Share Your Session Idea

We’re looking for 90-minute sessions that move people: ideas that challenge assumptions, inspire collaboration, and offer practical tools professionals can use right away.

Whether you work in mental health, education, legal services, healthcare, or community advocacy, your perspective matters.

We welcome proposals that are:

• Community-centered and strengths-based — highlighting what’s working and why.
• Actionable — giving attendees something they can put into practice.
• Interactive and reflective — encouraging dialogue, skill-sharing, or storytelling.
• Cross-disciplinary — connecting people across roles and systems.

Important Dates & Details:

Call for Speakers Closes

The call for speakers will close on Friday, December 1st, at 5:00 pm ET. To ensure a fair and timely review process, late submissions cannot be accepted. All proposals will be thoughtfully reviewed by the Conference Planning Committee with attention to diversity of perspectives, alignment with conference goals, and trauma-informed principles.

Speakers Notified of Acceptance

All speakers will be notified of the Committee’s decision by January 5, 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.

Technical Assistance Sessions

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.

Speaker Materials Due

Final presentation materials, including slides and any accompanying handouts, are due by Friday, April 10th, 2026. This timeline ensures the conference team has sufficient time to review materials and provide feedback, if needed.

Final Technical Assistance Session

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.

Conference Dates

Collective Conversations: Setting Hope in Motion will be held on May 11th and 12th, 2026 at The Center Club in Baltimore, Maryland.

Speaker Honorarium

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, while one complimentary conference registration will be provided per session. Honoraria will be mailed within one week after the conference concludes.

Have questions before clicking send? Contact us at speakers@collectiveconversations.org.