Points of Light Conference 2025

The all-conference 2024 Opening Plenary year featured global leaders and special guests, including influencers and entertainers who kicked off the first day of the conference with high energy and engaging topics. Attendees gained inspiration and learned from conversations that explored the positive impacts of service, its benefits to mental health, and ways to activate their own civic power to solve complex challenges.

Civic Talk conversations are all-conference sessions that bring inspiring ideas and experiences to the stage, offering deep learning and takeaways from innovative leaders. Education plays a critical role in developing who we are as human beings and opens opportunities to tap into everyone’s fullest potential. Addressing inequities in education requires collaboration and a comprehensive approach to eliminate barriers to access and increase success for students everywhere. This session explores the interconnected relationship and collective impact that education, equity, and service have in addressing systemic inequalities and fostering meaningful social change.

The impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is far reaching and is rapidly changing the way that we learn, work and live. From community organizers to corporate citizens, the potential to harness AI for good is exponential. This session explored AI’s potential to help advance civic engagement while balancing ethical considerations such as privacy, bias and security to ensure responsible use. Attendees gained practical perspectives on how organizations could harness AI to enable their teams and help them deliver greater impact, faster, while maintaining stakeholder trust.

Belonging is a deeply human experience that speaks to the fundamental need for social connection and acceptance. In faith-based communities, belonging can inspire individuals to volunteer, use their voice and actively participate in activities that align with their values and beliefs. This session explored the dynamic relationship between belonging and faith and the ways that individuals are building bridges by fostering understanding, promoting collaboration and engaging meaningfully in civic life.

Culminating three days of inspiration, education and connection, the all-conference Closing Plenary featured a celebration of President George H.W. Bush’s legacy of a thousand points of light and his vision for a society characterized by compassion, volunteerism and civic engagement. This all-conference session began with a networking brunch followed by an inspiring discussion with members of the Bush family about the values and inspiration that had influenced their lives and involvement in service. Attendees also heard inspirational stories from Point of Light Award honorees from the United States, United Kingdom and Commonwealth on the ways that their actions were changing people’s lives in addition to their own.