We are honored and excited to have two distinguished individuals return to help us celebrate this incredible 50-year milestone!
Agenda Coming Soon
**CEU’s are pending for LMHPs/Social Workers, criminogenic hours, and CLE’s for attorneys.
HOTEL INFORMATION - CONFERENCE RATES (room block will be held until April 5th)
Fairfield - # (308) 236-4200 | $129.95
LaQuinta - # (308) 237-4400 | $124.95
NJJA PHOTOGRAPHY NOTICE
NJJA will be taking photos/videos at this conference for use in advertising and other promotional materials, whether in print, electronic, or other materials. NJJA will not include the name of the conference participant unless NJJA receives that individual's consent and release.
2026 Keynote Speakers
Rebecca Bender
Rebecca is a social activist, thought leader, and consultant who equips professionals and organizations to identify and fight human trafficking. A TedX Speaker and published author, Rebecca was appointed to the U.S. National Advisory Council and regularly testifies as an expert witness in court. Her specialized trainings have equipped well over 118,000 professionals including FBI, Homeland Security, regional law enforcement, community leaders, and medical personnel. A highly sought-after speaker, consultant, and nationally recognized authority, Rebecca is passionate about seeing people transform their lives so they can change the world.
After escaping her trafficker in 2007, Rebecca was determined to make a new life for herself and her young daughter. She worked hard, eventually opening her own business and earning a Master’s degree.
While she was attending college online, Rebecca dreamed of launching a school for survivors of human trafficking - a place where anyone with lived experience could enroll and learn the skills and
knowledge necessary to build a new life.
In 2014 Elevate Academy was born and within eight years had served nearly 1,600 students in 22 countries and over 630 U.S. cities across the nation.
This innovative online school is thriving today and remains a place where survivors continue to connect, grow, and find tools to ignite their futures.
Joe Beckman
Joe Beckman is a National Speaker, Best-Selling Author, and Connection Crusader.
In a world full of noise, notifications, and nonstop busy… Joe Beckman believes the most radical thing we can do is simply look up.
A nationally recognized speaker and the best-selling author of Just Look Up and Just Look Back, and co-founder of Stay Human Solutions, Joe has spent the last 20 years igniting human connection in over 2,000 schools, conferences, and communities across the globe.
Whether he's speaking to students, educators, or parents, his message is clear: connection isn’t a soft skill—it’s a survival skill. And through humor, vulnerability, music (yes, there’s a guitar involved), and powerful storytelling, Joe delivers keynotes that don’t just inspire—they stick.
When he’s not on stage, he’s at home in Minnesota, negotiating screen time with his 4 children
and practicing what he preaches: meaningful connection
