Thursday, November 14
8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Spark Talks
Location: Grand Ballroom (2nd Floor)
Spark Talk
Sessions
The Value of Why: Reflections on the Journey to and out of Gang Life
Life’s journey is not always a straight line, but it can be a bridge between a destructive life on the streets to one with purpose, empathy, and community impact. That… see more
Becoming Candid: Why and How Two Nonprofit Data Giants Merged to Work Smarter Together
In February 2019, GuideStar and Foundation Center merged to become Candid. Through research, collaboration and training, Candid gets people the information they need to do good. In this talk, you’ll… see more
How to Elevate Your Brand to Your Social Mission
Every aspect of your brand should reinforce your social mission. Join this Spark Talk by Megan Patel to learn how to design your brand so that all components work in… see more
Ending Poverty through Transformational Employment
Finding a job can be tough, and even harder when you’re also struggling with recovery, whether from addiction, incarceration, or simply loss of self – an unemployment dilemma that often… see more
Managing Through Tough Times
No one can predict the future, though it is clear we are heading into a time of market volatility and political uncertainty. What is certain is that the need for… see more
Transformational Suffering & the Power of Unconditional Love
A changemaker is someone who can transform suffering into hope through the power of unconditional love. We all suffer, but it is how we use our suffering that differentiates a… see more
Leveraging Longitudinal Data to Transform Philanthropic Community Investment
Individuals and companies are engaged in and taking stands on social issues more than ever. But what if we could identify and address emerging social issues before they negatively impact… see more
On Narrative and the Equity Gap
Join this SparkTalk to explore the role narrative, society’s deeply held beliefs, plays in advancing equity. More about this Spark Talk: On Narrative and the Equity Gap see more
Making Way for Next-generation Legal Changemakers
When I was young, I thought lawyers were white, old, worked in fancy offices, and did more harm than good to communities of color. But the truth is that lawyers… see more
From Exclusive Club to Community Hub: the Arts as Catalysts for Social Change
Arts are a powerful tool for improving lives, bridging communities, and encouraging civic participation. Arts-involved Individuals show an 86% increase in civic involvement, are 40% more likely to have diverse… see more
Bringing Arts and Healing – Wherever You Live
Data shows the effectiveness of incorporating the arts and creative arts therapies into person-centered health and wellness plans. And no longer confined to large cities, practitioners in creative arts therapies… see more
How a Funder Is Building a County-wide Equity Movement
After four years of launching an equity movement based on listening deeply and paying attention to people, data, history, and social structures, a new place-based Foundation with $150 million in… see more
Viewing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion through an Organizing Lens
Organizers – the glue for social change – are often confronted by the challenges of thoughtfully considering diversity, equity, and inclusion in their daily work. How does implicit bias affect… see more
Relationships and Healthy, Equitable Communities
We pay lots of rhetorical homage to the importance and impact of relationships in our lives. But is our focus obscuring our ability to think about our relationships structurally and… see more
Re-framing a Shared Approach for Change
How we position our messages determines whether our ideas cut through or get swallowed up. It also can make the difference between progress and a backslide into greater injustice. But… see more
TURN to Faith And Community Leaders for Real Community Change
More than 4,900 people have been murdered in Chicago since 2012, excluding those shot or wounded. Unfortunately, trauma goes unaddressed and many community residents are uninformed about it. The result?… see more
A Path to a Positive Future
George Esteller applied and was accepted to the Pathfinder Program, a joint social venture between Salesforce and Deloitte to train community college students, veterans, and career changers for careers in… see more
A Recovering Angry Atheist Talks Religion
Religion is a topic that’s normally banned from polite conversation. But it’s in the news constantly these days; three Muslim students murdered assassination style by their neighbor, a county clerk… see more
Impact Volunteerism: A New Way for Companies to Spark Change
Impact is a common and often elusive goal in today’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) landscape. Research suggests employees and consumers expect corporations to maximize public good and provide meaningful paths… see more
I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for URBAN GREEN SPACES
Birds guide the way to the landscapes and communities that National Audubon Society serves. And while their work historically focused on preserving large-scale ecosystems, polling shows that urban residences desire… see more
Reinventing Government and Community Partnerships
Each year trillions of dollars are spent on human services but often the way they are allocated prevent them from reaching their full potential. By creating well-defined outcomes that are… see more
If You Can Change Your Breath, You Can Change Your Life
One of the greatest deterrents to well-being is the chaos of the mind. But if you can take control of your breath, you truly can tame your mind. The Buddha… see more
Turning “Crowds into Choirs” to Build Joy and Cultural Connection
Put your voice, body, and entire being into the work of reconnecting with the rhythmic, call-and-response griot traditions that celebrate liberation, justice, and freedom, particularly from institutional and systemic oppression.… see more
The RISE of New Power in Community Giving at Walmart
Across the world, New Power has changed the way that society functions. This community-centered democratic approach is altering the way that organizations and businesses are structured, operate and engage with… see more
Community Development of the Mind
This session will discuss the importance of shifting your own mindset in order to shift the mindset of others in order to value, love and stand for a community that… see more
Helping Young People Quit Vaping by Helping Each Other
The youth e-cigarette use epidemic created an urgent need for resources to help young people quit vaping. Truth Initiative filled that need by developing a first-of-its-kind program called This is… see more
ELLAS Pop-up Shop
ELLAS is an initiative by women for women to gain confidence, feel supported, and foster personal growth while helping others. Since it started in 2012, ELLAS has achieved success in… see more
What if Liberals and Conservatives Aren’t so Different?
Liberals and conservatives often disagree, but not because they have different moral minds. Pop psychology claims that the “roots of morality” differ across politics, but new scientific discoveries point to… see more