for the 2026 conference. The image below outlines the benefits included at each level.
Become a sponsor today or contact Andrea for more information. |
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:
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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.
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Financials. Responsible for managing the conference budget and coordinating with our generous sponsors.
The 2026 conference working groups are supported by the following individuals:
Program
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Marketing
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Logistics + Connections
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Financials
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* indicates Midwest Chapter Board Member
Past Conferences
2024 & 2025 in Omaha, Nebraska
The 2025 IAP2 Midwest Chapter Conference, themed Weaving vibrant networks that energize engagement, was held pril 23-25 in Omaha, Nebraska. Click here to see the conference program.
The 2024 conference, themed Sparking Connections that Matter, was held April 17-19, 2024, in Omaha, Nebraska. Click here to see the conference program.
2022 & 2023 in Minnesota's Twin Cities
The 2023 conference, themed Meeting People Where They Are In Public Participation, was held May 3-5, 2023, in Eagan, Minnesota. Click here to see the conference program.
The 2022 conference, themed Breaking Down Walls: Meeting the Challenge of Inclusion in Public Participation, was held May 4-6, 2022 in Eagan, Minnesota. Click here to see the conference schedule.
2019 & 2020 in St. Louis, Missouri
The 2020 Midwest Chapter Conference was planned for April 29 - May 1, 2020, in St. Louis, Missouri, but was ultimately cancelled as a result of the global pandemic. Click here to see the conference flyer.
The 2019 Midwest Chapter Conference was held May 16-17, 2019, in St. Louis, Missouri. Click here to see the conference flyer.