Monday October 6th, 2025

8:00am-4:00pm

Lorain Shipyards, Lorain, OH

The first-ever Lorain County Kids Summit is here a one-of-a-kind event designed to bring together professionals, advocates, and leaders who support children and families across Lorain County. This full-day event is designed to bring together professionals, community leaders, and system partners who are passionate about improving outcomes for children and families throughout Lorain County.

This year’s theme, “Link Up Lorain,” focuses on strengthening partnerships, breaking down silos, and driving collaborative solutions that reflect the voices and needs of our community’s youth.

With inspiring speakers, meaningful dialogue, and powerful networking opportunities, this is a day you don’t want to miss.

Spots are limited! Reserve yours today.

Who Should Attend? This summit is designed for professionals and community leaders who work with or advocate for youth in Lorain County. We have 400 spots, half of them are invitation-based, and the other half is open to the public.

We welcome:

Local city officials & municipal leaders
Child-serving agencies & mental health professionals
School administrators, educators & support staff
Law enforcement & first responders
Nonprofit leaders, youth mentors & service providers

If you’re passionate about uplifting Lorain County’s youth and shaping a stronger, safer, and more supportive community, this summit is for you.

Reserve Your Spot Here

The Goal of the Kids Summit is to connect and empower those who serve Lorain County youth through collaboration, inspiration, and action.

The Speakers

Chelsea Freeman-Yates

Chelsea is a proud Lorain County native and dedicated advocate for children and families. As Executive Director of the Lorain County Children & Families First Council, she brings a strong background in social work and systems coordination to lead collaborative, community-driven initiatives that support the county’s most vulnerable populations.

Kara Wente

Kara Wente has spent her career advocating for children. In August, 2023, Governor Mike DeWine nominated her to be the director of the Department of Children and Youth.

She has served as the Director of the Governor’s Children’s Initiative since January 2023, and was previously the Chief Operating Officer for Future Ready Columbus.

With more than 20 years in dedicated state service, Wente has extensive experience in serving the most vulnerable children and families in Ohio. She used data as an accountability tool for systemic change during her time as the Assistant Director of Health and Human Services at the Ohio Department of Job & Family Services and led several large-scale system and policy changes as Deputy Director at the Office of Family Assistance.

Wente holds a Master’s in Education and Allied Professions from the University of Dayton and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from The Ohio State University.

Darryl Bellamy

Darryl Bellamy is the founder of FearLESS Inside™, a movement dedicated to helping individuals embrace fear and gain confidence. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Darryl has collected thousands of fears from people across forty states and five generations, using these insights to teach practical strategies for growth.

Kristen Fox-Berki

Kristen is the Executive Director of Lorain County Children Services, where she leads with a deep commitment to child safety, family stability, and trauma-informed care. With over two decades of experience in public child welfare, Kristen brings both compassionate leadership and strategic vision to her role, working to strengthen partnerships, elevate best practices, and ensure the well-being of children and families across Lorain County.

Rebecca Jones

Cathy Papp

Mindy Kaminski