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Home2026 Session Descriptions

Volunteerism Without Borders
2026 Session Descriptions


Volunteerism isn’t all about formally working with an organization, counting volunteer hours, or only showing up if there’s a sign up form - it’s about people helping each other to make our communities stronger, better, and more vibrant.

The landscape of service is shifting beneath our feet. Today’s volunteers aren't just looking for "roles"—they are looking for meaningful impact. They are moving at the speed of their digital lives, their neighborhoods, and their personal values.


Community Organizing for Organizations: Building Lasting Change & Projects That Inspire
~Alec Reitz
Volunteer engagement work is community organizing, but many organizations have lost touch with this core skill. How do we create projects that meet organizational goals, energize our spirits, AND engage our community members as leaders? How can effective organizing bring to life creative projects you may have dismissed as impossible? This session is for folks wanting to revitalize their connections to this work by empowering community members to spearhead new initiatives. Learn about the Survivor Anthology Project at Safe Passage, a volunteer-led community program using art and writing to advance our organization’s mission of a world free from domestic violence. We’ll share our history, process, triumphs, and tribulations of building a project that is a true reflection of the community it serves. Participants will have the space to explore your own community organizing strengths, and where you need to grow and/or release old patterns to bring your imaginative projects to life.

Curiosity Infrastructure: Designing Neighborhood Third Spaces That Turn Strangers Into Stewards
~Heather Renaud
Traditional volunteer models often rely on sign-ups, formal roles, and structured programs. But for many people, especially those who are neurodivergent, disabled, overwhelmed, or simply stretched thin, those structures can create barriers rather than invitations. This session introduces the concept of curiosity infrastructure: small neighborhood “third spaces” designed to spark connection, generosity, and participation through simple, visible micro-infrastructure. What began as a single salvaged cabinet turned Little Free Library revealed something powerful: when resources and spaces are placed within arm’s reach of neighbors, people naturally step into stewardship roles. Books are exchanged, supplies appear, conversations begin, and strangers become neighbors. These spaces also function as low-pressure entry points for participation, allowing people to engage on their own terms and at their own pace. For neurodivergent and disabled community members, this kind of flexible, informal engagement can make the difference between exclusion and belonging. From this small experiment has grown a rapidly expanding network of neighborhood sharing spaces designed to activate organic volunteerism without formal recruitment. Participants will learn how accessible third-space design, micro-infrastructure, and curiosity-driven systems can lower barriers to participation and create more inclusive models of community engagement.

Designing High-Impact Episodic Volunteer Experiences: How to Build One-Time Event Roles That Volunteers Love
~Bri Quarfoot
Volunteers want meaningful, time-bound opportunities that fit into busy schedules—and organizations want reliable, well-prepared volunteers who can plug in quickly. At Second Harvest Heartland, we support hundreds of volunteers each year across major one-time events. These events rely on episodic volunteers to provide hospitality, logistics support, guest engagement, and technical assistance. This session will share a practical, repeatable framework for designing, recruiting, training, and appreciating episodic volunteers for one-time events. Using real examples from large events, attendees will walk away with strategies they can immediately implement, regardless of event size or resources.

Did They Really Just Say That? Leading with Cultural Intelligence in the Moment
~Karen Pattison
What do you do when a comment lands wrong, and awkward silence fills the room? How do you address these moments quickly, thoughtfully, and firmly? Using real-life scenarios from volunteer programs, this interactive session will explore how to pause, think, and respond effectively when challenging moments arise. Together, we’ll share real experiences—both the ones that worked, and the ones that didn’t—and learn from each other. You’ll leave with practical phrases and strategies you can use to navigate tense situations with confidence and cultural intelligence.

Engaging LatinX Volunteers
~Monica Jasso
As the Latinx population continues to grow, many organizations face the challenge of ensuring their volunteer force reflects the communities they serve. This session explores the intersection of volunteerism and Latinx engagement, beginning with a foundational understanding of identity, language, and the latest census data. Participants will learn how to assess their current volunteer programs through a Latinx lens, identify gaps in representation, and strategize for a more inclusive future. Practical tools and proven approaches will be shared to help organizations attract, recruit, engage, recognize, and retain Latinx volunteers. Attendees will leave with actionable insights to strengthen belonging, build authentic connections, and amplify community impact.

Expand the Table: Mutual Aid as a Framework for Building Deep Community Impact
~Kimberly Peterson
The nonprofit sector is at an inflection point — organizational leadership is questioning the value of volunteer programs even as the need for community labor has never been greater. But what if this moment of upheaval is actually an opening? An invitation to build something better, more reciprocal, and more durable than what came before? Rooted in the principles of mutual aid — we take care of us, and from each according to ability, to each according to need — this session reframes volunteerism as a community practice rather than an organizational function. We'll explore how shifting the focus from mission to impact opens up new possibilities for collaboration, moving beyond the walls of a single organization to build multi-organizational volunteer programs that deliver deep, meaningful engagement while amplifying impact across communities. Attendees will leave with a mutual aid framework for expanding the table in their own communities — and a compelling, values-based case to bring back to their leadership.

The Borderless Volunteer: Meeting Communities Where They Are
~Andria Livingston
Volunteerism is evolving. Today’s volunteers are not just looking for roles—they are looking for purpose and real impact. They show up through digital spaces, neighborhood networks, and cause-driven movements. Strong leadership means meeting people where they are. This session explores how organizations can move beyond traditional volunteer models and build flexible, community-centered engagement strategies. Participants will learn how to build trust, leverage technology, and empower volunteers as partners in community change. When leaders shift from managing volunteers to mobilizing people, service becomes more sustainable—and communities become stronger.