Lead with Love: Day of Empowerment and Impact
Lead with Love: Day of Empowerment and Impact
Friday, October 16–Saturday, October 17
What if, instead of waking up overwhelmed by the state of the world, we woke up knowing we are part of the solution?
Every day, we’re surrounded by messages that can leave us feeling like the sky is falling. The news, social media, and the challenges facing our communities can make the world feel unrecognizable—and leave us wondering how we’re supposed to keep going as if everything is normal.
But what if we didn’t?
What if we chose to wake up, look clearly at the justice issues affecting our community, and decide that we will be part of creating something better?
You might be asking yourself, What can I do? I’m just one person. I can’t change anything.
But what if you could?
What if we locked arms, stood together, and said, “No more.”
There are people all around us using their voices, talents, passions, and experiences to make a difference. They are creating change every day—and you have the opportunity to join them.
Lead with Love: Day of Empowerment and Impact is an invitation to step out of overwhelm and into action.
Spend the day learning more about the justice issues affecting our community, connecting with people who are already making an impact, discovering ways to use your own gifts for good, and finding your place in something bigger than yourself.
Because meaningful change doesn’t happen when one person does everything.
It happens when we come together.
When we learn.
When we listen.
When we stand up.
When we use our voices.
When we lead with love.
Registration opens September 9.
Friday, October 16
Poverty Simulation
6:00–8:30 p.m.
Begin the Lead with Love weekend with an immersive Poverty Simulation sponsored by Helping Children Worldwide.
A poverty simulation is an interactive, immersive role-playing exercise designed to build empathy and show the daily struggles of living on a low income.
Rather than simply talking about poverty, participants will experience a simulated version of the difficult choices, unexpected challenges, and barriers that can shape everyday life for people living with limited financial resources.
The experience is designed to encourage empathy, deepen understanding, and challenge participants to think differently about poverty and the systems that affect people’s lives.
Participation is limited to 29 participants, so preregistration is required. Dinner is included.
Register for the Poverty Simulation →
Saturday, October 17
Lead with Love: A Day of Empowerment and Impact
Saturday brings the community together for a full day of learning, conversation, connection, and action.
You’ll have opportunities to explore justice issues affecting our local community and the wider world, hear from people doing meaningful work, participate in conversations about what change can look like, and discover practical ways to put your values into action.
Whether you’re already involved in advocacy and community work or you’re simply wondering where to begin, there is a place for you.
Saturday Schedule
8:30–9:00 a.m. — Check-In and Light Breakfast
Arrive, connect with fellow participants, and enjoy a light breakfast before the day begins.
9:00–9:15 a.m. — Welcome
We’ll gather together and officially begin our day of empowerment and impact.
9:15–9:45 a.m. — Opening Sermon
Dr. Veronice Miles, WTS
Begin the day with an opening sermon centered on justice, courage, compassion, and our call to make a difference.
9:45–10:00 a.m. — Break
10:00–10:45 a.m. — Breakout Session 1
Choose from a variety of sessions designed to help you learn, reflect, and explore ways to make an impact.
10:45–11:00 a.m. — Break
11:00–11:45 a.m. — Breakout Session 2
Continue the conversation with another opportunity to explore a justice issue or practical action.
11:45 a.m.–12:00 p.m. — Break
12:00–1:00 p.m. — Lunch & Learn / Breakout Session 3
Enjoy lunch while continuing to learn and engage through another breakout session.
1:00–1:15 p.m. — Break
1:15–2:00 p.m. — The Local Impact of Data Centers
Julie Bolthouse
Explore the local impact of data centers and learn more about the issues and questions surrounding their presence in our community.
2:00–3:00 p.m. — Make an Impact: Panel Discussion with Local Community Leaders
Hear from local leaders who are already working to create positive change. Learn from their experiences, ask questions, and discover ways you can become more involved in your own community.
3:00–3:30 p.m. — Closing
Close the day with a special performance by Voices of Justice.
Explore Your Passion. Find Your Action.
Saturday’s breakout sessions offer a chance to go deeper into the issues that matter to you. From global poverty and immigration to environmental action, disability justice, peacemaking, civic engagement, and personal well-being, there are many ways to learn and get involved.
Breakout sessions are subject to change. Preregister to secure your spot.
Impacts of Removal of USAID on Global Poverty
Helping Children Worldwide (HCW)
Explore the potential impact of the removal of USAID on global poverty and the communities around the world that rely on international assistance.
Justice for Adults with Disabilities
Lauren Soljanyk and Debi Alexander — SPARC
Learn more about justice and advocacy for adults with disabilities and consider how communities can become more inclusive and supportive.
Stories from an Afghan Refugee
Afghan Refugee Relief Organization (ARRO)
Hear the story and perspective of an Afghan refugee and gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of people navigating displacement, resettlement, and building new lives.
Greening Your Home
Floris EJ/S Team
Discover practical ways to make your home more environmentally friendly and explore how everyday choices can contribute to caring for our shared planet.
Get Out the Vote: Postcard Writing Party
Kelly Motz and Connie Giovanni
Put advocacy into action by joining a postcard-writing party focused on encouraging voter participation and civic engagement.
Immigration: What Is Really Happening in Our Community?
Floris IJ Team
Go beyond the headlines and explore what immigration looks like in our community. Learn more about the experiences and realities affecting immigrants and their families.
Songwriting for Justice
Eddie Dickerson
Explore the power of music and songwriting as tools for storytelling, expression, advocacy, and justice.
How to Be a Better Ally
Rev. Lan Wilson
Explore what meaningful allyship looks like and consider practical ways to support others with greater awareness, understanding, and intention.
Teaching People How to Be Peacemakers
Floris GVP Team
Discover ways to equip ourselves and others with the skills and practices needed to build peace and navigate conflict.
Taking Care of You While Taking Care of Others
Kelly Johnson, MSW
Caring for others and working toward change can be rewarding, but it can also be exhausting. Explore ways to care for yourself while continuing to care for others and the causes you value.
Making Good Trouble: Nonviolent Direct Action
Cayce Utley
Learn more about nonviolent direct action and how people can use peaceful resistance, organizing, and advocacy to create meaningful change.
How to Start Social Justice Groups in Your Community
Cynthia and Megan
Have an issue you care deeply about? Learn how to bring people together, build community, and begin creating a social justice group of your own.
Connect With Community Partners
Throughout the day, visit community tables and connect with organizations already doing important work in our community and beyond.
Community partners include:
- Helping Children Worldwide (HCW)
- League of Women Voters
- Afghan Refugee Relief Organization (ARRO)
- SPARC
- She Believes in Me
- Just Neighbors
Take time to meet representatives, ask questions, learn about their work, and discover opportunities to get involved.
You don’t have to do everything. You just have to find a place where you can begin.
Registration Information
Registration opens September 9.
Your registration gives you the opportunity to participate in this weekend of learning, connection, and action.
Saturday Lunch
Lunch is $10. Financial assistance is available for those who need it.
Childcare
Childcare is available for $5. Children must be registered at least 48 hours in advance.
Optional Donations
Optional donations can be made after registration and at the event to help support this work and the organizations involved.
Breakout Sessions
Breakout sessions are subject to change, and some sessions may have limited space. Preregister to secure your spot in the sessions you want to attend.
You Are Not Powerless. You Are Part of the Solution.
It can be easy to look at the challenges around us and think, What difference could one person possibly make?
But change doesn’t require one person to do everything.
It starts with people who are willing to learn.
It grows when we listen to one another.
It becomes stronger when we connect.
And it moves forward when we decide to act.
You are not powerless. You are part of the solution.
Come spend the day discovering what’s possible when we choose courage over complacency, connection over isolation, and love over fear.
Come learn about the issues affecting our neighbors.
Meet people who are already making a difference.
Discover organizations doing meaningful work.
Find practical ways to use your own gifts, experiences, talents, and voice for good.
And discover your place in something bigger than yourself.
Because meaningful change happens when we come together.
When we learn.
When we listen.
When we stand up.
When we use our voices.
When we lead with love.