Corrections_Today_Summer_2024_Vol.86_No.2

A busy first day wound up with the Health Care Network Reception held in the Pose Rooftop Lounge. Conference goers were able to mix and mingle in an 80’s-themed lounge with panoramic views of the Washington, D.C. area. Friday was highlighted by the General Session featuring Misty Copeland, the first Black female principal dancer for the American Ballet Theater in its history. Misty spoke about her journey from a shy young girl from a single parent house hold to reaching the pinnacle of the ballet world and how her determination, perseverance and tal ent led her to being a best-selling author, producer and philanthropist. After the General Session, the Winter Con ference Exhibit Hall opened to great acclaim. Attendees moved quickly from the upstairs ball room to the massive lower ballrooms where over 200 exhibitors awaited with the best and bright est in corrections on display. Friday wrapped up with an old ACA tradition, a reception honoring active and retired military who served in corrections. Saturday brought another action-packed day for attendees with workshops filling many rooms, accreditation hearings going on and the exhibit hall buzzing with activity. Many attendees braved a chilly and rainy day to pay their respects to the nearly 1,000 correc tions professionals who are memorialized on the National Law Enforcement Memorial in down town Washington, D.C. Although the weather forced the proceedings inside to the National Law Enforcement Museum across the street, it was still a moving ceremony with a wreath laying and bagpipes to honor fallen correctional officers. The final day of the Conference was a hive of activity as the final workshops wrapped up,

accreditation hearings concluded, and the Board of Governors and Delegate Assembly attended to the business of the Association. The next chance for corrections professionals to experience all the learning, growing and net working only available at an ACA conference is in August in Nashville, TN. CT

— BY KIRK RAYMOND

Conference photos courtesy Lovestruck Images

Summer 2024 | Corrections Today

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