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Conference Schedule
The 2026 PRSA Midwest District Conference—Bold Communicators in the Bold North—invites strategic communications professionals to embrace boldness in every sense. From breakthrough storytelling to leadership that inspires, this multi-day conference celebrates the power of PR to move organizations, communities and culture forward.
The conference will feature dynamic keynotes, thought-provoking general sessions and interactive discussions—all built around three high-level tracks known as the 3 Cs:
- Community — Advancing inclusive, engaged and purpose-driven communication.
- Connection — Building authentic relationships and leveraging tools, strategies and creative storytelling to foster collaboration and elevate the impact of our profession.
- Change — Exploring innovative strategies and adaptive approaches that inspire transformation and move organizations and communities forward.
Here’s a look at what we have in store:
Bold Communicators in the Bold North
June 24-26, 2026
University of St. Thomas - Minneapolis Campus
1000 La Salle Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55403
Keep scrolling to view the full schedule and click below to read the speaker bios.
Pro Tip!
Bookmark this page. The conference committee will be updating this schedule with more details.
Questions?
Contact us at info@minnesotaprsa.org.
Schedule is subject to change.
Opening Keynote
06.24.2026
The Power of We for Inclusion. Leading When Your Community is Hurting
1:30
-
3:30 p.m.
Auditorium
Event Details
06.24.2026
The Power of We for Inclusion. Leading When Your Community is Hurting
When communities face moments of pain or uncertainty, leadership rooted in inclusion becomes more important than ever. “The Power of We for ...
1:30
-
3:30 p.m.
Auditorium
Afternoon Breakout Sessions
06.24.2026
Community: Turning Your AI Investment into Impact: A Human Centered Approach to AI Adoption
3:40
-
4:40 p.m.
Room 127
Event Details
06.24.2026
Community: Turning Your AI Investment into Impact: A Human Centered Approach to AI Adoption
AI investment is accelerating across every sector, yet most organizations struggle to move beyond initial rollout. This session explores why...
3:40
-
4:40 p.m.
Room 127
06.24.2026
Connection: A Town Hall Glow-up: Crafting an Experience People Actually Love
3:40
-
4:40 p.m.
Room 302
Event Details
06.24.2026
Connection: A Town Hall Glow-up: Crafting an Experience People Actually Love
In 2025, with only two months’ notice, our tiny team of non-event planners initiated a wild challenge: revive a town hall so dull only 50 of...
3:40
-
4:40 p.m.
Room 302
06.24.2026
Change: Leading Through Volatility, Risk and Change
3:40
-
4:40 p.m.
Room 301
Event Details
06.24.2026
Change: Leading Through Volatility, Risk and Change
In Padilla’s annual C-Suite Perspectives Study™, we’re seeing leaders operating with a heightened sense of urgency – not because uncertainty...
3:40
-
4:40 p.m.
Room 301
Optional evening activity!
06.24.2026
PRSA Midwest District Conference group outing to cheer on the Minnesota Twins vs Los Angeles Dodgers
6:40 p.m.
Target Field
Event Details
06.24.2026
PRSA Midwest District Conference group outing to cheer on the Minnesota Twins vs Los Angeles Dodgers
Registration has now closed. (Additional tickets may be available by contacting the Twins Box Office directly.)
The game starts at 6:40 p....
6:40 p.m.
Target Field
Morning Keynote
06.25.2026
Kids First in a Crisis: Mission-driven Communication Response from Annunciation to Metro Surge
8:50
-
9:50 a.m.
Auditorium
Event Details
06.25.2026
Kids First in a Crisis: Mission-driven Communication Response from Annunciation to Metro Surge
Children’s Minnesota, one of the largest freestanding pediatric health systems in the country, applied a mission‑driven, kids‑first approach...
8:50
-
9:50 a.m.
Auditorium
Morning Breakout Sessions - Part 1
06.25.2026
Community: Building Community Trust — Going Beyond Cookie Cutter Communications
10:00
-
11:00 a.m.
Room 127
Event Details
06.25.2026
Community: Building Community Trust — Going Beyond Cookie Cutter Communications
In 2026, studies show government entities are the least trusted organizations (media is a close second) worldwide – and, not surprisingly, d...
10:00
-
11:00 a.m.
Room 127
06.25.2026
Connection: Connecting with Gen Z: What New Research Reveals About Loyalty and Trust
10:00
-
11:00 a.m.
Room 301
Event Details
06.25.2026
Connection: Connecting with Gen Z: What New Research Reveals About Loyalty and Trust
Gen Z isn’t unpredictable – they’re intentional. Drawing from Hiebing’s proprietary research, this session reveals what Gen Z values, how th...
10:00
-
11:00 a.m.
Room 301
06.25.2026
Change: Connection Over Conversion: Trust-Driven Communication for Service-Based Organizations
10:00
-
11:00 a.m.
Room 302
Event Details
06.25.2026
Change: Connection Over Conversion: Trust-Driven Communication for Service-Based Organizations
Service-based organizations don’t sell products – they earn trust. Associations, nonprofits and B2B brands must communicate value through re...
10:00
-
11:00 a.m.
Room 302
Morning Breakout Sessions - Part 2
06.25.2026
Community: Why Reddit Works: Community-Led Social Media Strategies That Drive Results
11:10 a.m.
-
12:10 p.m.
Room 302
Event Details
06.25.2026
Community: Why Reddit Works: Community-Led Social Media Strategies That Drive Results
Does your social media feel stuck on autopilot? Discover how intentional community-building can unlock brand relevance and real impact to br...
11:10 a.m.
-
12:10 p.m.
Room 302
06.25.2026
Connection: From Numbers to Narratives: Making Data Resonate With Real Audiences
11:10 a.m.
-
12:10 p.m.
Room 127
Event Details
06.25.2026
Connection: From Numbers to Narratives: Making Data Resonate With Real Audiences
Data drives action – but it's only the first step in a successful campaign. When data is presented without context and connection to its imp...
11:10 a.m.
-
12:10 p.m.
Room 127
06.25.2026
Change: The Real Cost of Invisible Work
11:10 a.m.
-
12:10 p.m.
Room 301
Event Details
06.25.2026
Change: The Real Cost of Invisible Work
Strategic communicators often carry responsibility without authority, finishing thoughts, absorbing ambiguity and protecting reputations, wh...
11:10 a.m.
-
12:10 p.m.
Room 301
Afternoon Keynote
06.25.2026
Community. Connection. Change. The Future of Journalism is Local.
1:30
-
2:30 p.m.
Auditorium
Event Details
06.25.2026
Community. Connection. Change. The Future of Journalism is Local.
The Minnesota Star Tribune’s ongoing transformation offers important lessons for communications professionals navigating a rapidly changing ...
1:30
-
2:30 p.m.
Auditorium
Afternoon Breakout Sessions
06.25.2026
Community: Bold, Brave and Effective Actions in Unprecedented Times
2:40
-
3:40 p.m.
Room 127
Event Details
06.25.2026
Community: Bold, Brave and Effective Actions in Unprecedented Times
A Conversation with D. Parke Gibson Pioneer Award Recipients
Communicators play a vital role in building trust and clarity in times of uncer...
2:40
-
3:40 p.m.
Room 127
06.25.2026
Connection: From Safe to Sassy: How to Fire Up Your Community with a Bold Social Media Strategy
2:40
-
3:40 p.m.
Room 302
Event Details
06.25.2026
Connection: From Safe to Sassy: How to Fire Up Your Community with a Bold Social Media Strategy
In a digital era where audiences crave authenticity, entertainment and connection, “safe” social media content isn’t going to cut it. Whethe...
2:40
-
3:40 p.m.
Room 302
06.25.2026
Change: When Communication Is the Change Strategy
2:40
-
3:40 p.m.
Room 301
Event Details
06.25.2026
Change: When Communication Is the Change Strategy
Change initiatives rarely fail because of bad ideas. They fail because leaders lack the clarity and confidence to sustain change. This sessi...
2:40
-
3:40 p.m.
Room 301
Afternoon Keynote
06.25.2026
A Return to Civility: Leading the Way for More Thoughtful and Respectful Discourse
3:50
-
4:50 p.m.
Auditorium
Event Details
06.25.2026
A Return to Civility: Leading the Way for More Thoughtful and Respectful Discourse
A dramatic shift in public discourse – fueled by social media algorithms – has made public discourse increasingly combative. Clients now fac...
3:50
-
4:50 p.m.
Auditorium
06.25.2026
Networking Happy Hour – Drinks, Delights and Dilly Bars
5:00
-
7:00 p.m.
Atrium
Event Details
06.25.2026
Networking Happy Hour – Drinks, Delights and Dilly Bars
Open to all registered attendees! The evening networking happy hour includes a hosted beverage, delightful apps and our favorite Minnesota d...
5:00
-
7:00 p.m.
Atrium
Morning Keynote
06.26.2026
Water Over Nickel: Centering Indigenous Voices Through Strategic Communication
8:30
-
9:30 a.m.
Auditorium
Event Details
06.26.2026
Water Over Nickel: Centering Indigenous Voices Through Strategic Communication
When a proposed nickel mine was planned just 1.3 miles from the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe community, the potential impacts extended far beyo...
8:30
-
9:30 a.m.
Auditorium
Morning Breakout Sessions
06.26.2026
Community: Beyond Performative Inclusion
9:40
-
10:40 a.m.
Room 302
Event Details
06.26.2026
Community: Beyond Performative Inclusion
How Communicators Build Trust, Belonging and Credibility Across Difference
As organizations navigate increasing complexity, scrutiny and pola...
9:40
-
10:40 a.m.
Room 302
06.26.2026
Connection: How CMOs Build Believable Brand Communities
9:40
-
10:40 a.m.
Room 127
Event Details
06.26.2026
Connection: How CMOs Build Believable Brand Communities
Chief marketing officers are under pressure to spearhead innovative, meaningful initiatives at brands worldwide — three of them are here to ...
9:40
-
10:40 a.m.
Room 127
06.26.2026
Change: Harnessing AI to Optimize Earned and Owned Media
9:40
-
10:40 a.m.
Room 301
Event Details
06.26.2026
Change: Harnessing AI to Optimize Earned and Owned Media
How does AI view your organization?
As AI-generated summaries replace traditional searches, referral traffic is declining. Many users now sta...
9:40
-
10:40 a.m.
Room 301
Closing Keynote
06.26.2026
Building the Home Team: How Sports Strengthen Fan and Community Bonds
10:50 a.m.
-
12:00 p.m.
Auditorium
Event Details
06.26.2026
Building the Home Team: How Sports Strengthen Fan and Community Bonds
From newly launched franchises to legacy organizations, Minnesota’s professional sports teams are navigating rapid change while deepening co...
10:50 a.m.
-
12:00 p.m.
Auditorium