Learn & Engage with BSF
Trainings, gatherings, and events are our conversation containers. When we gather together, we connect, learn, and get strong.
Online or in person, join us in conversation.
“The workshop presentation was truly exceptional. The presenter had a remarkable ability to connect with the participants, making the experience both enriching and heartfelt.”
—Get on the Fast Track training participant, Illinois
The BSF Institute
Deepen your learning at a scheduled, online training
Just getting started? Are you a small organization doing great work with a few staff? Or a large organization needing professional development for a small team? Looking for something just for you? Register for one of our upcoming Be Strong Families Institute trainings.
Upcoming BSF Institute Trainings
A Taste of Cafés
Learn what Cafés are all about or try one out for yourself
A Taste of Cafés is an experiential and highly interactive workshop—either online or in-person—that prepares participants to convene and conduct Be Strong Families Cafés and to serve as Table/Room Hosts at these Cafés.
Upcoming Sessions
Webinar Series
Join live online workshops, free and open to the public
We started daily “by the community—for the community” webinars in English and Spanish in 2020 as a response to the social isolation of the pandemic. Now, our webinar series Enhancing and Empowering: Conversations for Positive Change fosters conversation, connection, and community.
Upcoming Free Webinars
Join Us On the Ground
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Upcoming Conference Session
At the end of May, find our Director of Engagement & Strategic Relationships, Sarita Sashington, at the Institute for Educational Leadership’s annual conference in Long Beach, CA. Sarita will lead an extended, pre-conference session on parent engagement as well as a workshop on engaging parents in the age of AI. Come say, “hi!”
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Annual Evanston Family Fun Fest
2026 marks the 3rd Annual Evanston Family Fun Fest, complete with food, a ton of activities, resources for families, and a celebration of the strength of the Evanston community. Come for the ice skating, face painting, family portrait session, storytelling, and more. Emphasis on “family” and “fun!”
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Free Haircare Symposium
The Illinois State Youth Advisory Board passed landmark legislation giving every youth in care in Illinois the right to a hair care plan. The Haircare Symposium honors their efforts with hair workshops, demonstrations, and a fabulous hair show. Join us for this powerful day of learning and celebration.
