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Maddie's Community Conversations - The Webcast Edition!

  • 1.  Maddie's Community Conversations - The Webcast Edition!

    Posted 08-01-2026 08:01 AM

    Welcome to the Next Chapter of Community Conversations!

    Beginning in August 2026, Maddie's Fund is introducing an updated webcast experience to weekly Community Conversations that is designed to make it even easier for animal well-being professionals to connect, learn, and collaborate. Each Wednesday at 11am PT, join animal well-being professionals from across the country for a collaborative webcast to connect with peers, explore innovative programs and research, and learn from leaders across our field. Together, we'll dive into topics like foster, behavior, access to veterinary care, community partnerships, and so much more.

    Our goal is to help you make the most of your time and energy while continuing to deliver the conversations and connections you've come to value. Plus, each month we'll award up to $10,000 in grants to participants who join live or watch on-demand! 

    This discussion thread will serve as a place to share ideas, recommend speakers, and help shape future Community Conversations throughout the new 2026 - 2027 season. 

    Register For Community Conversations


    ✨ What's New?

    • We're now a webcast! No need to worry about being on camera or accidentally unmuting yourself during a presentation. You'll join as a participant with your camera and microphone automatically turned off, so you can simply enjoy the conversation. You're encouraged to participate in the chat and now have the ability to ask questions anonymously.

    • Behavior and foster are built into the schedule. At least one Community Conversation each month will have a focus on behavior or foster, continuing the conversations you've come to know through Maddie's Monthly Behavior Connection and Maddie's Monthly Foster Connection.

    • Earn Continuing Education Credit! Community Conversations are now approved for continuing education credits! Starting August 2026, Community Conversations will be available to watch through Maddie's University where you can unlock a certificate of completion for CE credit. All Maddie's Fund webcasts are approved for CAWA and NACA continuing education, and many are also approved for RACE continuing education credits. Don't need CE? You can easily watch recordings on the Forum discussion threads. 


     🗣️ Help Shape Future Community Conversations

    We'd love your ideas! Please use this thread to:

    • Suggest future topics you'd like us to explore.
    • Recommend speakers or presenters you'd love to hear from.
      • If someone has already suggested a topic or speaker you'd like to see, be sure to "Like" their comment! Your likes help us identify the ideas our community is most excited about.
    • Share ideas that would make Community Conversations even better.


    If you'd rather share your suggestion privately, feel free to email us at Education@MaddiesFund.org


    We're so excited for this next chapter and can't wait to connect with you each Wednesday!


    #Conferences,WorkshopsandWebcasts

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    Maddie's Pet Forum Admin
    Maddie's Fund
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  • 2.  RE: Maddie's Community Conversations - The Webcast Edition!

    Posted 08-17-2026 02:58 PM

    Hello,

    I volunteer with a cat TNR and rescue organization, which is trying to get funding from the city we're located in.   I'm interested in learning about how to prepare a Procurement Package for an RFP.   Thank you



    ------------------------------
    Carlene Nakagawa
    Volunteer
    Bay Area Cats
    CA
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  • 3.  RE: Maddie's Community Conversations - The Webcast Edition!

    Posted 29 days ago

    Hello Sheila and everyone,

    I recently attended a Community Conversations session and appreciated having my question answered during the discussion.

    I'm the creator of Feline Finder, a free cat-adoption app that helps people find compatible cats based on personality rather than appearance alone. It uses explainable AI to analyze adoption descriptions, identify personality traits and show adopters why a particular cat may be a good match.

    I recently collaborated with Dancing Cat to feature one of its adoptable cats.   I have also collaborated with cat advocate Steven Meserve to help spread the word about Feline Finder, and I'm beginning to explore additional partnerships with Bay Area rescues that share a personality-first approach.

    Would personality-based adoption matching and explainable AI be useful topics for a future Community Conversation? I could provide a short demonstration, explain how the matching works and invite shelter and rescue professionals to discuss how the approach could best support their work.

    A possible title is:

    "Beyond the Photo: Using Explainable Personality Matching to Help Cats Find Compatible Homes"

    If this sounds like a potential fit, I would be happy to provide a short overview or arrange a brief conversation.

    Gregory Williams

    Creator, Feline Finder

    https://www.felinefinder.info



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    Gregory Williams
    Software Engineer
    Feline Finder
    CA
    ------------------------------



  • 4.  RE: Maddie's Community Conversations - The Webcast Edition!

    Posted 13 days ago

    I am the director of a financial aid organization that provides assistance to pet owners facing financial hardship who have pets with chronic medical conditions that require medication or prescription food. Would love to share more about our organization and access to care for those who are interested!



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    Sarah Fuqua
    Director
    The Bobo Fund
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  • 5.  RE: Maddie's Community Conversations - The Webcast Edition!

    Posted 13 days ago

    Yes please! Would love to learn more



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    Julia Nguyen
    Executive Director
    Bow Tie Panther
    CA
    ------------------------------



  • 6.  RE: Maddie's Community Conversations - The Webcast Edition!

    Posted 12 days ago

    I agree. We are interested in learning more!



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    judy haywood
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  • 7.  RE: Maddie's Community Conversations - The Webcast Edition!

    Posted 12 days ago

    Please share?



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    Gayle Bair
    Community Advocate
    Animal Friends
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
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  • 8.  RE: Maddie's Community Conversations - The Webcast Edition!

    Posted 12 days ago

    Worth the 5-minute read: 2-part interview with Sarah Aguilar, Executive Director of Santa Barbara Animal Services, in which she describes how she's changing an entrenched culture and sustaining volunteer relationships. Share it with colleagues!

     






  • 9.  RE: Maddie's Community Conversations - The Webcast Edition!

    Posted 12 days ago

    Very interested to learn more! You can email me at safepetpartners@gmail.com 



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    Eva Perrigo
    Co-Founder
    SAFE Pet Partners
    NM
    ------------------------------



  • 10.  RE: Maddie's Community Conversations - The Webcast Edition!

    Posted 10 days ago

    My current wish list:

    • Emergency and pet retention boarding or fostering is good, but why don't we get more information about how to low barrier pet-inclusive housing, co-sheltering and pets allowed, unless there are medical limitations, during detox and recovery. Where should pressure be put to have policies and laws changed when necessary? If all states recognize the HAB as a social determinant of health, would it make a difference? I'm looking for the process of making change happened, not so much what it looks like once it's done.
    • Related to above, how to get all the relevant silos to work better together.
    • More information about suggested operational policies, behavior training and education when pets accompany owners to co- shelters and treatment.


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    Augusta Farley
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  • 11.  RE: Maddie's Community Conversations - The Webcast Edition!

    Posted 10 days ago

    Thank you, @Carlene Nakagawa, @Gregory Williams, @Ruby Leslie and @Sarah Fuqua for your. suggestions!  We have added them to our growing list of topics and will reach out to you separately for more information when sessions open up.  

    With warm regards,

    Alison and the Education Team at Maddie's Fund



    ------------------------------
    Alison Gibson
    Media Projects Manager
    Maddie's Fund
    ------------------------------



  • 12.  RE: Maddie's Community Conversations - The Webcast Edition!

    Posted 10 days ago

    It would be great to have the Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs featured to discuss non-surgical fertility control approaches and solutions. Please contact us for more information at info@acc-d.org!



    ------------------------------
    Ruby Leslie
    Engagement & Strategy Consultant
    Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs
    ------------------------------



  • 13.  RE: Maddie's Community Conversations - The Webcast Edition!

    Posted 10 days ago

    Would be very interested in this! 



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    Peter Chang
    Executive Director
    OC Animal Allies
    CA
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  • 14.  RE: Maddie's Community Conversations - The Webcast Edition!

    Posted 10 days ago

    Thank you!



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    Ruby Leslie
    Engagement & Strategy Consultant
    Alliance for Contraception in Cats and Dogs
    ------------------------------



  • 15.  RE: Maddie's Community Conversations - The Webcast Edition!

    Posted 9 days ago

    Yes, I would love to hear more about this in this forum or Maddie's conversation. I subscribed to your newsletter.



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    Julielani Chang
    The Life of Kai: Compassion Connections Inc.
    Davis CA
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  • 16.  RE: Maddie's Community Conversations - The Webcast Edition!

    Posted 7 days ago

    I'm always happy to present about grants, whatever aspect might be of interest!



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    Jory Jolivet
    Grant Writer & Administrator
    Animal Humane Society
    MN
    ------------------------------