2024 Agenda
Don't forget to share with your family, friends, and everyone who would benefit from this FREE event.
9:00 - 9:45 a.m. | Check In & Coffee
Kick off the morning with delicious coffee and treats! Thank you to Chris's Coffee & Custard for providing breakfast and Starbucks for providing coffee for attendees.
9:30 a.m. | Mom Village Opens | Room G101 A/B
Visit the Mom Village to connect with local resources and businesses.
10:00 a.m. | Welcome to the 5th Annual Summit! | Room M106
Remarks from Huddle Up Moms Executive Director, Jaclyn Nunziato, MD
10:15 - 11:00 a.m. | Morning Session: Recognition of M.A.M.A. Award Winners + Speaker Kimmie Chernichky | Room M106
Join us in honoring our inaugural class of M.A.M.A. Award winners, as we showcase their incredible stories and kick off the day being inspired by their love and courage. Plus hear from Dr. Kimmie Chernichky, locally renowned chiropractor and mom extraordinaire.
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. | Explore the Mom Village + Activities
Some crowd favorites are back for 2024!
-
Browse the Mom Village (Room G101 A/B) to get connected to a variety of local businesses and organizations.
-
Visit the Zen Den (Room G107 A/B) to enjoy some holistic health offerings and build your own blooming beautiful flower bouquet.
-
Meet your next mom BFF with Mom Speed Dating (Cafe).
-
Those who registered for it may visit the Community Baby Shower by Molina Healthcare and Children's Trust (Room G106 A/B)
12:15 - 1:15 p.m. | Catered lunch sponsored by Kizingo with Keynote Speaker Dr. Kiyah Duffey | Room G102 A/B
1:30 - 2:30 p.m. | Panel--Bloom Where You're Planted: Joys, Challenges, & Opportunities of Motherhood | Room G102 A/B
Join us for an engaging panel discussion as we explore the multifaceted journey of motherhood. From the joys of nurturing a new life to the challenges of balancing personal aspirations with parental responsibilities, this discussion will delve into the diverse experiences of mothers across different walks of life. Our incredible panelists, comprised of mothers from various backgrounds and experiences, will share their insights, stories, and strategies for navigating the highs and lows of motherhood.
Meet your mom panelists:
Dr. Kiyah Duffey is a leading nutrition expert and founder of Kizingo, an international brand promoting healthier eating for children. With a PhD in nutrition and 20 years of experience, she uses her expertise to help busy moms ensure their children develop healthier relationships with food.
During lunch, Kiyah will lead us through our keynote presentation - "Redefining Mealtime Success: Prioritizing Values, Persistence, and Acceptance" - a lifeline as moms are faced with the quest for Instagram-worthy dinners and the reality of tight schedules.
This keynote demystifies meal planning amidst the chaos of family life, providing a strategic approach to utilize the information you have, creating happier mealtimes tailored to your life’s rhythm. Backed by empirical data, this talk pairs personal stories with concrete actions that will empower you to reclaim joy at family meals and end the cycle of overwhelm.
Thanks to a generous sponsorship from Kizingo, Summit participants will enjoy a beautiful lunch from 3112 Catering Co.!
Kimmie is living her passion for pediatric chiropractic as founder of Chernichky Family Chiropractic in Daleville with her husband, Jake. She's also a trained doula, blending her love for natural healthcare with childbirth education. Outside the office, she treasures time with her husband and daughter, Vada.
Lucie Benevise, a passionate advocate for mothers and families, brings a unique blend of international experience and community leadership to the forefront. At 28 years old, Lucie serves as the Operations Manager at the Salem-Roanoke County Chamber of Commerce, where she actively fosters economic growth and community engagement.
Originally hailing from France, Lucie's journey led her to pursue studies in Information and Interaction Design and Social Innovation at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea. It was during her time in Seoul that she delved into the vibrant world of tech startups, contributing her skills to a financial technology venture.
Lucie met her husband, a dedicated medic in the US Army, igniting a transcontinental journey that brought her to the United States in 2020. Since then, she has been a driving force in the leadership team of Mothering Forward, a grassroots movement dedicated to advocating for the rights and well-being of mothers and families across the nation. Lucie's commitment to causes like childcare accessibility and paid leave underscores her belief in creating a more equitable society for all.
Balancing her professional and advocacy work with the joys of motherhood, Lucie cherishes her role as a parent to two strong-willed daughters, aged 2 and 1. In addition to her professional endeavors, Lucie is an active volunteer at Women in Tech, a branch of the Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council, where she works to empower women and promote diversity in the tech industry.
Nickole Toler wears many hats in this thing called life. She is a mother of three wonderful boys, a wife, a student, and she currently works as the College Affordability Navigator at Virginia Western Community College.
She provides holistic support for adults on their learning journey, and she loves encouraging and uplifting others to be their raw authentic selves!
Mikayla Hansen is a new mom and passionate advocate for rural maternal healthcare. She attended graduate school at Clemson University and has worked in programming for six years. She fell in love with the women's health field in 2019 and has pursued multiple trainings to help women through their prenatal and postpartum journeys. In 2023, she learned to be flexible when her own birth did not go as planned. That solidified her desire to work with families and led her to Huddle Up Moms where she serves as Program Director for Moms Under Pressure -- a program providing free blood pressure cuffs, education, and ongoing support for pregnant moms at risk of hypertensive disorders like preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, and HELLP syndrome.
Mikayla lives in Eagle Rock on her family homestead with her husband and daughter. She loves any outdoor adventure, baking, and jamming to Taylor Swift.
2:30 p.m. | Closing remarks from Dr. Jaclyn Nunziato, HUM Executive Director | Room G102 A/B
Thank you for attending our 5th Annual Women's Resource Summit!
Additional Information:
-
Breastfeeding Center: Breastfeeding moms looking for a quiet place to nurse or pump may visit The Breastfeeding Center located in the Library. Our friends from The Breastfeeding Center of Roanoke are using this space to offer a quiet, relaxing place for families. While you’re there, learn all about the wonderful support The Breastfeeding Center provides.
-
Free on-site childcare: Room 1101 Riverside 4. Complimentary childcare is being provided on-site by the MIND Lab staff. The MIND Lab, located inside the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute, is dedicated to improving mother-infant health outcomes for our community by exploring the factors that influence healthy infant brain and behavioral development. Children will enjoy Chick-fil-A lunch & other snacks, games, activities, crafts and more! Childcare will be open from 8:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
-
Door Prizes! Throughout the day, you could win a variety of fabulous door prizes donated from our local & national door prize sponsors! You must be present to win so stick around - you won’t want to miss these fantastic mom giveaways! Winners will be called/texted as we hold drawings throughout the day.