1. 1 ACNM 57th Annual Meeting And Exposition-June 2-7th, 2012 Long Beach, California “Oceans of Opportunity, Waves of Change”

2. 2 Conference Center

3. Entryway, the ACNM Exposition

4. 4 Welcome Sign: We’re Here !

5. The excitement and fellowship  There was a lot going on the first day of the meeting; between Registering, the Welcoming Reception and planning out the week.  ACNM Logo displayed in lights on the side of the Long Beach Convention Center

6. Opening Reception

7. 7 President of the International Federation of Midwives.

8. Education Sessions and workshops  One of the most exciting aspects of the conference was the vast array of educational sessions that were available to attendees. From Global Midwifery, to the Business of Midwifery, to Safety and clinical issues, each day was packed full of the latest and greatest information regarding safe, evidence-based midwifery practice.

9. 9 Education Sessions: Best Minds in the Field

10. Education Sessions and workshops continued

11. ACNM Marketplace

12. ACNM Midwives of Color Committee reception  One of the highlights of the meeting was the ACNM Midwives of Color Committee (MOCC) Reception  The reception consisted of an auction to raise money for MOCC scholarships  Dinner was also served and the reception concluded with great music and a lot of dancing!

13. MOCC Reception

15.  Celebrating a successful night!

16. MOCC Auction  Raising money for scholarships

17. Frontier Nursing University Reception The FNU Reception was a gathering of FNU staff, students, alumni, preceptors and supporters. It was a wonderful night and ended with the FNU family “circling up”.

18. Frontier Nursing University Reception Fellow PRIDE ambassador winner Kathleen Heintzelman describing what the ACNM conference means to her...

19. Frontier Nursing University Reception FNU Students

20. Frontier Nursing University Reception

21. ACNM President and Dean of FNU

22. Frontier Nursing University Reception  “Circling Up”

23. 23 The Celebration of Midwives

24. At the Frontier Nursing University Booth Myself (Lashaan Everett), PRIDE Program Coordinator Kimberly Trammell and Kathleen Heintzelman

25. 25 Oceans or Opportunity, Waves of Change

26. 26 Kathleen’s thought’s  This was the highlight of my Frontier experience. I was exposed to people and ideas that have changed me and pushed me onward in my mission to bring midwives to my home state of Alabama. I met many great minds who gave me advice and encouragement in my quest to change healthcare for women and babies. My education and my life was forever changed that week in Long Beach. I am so proud to be a part of PRIDE and Frontier Nursing University.

27. Lashaan’s Thoughts  I feel so grateful to have won such an amazing opportunity. During my week in Long Beach, I started each day with yoga, attended educational sessions, connected with old friends, made new ones and shared the experience with my fellow scholarship recipient. I feel that my experience was such a powerful reminder of why I entered into midwifery education at Frontier Nursing University. I often reflect on my time there and have shared information I have learned with many. The conference forever changed my life. 27