Welcome to our 1-hour training on “Beyond the Pizza Party”: A Panel Discussion on how to Maintain Staff Morale. This webinar was originally presented in May 2025 as part of our ongoing monthly trainings.
This training supplements our Homeless De-Escalation Core Training. In this “Beyond the Pizza Party”: A Panel Discussion on how to Maintain Staff Morale training we will discuss:
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How to communicate during crises without causing panic, from navigating politics, layoffs, funding cuts, etc.
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Why recognition and connection matter more than pizza for staff morale (and how to do that)
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The importance of being authentic and transparent as a leader (and what that looks like)
About the Guests:
Brittany Larson has experience working in leadership roles for both academic and public libraries. Brittany currently works as the Muskego Public Library Director in southeastern Wisconsin, supervising a staff of 20 team members, managing a 40,000 sq foot building, and an operating budget of $1.5 million dollars.
Rick Guzman is the Executive Director of The Neighbor Project, a housing and community development organization. In 2020, The Neighbor Project co-launched Illinois’ first-ever “Financial Empowerment Center” with the City of Aurora—and in 2024 was one of just 20 organizations in Illinois to receive a $2 million innovation-award as part of Mackenzie Scott’s foundation’s first-ever open call for applications. Guzman has worked on housing & community development issues in the Illinois Governor’s Office and as Deputy Chief of Staff to two previous Mayors of Aurora.
Lynda Schuler has devoted her 30-year career to leading the formation of solution-focused programming intended to mitigate and end homelessness for those in the suburban Cook County, Illinois. Serving as CEO of Housing Forward, Lynda’s leadership has enabled the agency’s growth from a $450,000 a-year emergency shelter provider to a $22M agency offering services that prevent, respond to, and stabilize through supportive housing, over 2,500 men, women and families who are experiencing a housing crisis each year.
Upon completion of the training, your certificate will be available to save or print.
At the Homeless Training Institute, our mission is to train staff members on how to compassionately and confidently manage problematic behavior from homeless, addicted, and mentally ill individuals.
If your organization does not currently have a subscription to our Homeless Training Academy, you can request a free trial (one per organization please) by sending an email to krissie@homelesstraining.com.
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Speaker
Ryan Dowd
