EVANSTON — This Saturday, April 14, hundreds of area women will descend on Evanston High School for the 2018 Evanston Women’s Conference, featuring keynote speaker, Dr. Matt Townsend. The conference, sponsored by Evanston Regional Hospital, has strong roots in the community, said Maxine Clarke, chair of the Women’s Conference Committee. 

Clarke said the annual conference has been ongoing in some form for more than 20 years, although not always with the same name, and has continued to evolve every year.  

Townsend, this year’s keynote speaker, is a coach with expertise in all forms of interpersonal relationships, from couples to coworkers. Clarke said Townsend specifically has a lot to offer for those who have been in difficult relationships in the past.

“He offers lots of tools to get past hurtful relationships,” she said.

In keeping with the theme of this year’s conference, “Healing and Humor,” Clarke said Townsend also emphasizes the importance of humor in life. 

In addition to the keynote speech by Townsend, there will be multiple breakout sessions throughout the day, with each session offering between five and seven options for attendees to choose from. 

Session options include everything from tai chi and yoga to food preparation and diet, from relaxation and laughter to weightier topics like sexual harassment and domestic violence. Clarke said, “Feedback last year told us people wanted some more relevant, heavy things, so we’ve included options on harassment, domestic violence, and opioids, depending on the track you choose.” 

Some session options will also include craft-making, personal story writing, and a panel of ERH physicians from multiple specialties answering audience questions. 

Other presenters include author Jen Atkinson, SAFV advocate Jesse Barnes, Deborah Demander, SAFV director and yoga instructor Angie Fessler, Uinta County Attorney Loretta Howieson, local business owners Stephanie Gerrard, Jerri Liechty, Wendy Schuler, Rocky Young, and many more. 

There will also be more than 40 vendor booths on site, and light breakfast and lunch are included with admission. 

Clarke said attendance peaked several years ago when the keynote speaker was Utah’s Elizabeth Smart; however, attendance has consistently been at about 500 the last few years. 

Although Clarke said while some men do attend the conference, and are welcome, the event is a great opportunity for local women.

“It’s just really a great time for women to get out and into the community and spend some time together,” she said.