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Thousands of Social Change Experts Come Together in Seattle for Points of Light Conference
Conference offers dynamic speakers, diverse learning tracks, and shines a light on the volunteering and service movement
The 2017 Points of Light Conference on Volunteering and Service has kicked off in Seattle with a carefully crafted series of events at some of the most distinctively Seattle venues, including Benaroya Hall, the Washington State Convention Center, and select restaurants, organizations and attractions throughout the city. The gathering brings together more thank 2,000 civic leaders from all sectors and from 23 countries, including the United States, to spark new ideas, collaborations and citizen engagement.
The three-day gathering engages attendees with specially curated content designed for volunteering and service professionals who live to give, stand up and serve, and shine a light for others. More than a conference, the convening includes “walkshops” that take attendees behind the scenes of some of Seattle’s most innovative organizations; and “dine arounds” at local restaurants in which issue experts lead dinner discussions on issues important to the success of the volunteering and service field.
“This gathering is part revival and part ideas fest, and each year the experience is unique to and amplified by the host city, its leaders and residents,” said Tracy Hoover, CEO, Points of Light. “Seattle offers a picture perfect setting for attendees to share ideas, celebrate success, challenge what’s possible, imagine together and inspire each other.”
While in Seattle, Points of Light will recognize three inspirational changemakers by presenting them with the Daily Point of Light Award, a prestigious honor started by President George H. W. Bush during his presidency. Award-wining journalist Tamron Hall, Dr. Mae Jemison, the world’s first woman of color to go into space, and Bainbridge Island native documentary filmmaker and co-founder of Living on One, Zach Ingrasci, will join more than 6,000 previous recipients of Daily Point of Light Awards. Points of Light will also announce the 2017 Civic 50, a recognition of the 50 most community-minded companies in the United States as determined by an annual survey.
Headline speakers include Starbucks President and CEO Kevin Johnson; Seattle-based Writer, Performer and Creative Producer Hollis Wong-Wear; Senior Vice President and Chief HR Officer for PepsiCo Umran Beba; Chairman of the Board of Directors for Points of Light Neil Bush; Seattle Police Department Deputy Chief Carmen Best; Prison Reform Activist, Speaker, Author and Reaching Out From Within Co-Founder SuEllen Fried; Former Chief Speechwriter for First Lady Michelle Obama, Sarah Hurwitz; Executive Director of FSG’s Impact Hiring Initiative Nicole Trimble; Author of the bestselling memoir “Wild” Cheryl Strayed; Army Veteran, Speaker and Extreme Sports Enthusiast Sergeant Noah Galloway; Citizen University CEO Eric Liu; Award-winning Journalist Tamron Hall; Kettering Foundation President David Matthews; Nexus Co-Founder Rachel Gerrol; Award-Winning Documentary Filmmaker and Co-Founder of Living on One Zach Ingrasci; Artist, Actor, Author and Activist Emmanuel Jal; Engineer, Physician, Astronaut and First African-American Woman in Space Dr. Mae Jemison; Incoming CEO for Conservation International Dr. M Sanjayan; 10-year-old Social Entrepreneur and Philanthropist Zoe Terry; and Director and Founder of Mothers for Police Accountability in Seattle Reverend Harriett Walden.
Other speakers will share their experience and expertise on a range of topics as a part of eight diverse learning tracks:
- Business: leading with values, business as a force for good
- Capacity building: driving results for nonprofits
- Higher education: making a difference in schools
- Global: innovations that are changing the world
- Tech for good: at the crossroads of entrepreneur and service
- Solutions for community resilience: meeting the most urgent needs
- Strengthening national service: AmeriCorps leads the way
- Volunteer engagement: leveraging volunteer strategies for high-impact programs.
The Points of Light Conference on Volunteering and Service concludes on June 21. Day rates are still available for the Conference. For more information, please visit www.volunteeringandservice.org. To apply for media credentials, please contact Christiaan Boer, [email protected].
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Contact:
Meghann Gibbons
404-731-2673
[email protected]
About Points of Light
Points of Light – the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service – mobilizes millions of people to take action that is changing the world. This year’s title sponsor is The UPS Foundation. Through affiliates in 250 cities and partnerships with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages 4 million volunteers in 30 million hours of service each year. We bring the power of people to bear where it’s needed most. For more information, go to www.pointsoflight.org.
“This gathering is part revival and part ideas fest, and each year the experience is unique to and amplified by the host city, its leaders and residents,” said Tracy Hoover, CEO, Points of Light. “Seattle offers a picture perfect setting for attendees to share ideas, celebrate success, challenge what’s possible, imagine together and inspire each other.”