We are happy to share recorded sessions from our 2022 Chicago Cleft Con. We hope you find them as inspiring as we do! If you would like to request one of these speakers for an upcoming meeting or event, please email cleftcon@smiletrain.org.
Keynote: Allie Bowles
A Chicago native, Allie earned her B.A. from Northern Michigan University in hospitality management in 2007 before returning to Chicago to begin a career in hotel and restaurant management and event planning. She currently works in Admissions for Morgan Park Academy, a small, independent school on the city’s Southside. When her son Conrad was born with a cleft, Allie became an advocate for the cleft community and a Smile Train ambassador.
My Cleft Journey
Speakers: C. Eric Bodo, Linda Morris, Patricia Simon
Moderator: Troy Reinhart
In this session, you’ll hear from members of the cleft community who are sharing their stories to help empower other cleft-affected individuals. C. Eric Bodo, Linda Morris, and Patricia Simon will speak about what inspired each of them to share their cleft journeys, how they raise awareness, and how getting involved in the US cleft community has impacted them.
Advice for Parents from Cleft-Affected Young Adults
Speakers: Eunice Aduroja, Bhavana Karnik, Mark Kroeger, and Grace Murphy
Moderator: Lou Jug
Parents know how challenging their child’s cleft journey can be. But for parents who are not cleft-affected themselves, it can be especially difficult to understand exactly what your child may be feeling. In this session, you’ll hear from Eunice Aduroja, Bhavana Karnik, Mark Kroeger, and Grace Murphy, who will discuss their experiences of growing up with a cleft and share advice for parents on how to best support their children as they navigate their cleft journey through childhood and adolescence.
Supporting your Cleft-Affected Child
Speaker: Meredith Albert
From difficulties in school to encounters with bullying, many cleft-affected children face social dilemmas from a young age. In this session, join Dr. Meredith Albert, Clinical Psychologist with the cleft/craniofacial team at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Chicago, as she speaks about different ways to identify when your child is struggling, what types of resources are appropriate for different situations, and strategies to help support your child.
Love Meets Joy: A Podcast hosted by Cleft Advocates
Speakers: Iva Ballou, Ashley Barbour
Moderator: Adina Lescher
After meeting at Cleft Con 2020, advocates Iva Ballou, founder of RealSophisticatedJoy, and Ashley Barbour, author of the blog Cleft Love: Learning to Love My Smile, knew that their cleft community work together was just beginning. Join Iva and Ashley as they discuss their new podcast, Love Meets Joy. In this honest and empowering series, they discuss their personal journeys and all things cleft. In this session, you will watch an exclusive, behind-the-scenes video clip of the podcast and hear about the production process from Iva and Ashley.
Cleft Proud, Peoria Proud
Speakers: Erin Chan, Molly Ryba Fiddes, Lisa Hatfield, Evanne Inkhen, Lyndsay Mentgen, Molly Reeser
Moderator: Chelsea Baratto
Having a strong support system and a connection to the cleft community can be so important when navigating your cleft journey. In this session, you’ll hear how five former high school classmates reunited when they realized each of them had a child with a cleft. After coming together to support each other, they decided to join forces to raise awareness in their community and raise funds to support children with clefts around the world.
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The information provided in these recordings is meant to be helpful to you and is for informational purposes only. The information contained here should not be relied upon for any specific purpose or used as a substitute for medical advice. While we attempt to thoroughly address specific topics, it is not possible to address every unique situation. Please consult a professional with any questions you might have. Although we attempt to provide accurate and up-to-date information, we make no guarantee to that effect and are not responsible for the content of these resources. All liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based on the contents of these recordings are hereby disclaimed. The content is provided “as is” and no representations are made that the content is error-free.