2025 conference logo

Tuesday, November 11, 2025 – Thursday, November 13, 2025

The Michigan Adult, Community & Alternative Education (MACAE) Association invites educators, community leaders, and program administrators to the 2025 Virtual Fall Conference. This conference will gather professionals dedicated to advancing adult education, workforce development, and community-based learning. Through a series of engaging workshops and presentations, attendees will gain valuable insights into best practices, emerging trends, and strategies to support learners in Michigan.

This year’s theme “Rooted in Resilience: Strengthening Communities Through Lifelong Education” celebrates the transformative power of education in empowering individuals and communities to adapt, overcome challenges, and form meaningful connections. Through inspiring keynotes, collaborative workshops, and powerful stories of impact, we’ll explore how lifelong learning fosters resilience and helps build stronger, more connected communities.

$250 per person

Tentative Schedule

6:00 – 9:00 p.m.: East-Side President’s Reception – Location TBD *For registered conference guests ONLY*

8:30 – 8:50 a.m.: Welcome & Overview of Conference
8:50 – 9:50 a.m.: Keynote Address – Chris Wilson
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.: Breakout Session 1
11:10 a.m. – 12:10 p.m.: Breakout Session 2
12:10 – 12:50: p.m.: Lunch
12:50 – 1:50 p.m.: Breakout Session 3
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.: Breakout Session 4
3:10 – 4:10 p.m.: Breakout Session 5

OR

3:10 – 4:40 p.m.: Director’s Toolkit *For directors and program coordinators ONLY*
6:00 – 9:00 p.m.: MACAE Night Out! West-Side Social Night *For registered conference guests ONLY*

8:30 -8:50 a.m.: Day 2 Welcome & Annual Meeting
9:00 – 10:00 am.: Breakout Session 6
10:10 – 11:10 a.m.: Breakout Session 7
11:20 a.m. – 12:20 p.m.: Breakout Session 8
12:20 – 12:50 p.m.: Lunch
12:50 – 1:20 p.m.: Awards
1:20 – 1:50 p.m.: Keynote Address – MACAE President Ted Kroll
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.: Breakout Session 9
3:10 – 4:10 p.m.: General Session – Updates from LEO-WD’s Adult Education Office
4:10 – 4:15 p.m.: Closing

Call for Proposals

MACAE is currently accepting proposals for presentations for the 2025 Annual Fall Conference. We are seeking dynamic sessions from leading experts in the field. We encourage proposals that highlight successful programs, innovative teaching strategies, and collaborative partnerships that are making a difference in adult education and community engagement.

Presentations will be 60 minutes in length.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Workforce Development and Job Readiness

  • AI in Education

  • Alternative Education

  • Funding Rural Adult Education: Grants, Advocacy, and Sustainability

  • Corrections

  • Mentorship and Peer Support Models for Returning Citizens

  • Family Literacy

  • Using Data to Tell Your Program’s Story

  • Supporting Learners with Disabilities

  • English as a Second Language (ESL)

  • Partnering with Employers: Building Fair-Chance Hiring Networks

  • Navigating State and Federal Legislative Policies

  • Integrating Citizenship Skills in the Classroom

  • Pathways to Secondary Education

  • Supporting Low Level Learners

  • Bridging the Digital Divide in Adult Learning

  • Integrated Education and Training (IET)

Submission Guidelines:

  • Proposals should relate to the conference theme and include speaker bios and a description of the session’s objectives and learning outcomes.

  • Sessions should be interactive and engaging, promoting discussion and knowledge-sharing among participants.