Save the Date
Conference & Retreat
Connective Leadership: Centering Human Relations
Featuring…
Leadership Retreat & Education Conference
Continuing the Conversation – Free evening community event highlighting youth and family engagement
May 6-7, 2026
Elkhart, Indiana
Connective Leadership is about choosing from a repertoire of behaviors to lead and inspire collaboration in an interconnected world.
The Retreat Experience
May 6 Small Group Retreat — By Limited Enrollment
The May 6 Small Group Retreat offers leaders a dedicated space to pause, reflect, and engage in intentional conversation before the full conference begins. Held in a natural environment, the retreat encourages clear thinking, authentic dialogue, and deeper connection among participants. Because the experience is designed around small-group engagement, enrollment is limited to ensure a thoughtful and personal setting for learning and conversational leadership. Participants will begin the conference journey in a more focused way on May 6 and then join the larger community on May 7 for the full day of breakout sessions and shared learning.
Featured Speakers
Levon Johnson
President | CEO<br />
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
“It Takes a Village” with Mayor Rod Roberson and Superintendent Dr.Larry Huff
Coming Soon
TBA
TBA
Larry Huff, Ph.D.
Superintendent
Elkhart Community Schools
Darlene von Behren, Ed.D.
President
Coming Soon
TBA
Coming Soon
TBA
TBA
Coming Soon
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Collaborate with thought leaders and strategize to attract and retain talent, advocate for youth, and provide services and meaningful value to community members.
Why Attend?
The ONLY Conference
Focused on Community-Based
Intercultural Relations
The workforce is evolving—will you evolve with it? The key to staying ahead is mastering the human-centered skills that fuel innovation.
We bring together businesses, educational institutions, and nonprofits to network and collaborate on the most pressing topics facing organizations today.
Lead with more than expertise—create, problem-solve, and navigate complexity
Generate ideas for how to build the infrastructure needed at your organization
Attract and retain top talent with a culture of competence, collaboration, and positive leadership
Opportunities to Connect
& Learn
Learn more about the Intercultural Relations Institute, host of the Thought Leadership Conference.
Panel Discussions
Networking
continuing the conversation
Engagement since 2016
Attendees over 10 years
Speakers each year
Connections made
Join Us!
Questions?
admin@icrlead.com
Register
Get Your Tickets!
Tickets on Sale in January 2026
Accommodations
Hotel Elkhart Tapestry Collection by Hilton