April ILCMA Professional Development Event & Metro Luncheon- Hybrid Events

The Center Can Hold: Understanding and maintaining our mental health in a pandemic

The past several years have taken a toll on our mental health, including at work.  Employees across the globe are reporting having experienced a mental health decline since the start of the pandemic, making it increasingly difficult to lead them.  In addition to the pandemic, tribalism is eviscerating the political center and partisanship has inserted itself into all public discourse both national and local.

This session will cover the current state of mental health in the public sector workplace and the stressors presently challenging municipal managers.  Participants will have an opportunity to reflect upon the factors negatively impacting their own mental health and the overall mood within their organization.

Learn how to stay calm in the midst of chaos with strategies to cope with workplace stress.  Explore how managers who are being pulled in opposite directions by external forces and increasing polarization can weather the storm by holding onto the middle ground.  Walk away with tools and action steps to manage divisive situations when public and workplace emotions are running high.

• Understand the current state of mental health in the municipal workplace and the stressors presently challenging managers.
• Evaluate the challenges impacting your own mental health and workforce as they compare with those of industry peers.
• Discover techniques to increase relaxation and minimize distress.
• Learn about strategies for managing from the middle to navigate polarization within your community and organization through a politically neutral lens and protect the political center.

Presenter: Daven Morrison, M.D., Morrison Associates. Ltd.

Speakers:  Mark Franz, City Manager, City of Glen Ellyn & Scott Niehaus, Village Manager, Village of Lombard

Addresses ICMA Practice Area 5 (personal Resiliency and Development)             

Followed by the April Metro Luncheon: YES! Evolving Your Practices, Policies and Organizational Culture to Meet Changing Employee Expectations

Hybrid Event: Attend in-person luncheon or online through Zoom

Many of our communities are dealing with changing workforce expectations and finding it harder to compete to retain and attract talent. We are being constantly challenged to rethink our approach to staffing and recruitment. This interactive session will explore ways to get to “YES” with your employees and your elected officials as you consider how to update policies, pivot strategies and adapt organizational culture in this dynamic environment.

Presenters: Sharon Tanner, Assistant Village Manager, Glencoe, Illinois; and Jason Stroud, Assistant City Administrator, River Falls, Wisconsin

In Person Attendees:

NIU Naperville, 1120 Diehl Road, Naperville, IL

Zoom Access:

Zoom Access information will be emailed separately, to each registrant.  Note: Access will not be sent immediately following registration, but prior to the event date.