Now more than ever, people are looking within themselves to find the inspiration, creativity and sustained energy to make change. Through thought leadership and special interest group meetings and activities, Points of Light continues to connect the social good sector in addition to our flagship annual convening. 

In 2020, the Points of Light Conference transitioned to an online experience and more than 5,300 people logged into a virtual platform to participate. As we strive to build a “better normal” in a post-pandemic world, we will take the opportunity in 2021 to create and offer a hybrid event that includes in-person and virtual experiences. The 2021 Points of Light Conference is scheduled for July 14-16 with live sessions occurring at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, Florida, and online sessions for a virtual audience.  

The conference team is seeking proposals for content workshops that are geared toward audiences actively engaged in changemaking initiatives from the nonprofit, government, business, and civic sectors. Sessions should be designed to engage individuals where they are in their commitment to social good, volunteerism, and community and civic engagement. Presenters may have the opportunity to either present in-person during the conference or provide a recorded presentation for the virtual platform.  Proposal submissions close Friday, October 16, 2020.

Topic areas will be aligned with the Points of Light Civic Circle – the ways in which people engage in causes they care about: donate, purchase power, social network, work, volunteer, vote, social entrepreneurship and service. 

Donate:  We know that for many people, financial and donations of other resources is the most effective way for them to support causes they care about. Workshops sessions focused on resource development, philanthropy, and other ways to engage people in causes through donating will fit this category. 

Purchase Power: Consumers today often make decisions on spending or personal consumption expenditures that reflect their values or advance a social cause or issue. Workshop sessions focused on cause marketing, business with purpose, and engaging consumers (from the nonprofit or business perspective) will fit in this category. 

Social Network: Individuals are more inclined than ever before to use their voice to to raise awareness, promote, or advance a social cause or issue. Whether it’s through social media, through their networks, or with family and friends, being an advocate for something you care about brings purpose to your life. Workshop sessions that focus on advocacy through traditional activism, 21st century technology and social channels, and engaging individuals to support a cause will fit in this category.   

Work: In addition to using their purchase power to support brands with a purpose, many people make choices about where they work based on the values and purpose of the business. Today, companies that know  doing good is good business, have corporate values that reflect a commitment and responsibility to society and use their financial and human capital, along with their business practices to advance - social causes or issues – come out ahead. Workshops focused on business with purpose will fit in this category. 

Volunteer:  Volunteering remains one of the most popular ways for people to give back to their community and support causes they care about. Workshop sessions focused on recruiting, training, managing, retaining and recognizing volunteers will fit into this category. 

Vote:  Voting is an important component of civic engagement. People express their views on the type of society they want to live in by participating in national and local elections or supporting efforts that increase engagement in electoral processes. Workshop sessions focused on increasing voter participation and leveraging volunteers to support the electoral process will fit into this category. 

Social Entrepreneurship:  Many people take their passion for a cause and turn it into a social enterprise by starting organizations and businesses with the goal of developing and implementing solutions to social, cultural and environmental challenges. Workshop sessions focused on supporting the success of social entrepreneurs will fit into this category.  

Service: Military, public and national service are personal commitments of time, energy, and talent that contribute to the public good by protecting the nation and its citizens, delivering critical services and strengthening communities. Workshop sessions focused on leveraging, strengthening and supporting national service programs will fit into this category. 

Workshop proposals that show new and innovative ways to approach the work above or through the lens of race equity and social change will be prioritized for review.