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About the Conference
Collective Conversations: Setting Hope in Motion
Join us for the inaugural Collective Conversations: Setting Hope in Motion conference, taking place May 10–11, 2027 at The Center Club in Baltimore.
Co-hosted by Change the Conversation and Springboard Community Services, this two-day event brings together professionals from mental health, education, legal services, healthcare, and community advocacy to advance trauma-informed, survivor-centered approaches to child abuse prevention and healing.
Through keynote presentations, interactive workshops, and cross-sector dialogue, participants will explore innovative strategies for creating safer communities and more supportive environments for survivors - while building the collaborative relationships essential to systemic change.
Collective Conversations marks a major milestone by establishing a national platform for evidence-based, strengths-oriented practice that centers lived experience and breaks down professional silos.
Join the Conversation
Every profession brings an important perspective to the work of supporting children, families, and communities. And no single profession has all the answers.
Collective Conversations: Setting Hope in Motion is built on the belief that some of our most meaningful progress happens when we step outside our own disciplines, learn from one another, and explore the challenges we share.
Whether you work in healthcare, behavioral health, education, child welfare, victim services, law enforcement, the legal system, public health, prevention, research, policy, philanthropy, or community organizations, your experiences help shape a broader conversation about how we strengthen families, prevent harm, respond effectively, and promote healing.
This conference isn't about becoming an expert in someone else's field. It's about gaining a deeper understanding of the systems, perspectives, and people around us so we can work together more effectively.
While sessions may focus on a particular area of expertise, we encourage presenters to consider how their content can be accessible, engaging, and relevant to professionals from multiple fields.
We're looking for presenters who are willing to share what they've learned whether that's an innovative program, emerging research, practical strategy, difficult lesson, or promising idea. Our hope is that every session leaves participants with something new to think about, someone new to learn from, and something they can take back to their own work.
We're looking for sessions that inspire conversation, encourage collaboration, and offer practical value. We welcome proposals that:
- Share innovative programs, practices, research, or lessons learned.
- Translate evidence into practical strategies participants can use.
- Explore emerging issues affecting children, families, and communities.
- Highlight partnerships across professions, organizations, or systems.
- Challenge participants to think differently about complex issues.
- Create opportunities for discussion, reflection, and shared learning.
Call for Speakers
We're Looking For
Session Formats (all 90 minutes)
Learning Sessions
Share research, promising practices, innovative programs, practical strategies, or emerging issues through an engaging presentation.
Interactive Workshops
Provide attendees with opportunities to practice skills, apply concepts, solve problems, or engage in hands-on learning.
Multidisciplinary Panel
Bring together professionals from different disciplines to explore a shared issue through moderated discussion and audience engagement.
Conversations We're Hoping to Have
The session topics and examples below are meant to spark ideas, not define the limits of the conference. If your work helps us better understand one another, strengthen our systems, or improve outcomes for children and families, we'd love to hear about it.
Clinical Practice & Treatment
Assessment, diagnosis, treatment, medication management, trauma-informed care, behavioral health, and emerging clinical interventions.
Examples include:
- Innovative clinical interventions
- Integrated behavioral health
- Trauma-informed healthcare
- Pediatric and medical responses to child maltreatment
- Complex case conceptualization
- Emerging treatment approaches
- Innovative clinical interventions
Community Response & Prevention
Prevention, schools, family engagement, community partnerships, public health, outreach, and early intervention.
Examples include:
- School-based prevention initiatives
- Community-led prevention
- Family engagement strategies
- Public health campaigns
- Early intervention models
- Protective factors and resilience
- School-based prevention initiatives
Justice, Protection, & Advocacy
Law enforcement, child welfare, legal systems, forensic interviewing, victim advocacy, investigations, and child protection.
Examples include:
- Multidisciplinary investigations
- Court and legal innovations
- Child advocacy center practices
- Victim advocacy
- Forensic interviewing
- Protective decision-making
- Multidisciplinary investigations
Systems & Leadership
Leadership, supervision, organizational culture, implementation, policy, cross-system collaboration, workforce development, and systems change.
Examples include:
- Cross-sector partnerships
- Healthcare and Medicaid innovation
- Sustainable funding and financing
- Policy implementation
- Leadership development
- Organizational culture
- Workforce retention
- Quality improvement
- Building effective multidisciplinary teams
- Cross-sector partnerships
Research & Innovation
Emerging research, technology, AI, neuroscience, evidence-based practices, quality improvement, and future trends.
Examples include:
- Artificial intelligence
- Emerging neuroscience
- Data and evaluation
- Implementation science
- Technology in practice
- Translating research into action
- Artificial intelligence
Professional Practice & Sustainability
Reflective practice, workforce well-being, resilience, ethical practice, professional growth, supervision, and sustainable careers.
Examples include:
- Reflective supervision
- Ethical decision-making
- Workforce well-being
- Professional resilience
- Secondary traumatic stress
- Sustainable practice
- Reflective supervision
Important Dates
The timeline below outlines key milestones in the speaker process, from proposal submission through the conference itself. These dates are designed to ensure a smooth, organized experience for all presenters and adequate time for review, feedback, and preparation.
Before submitting a proposal, please review the timeline carefully to ensure you’ll be able to meet the expectations and timeframes outlined below.
Oct 28, 2026
Dec 4, 2026
Jan 1 - Feb 28, 2027
Mar 27, 2027
Apr 26, 2027
May 10 - 11, 2027
May 17, 2026
The call for speakers will close on
Thursday October 28th, at 5:00 pm ET. To ensure a fair and timely review process,
late submissions cannot be accepted. All proposals will be reviewed by the Conference Planning Committee with attention to diversity of perspectives, alignment with conference goals, and trauma-informed principles.
Call for Speakers Closes
All speakers will be notified of the Committee’s decision on or around
December 4th, 2026. Notifications will be sent via email and will include next steps for scheduling your technical assistance session, along with guidance and resources to help you prepare your session content and materials.
Speakers Notified of Acceptance
To ensure all sessions reflect our shared values and effectively engage a multidisciplinary audience, each accepted presenter will
schedule at least one individualized technical assistance session, with the option to add up to two more if desired. These sessions are designed to support presenters – not to oversee or edit their work – by helping communicate ideas clearly, align content with the conference’s goals and desired tone, and integrate trauma-informed principles throughout. Our aim is to create a conference experience that feels engaging, inclusive, and safe for both presenters and participants.
Technical Assistance Sessions (required)
Final presentation materials, including slides and any accompanying handouts, are
due by Monday, March 27thth, 2027. This timeline ensures the conference team has sufficient time to review materials and provide feedback, if needed.
Speaker Materials Due
Following the review of materials, presenters may be invited to participate in one final technical assistance session to address any recommended adjustments or to strengthen alignment with the conference’s goals and values. This session is meant to be collaborative, encouraging, and a space for presenters to refine their materials and feel more confident in their delivery.
Final Technical Assistance Session
Collective Conversations: Setting Hope in Motion will be held on May 10th and 11th, 2027 at The Center Club in Baltimore, Maryland.
Conference Dates
Each accepted speaker will receive a
$300 honorarium in appreciation for their time, expertise, and contribution to the conference. If a session includes multiple presenters,
each speaker will receive their own $300 honorarium, and
one complimentary conference registration will be provided per session. Honoraria will be mailed within one week after the conference concludes.
Speaker Honorarium Paid
Have questions before hitting "submit"? Message us at
speakers@collectiveconversations.org
Submit Your Idea
Every profession brings an important perspective to supporting children, families, and communities. Collective Conversations is an opportunity to better understand one another's work and discover how those perspectives come together to create stronger systems of prevention, response, and healing.
Collective Conversations 2027 is the first cross-sector conference dedicated to sparking dialogue and driving action for child abuse prevention and healing. Your sponsorship helps launch this groundbreaking initiative and lays the foundation for an annual event that will shape national practice and dialogue for years to come.
Conference participants will return to their schools, courts, clinics, hospitals, and community organizations with renewed insight and stronger networks - helping foster hope and healing for children, families, and survivors across Maryland and beyond.
Your Sponsorship Makes all of this possible!
- Cross-Disciplinary Learning: Connecting professionals who rarely work together to strengthen collaborative problem-solving in our communities.
- Accessible Professional Development: Keeping registration affordable so diverse voices from all sectors and organization sizes can participate.
- Evidence-Based Practice: Supporting sessions grounded in research and lived experience, offering practical, actionable strategies.
- Survivor-Centered Approaches: Elevating lived experience to ensure prevention and healing efforts truly serve those most impacted.
- Sustainable Impact: Building resources and partnerships that extend far beyond the two-day event.
Sponsor Opportunities
The Impact of Your Support
Visionary Sponsor - $15,000
Invest in the future of this movement.
- 10 full conference registrations (2-day access)
- Premium exhibitor booth with 2 exhibitor passes
- Full-page advertisement in conference program
- Logo on conference website
- Logo on event signage
- Recognition in pre-event email campaigns
- Social media mentions across conference platforms
- Exclusive recognition as Lunch Sponsor for both conference days
- Opportunity to introduce keynote speaker
Change Maker Sponsor - $10,000
Helps ideas travel beyond conference rooms.
- 8 full conference registrations (2-day access)
- Premium exhibitor booth with 2 exhibitor passes
- Full-page advertisement in conference program
- Logo on conference website
- Logo on event signage
- Recognition in pre-event email campaigns
- Social media mentions across conference platforms
- Recognition as Breakfast Sponsor for one conference day
Catalyst Sponsor - $5,000
Catalysts make it possible to bring in opinion leaders.
- 6 full conference registrations (2-day access)
- Exhibitor booth with 2 exhibitor passes
- Half-page advertisement in conference program
- Logo on conference website
- Logo on event signage
- Social media mentions across conference platforms
Collaborator Sponsor - $2,500
Connect important field leaders.
- 4 full conference registrations (2-day access)
- Half-page advertisement in conference program
- Logo on conference website
- Logo on event signage
- Social media mentions across conference platforms
Connector Sponsor - $1,000
Keeping enrollments affordable.
- 2 full conference registrations (2-day access)
- Quarter-page advertisement in conference program
- Logo on conference website
- Logo on event signage
- Social media mentions across conference platforms
Connector Sponsor - $1,000
Keeping enrollments affordable.
2 full conference registrations (2-day access)
Quarter-page advertisement in conference program
Logo on conference website
Logo on event signage
Social media mentions across conference platforms
Visionary Sponsor - $15,000
Invest in the future of this movement.
10 full conference registrations (2-day access)
Premium exhibitor booth with 2 exhibitor passes
Full-page advertisement in conference program
Logo on conference website
Logo on event signage
Recognition in pre-event email campaigns
Social media mentions across conference platforms
Exclusive recognition as Lunch Sponsor for both conference days
Opportunity to introduce keynote speaker
Change Maker Sponsor - $10,000
Helps ideas travel beyond conference rooms.
8 full conference registrations (2-day access)
Premium exhibitor booth with 2 exhibitor passes
Full-page advertisement in conference program
Logo on conference website
Logo on event signage
Recognition in pre-event email campaigns
Social media mentions across conference platforms
Recognition as Breakfast Sponsor for one conference day
Catalyst Sponsor - $5,000
Catalysts make it possible to bring in opinion leaders.
6 full conference registrations (2-day access)
Exhibitor booth with 2 exhibitor passes
Half-page advertisement in conference program
Logo on conference website
Logo on event signage
Social media mentions across conference platforms
Collaborator Sponsor - $2,500
Connect important field leaders.
4 full conference registrations (2-day access)
Half-page advertisement in conference program
Logo on conference website
Logo on event signage
Social media mentions across conference platforms
Connector Sponsor - $1,000
Keeping enrollments affordable.
2 full conference registrations (2-day access)
Quarter-page advertisement in conference program
Logo on conference website
Logo on event signage
Social media mentions across conference platforms
Visionary Sponsor - $15,000
Invest in the future of this movement.
10 full conference registrations (2-day access)
Premium exhibitor booth with 2 exhibitor passes
Full-page advertisement in conference program
Logo on conference website
Logo on event signage
Recognition in pre-event email campaigns
Social media mentions across conference platforms
Exclusive recognition as Lunch Sponsor for both conference days
Opportunity to introduce keynote speaker
The inaugural Collective Conversations: Setting Hope in Motion conference wrapped up on May 12, 2026 at The Center Club in Baltimore, and we're so grateful to everyone who was part of it! Thank you to our keynote speakers, Erin Merryn and Wendy Ellis DrPH, MPH, for bringing depth and expertise to the conversation. Thank you to every attendee who asked a thoughtful question, gave honest feedback on what works, and contributed to a true sense of collaboration. To all our speakers, you've ignited powerful conversations and calls to action focused on preventing harm and promoting healing from child abuse; thank you!
A special shoutout to our co-host, Springboard Community Services — we're grateful for your partnership in building a stronger, more connected community that's ready to have difficult conversations. And none of the remarkable two days we spent together would have been possible without the people behind the scenes and at the table: our sponsors, exhibitors, and volunteers who gave their time, resources, and energy to make this conference meaningful.
The conversations continue.
2026 Conference Recap
Thank You!
2026 Conference Sponsors
Internationally recognized author, speaker, and child abuse advocate and activist
Assistant Professor and Center Director, Milken Institute School of Public Health
Now Seeking Speakers
Our Call for Speakers is now open! We’re especially excited about 90-minute proposals that speak to more than one audience or invite people outside your usual circle into the conversation. We’d love to hear from you if you have community-centered, strengths-based, and actionable ideas that attendees could take back to their teams and start implementing right away.
If you’re doing meaningful work that others can learn from, we want to hear from you.
May 11 & 12, 2026
The Center Club, Baltimore, MD
What To Expect
5:00 - 6:00 PM
We're delighted to include a VIP Cocktail Reception for our sponsors and their guests this year, offering an intimate space for connecting with community leaders and the Change the Conversation team.
A Glimpse into Safety Planning for Online Child Exploitation
Presented by Chelsea McGonigle, Director of Prevention and Education
Step into the shoes of a student during this brief, interactive experience drawn directly from Turn the Talk. Attendees will explore a real-life scenario used in classrooms to help young people recognize online red flags, identify safe adults, and build personalized safety plans. This activity offers a powerful window into how we equip youth to navigate digital spaces safely, and why your support is critical to expanding this life-saving work.
Speaker Details Coming Soon!
This year's Blossom & Bloom will feature 2 remarkable speakers from local schools, joining us to share their experience with Turn the Talk. These individuals work daily with students, and will share their firsthand perspective on how Turn the Talk helps students practice safer habits, and prepares them to take action if they notice signs of child sexual abuse (CSA).
About Turn the Talk:
Evidence-Inspired Prevention Education
Equipping Young People with Tools to Address Child Sexual Abuse
Turn the Talk is Change the Conversation's flagship prevention education program that partners with educators across Maryland to deliver comprehensive awareness and training directly to school communities. Our evidence-inspired approach equips students with a foundational understanding of child sexual abuse—including its definition, legal and policy context, and effects—while building practical skills in reporting, resource evaluation, and survivor advocacy.
2024 - 2025
Academic Year Highlights
Lorem Ipsum
10,562
through 395 classroom presentations in 24 unique schools, working alongside 35 dedicated teachers who serve as champions for prevention education in their communities.
Educator Approval
100%
of surveyed educators reported that the majority of students gained valuable knowledge and skills from Turn the Talk presentations. All respondents affirmed they would recommend the program to colleagues.
New Learning
96%
of students report learning something new, with key takeaways including understanding reporting procedures, recognizing that abuse affects all demographics, identifying online safety risks, and learning about legal protections for survivors.
Become a Sponsor
Our 2025 sponsorship levels are designed to reflect the specific outcomes and impact areas of Turn the Talk programming, and your leadership in supporting this work. Each level outlined below represents a meaningful investment in the safety and wellbeing of Frederick County students.
$10,000
Prevention Impact Patron
This sponsorship level helps us deliver eighty Turn the Talk sessions.
- 10 VIP tickets to private cocktail reception & full event
- Name/Logo on Dessert Table
- Logo on event signage
- Logo on Change the Conversation's website
- Logo on Event Digital Invitation
For your business:
CtC will provide Parent/Guardian Training to work force 1x year
Materials to include with annual benefit enrollment period
$7,500
Online Safety
Sponsor
This sponsorship level helps us deliver sixty Turn the Talk sessions.
- 10 VIP tickets to private cocktail reception & full event
- Name/Logo on Dessert Table
- Logo on event signage
- Logo on Change the Conversation's website
- Logo on Event Digital Invitation
For your business:
CtC will provide Parent/Guardian Training to work force 1x year
Materials to include with annual benefit enrollment period
$5,000
Crucial Conversations Sponsor
This sponsorship level helps us deliver forty Turn the Talk sessions.
- 8 VIP tickets to private cocktail reception & full event
- Logo acknowledgement on custom cocktail sign(s)
- Logo on event signage
- Logo on Change the Conversation's website
- Logo on Event Digital Invitation
For your business:
CtC will provide Parent/Guardian Training to work force 1x year
Materials to include with annual benefit enrollment period
$2,500
Prevention Strategy Sponsor
This sponsorship level helps us deliver twenty Turn the Talk sessions.
- 6 VIP tickets to private cocktail reception & full event
- Name/Logo placement around band
- Name on event signage
- Name on Change the Conversation's website
- Name on Event Digital Invitation
$1,000
Advocacy for Survivors Sponsor
This sponsorship level helps us deliver six Turn the Talk sessions.
- 4 VIP tickets to private cocktail reception & full event
- Name on event signage
- Name on Change the Conversation's website
- Name on Event Digital Invitation
- Take floral centerpiece home
$500
Friends of Change the Conversation
This sponsorship level helps us deliver forty Turn the Talk sessions.
- 2 VIP tickets to private cocktail reception & full event
- Name on Change the Conversation's website
- Name on Event Digital Invitation
About Change the Conversation
Change the Conversation (CTC) is a trusted leader in trauma-informed education, training, and service expansion for CSA survivors in Maryland and surrounding states. With over 20 years of experience advancing trauma-informed care, child sexual abuse prevention, and professional development for the victim services workforce, CTC expands access to specialized, evidence-based trauma care through prevention programming, professional learning for providers, and grant-supported intervention services while strengthening systems that support child and youth recovery.
About Springboard Community Services
Empathy
We create space for people to share their experiences honestly and without fear.
Learning and Growth
We commit to learning, growth, and change – both individually and collectively.
Support
We acknowledge that we all need support in our lives to thrive.
Integrity
We act boldly to ensure everything we do advances our community outcomes and aligns with our values and beliefs.
Springboard Community Services (SCS) is a private, nonprofit outpatient mental health center serving individuals and families since 1849. With locations in Baltimore City, Carroll County, Harford County, and Howard County, SCS is a nationally accredited, trusted leader in wellness with a mission of transforming the lives of children and adults by providing opportunities to build self-confidence, resilience, and hope. In addition to general counseling, SCS provides comprehensive trauma-focused mental health services as part of the multidisciplinary care teams in the Carroll, Harford, and Howard County Child Advocacy Centers (CACs). SCS is home to the Family Violence Project, a program that serves thousands of families impacted by crime, violence, and trauma throughout Central Maryland.