CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
Roots & Wings: 40 Years Strong, Building Bridges to an Equitable Future
September 18-20, 2025 | Virtual Event
INVITATION
The organizing committee of the 4th Annual FORWARD THINKING SUMMIT invites you to submit abstracts for presentations, workshops, and panel discussions that reflect our theme: "Roots & Wings: 40 Years Strong, Building Bridges to an Equitable Future." As we celebrate four decades of progress, we seek innovative perspectives that honor our foundational values while propelling us toward a more equitable tomorrow.
SUMMIT OVERVIEW
The FORWARD THINKING SUMMIT brings together leaders, practitioners, researchers, and community advocates committed to creating systemic change through collaborative action. Our virtual format offers global accessibility while maintaining meaningful engagement opportunities.
Abstract Submission Deadline: July 15, 2025
Notification of Acceptance: August 1, 2025
Summit Domains
We welcome submissions across four interconnected human service competency domains:
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP: Guiding organizations with vision and courage
Potential topics include:
STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT: Implementing frameworks for sustainable impact
Potential topics include:
RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: Optimizing assets to maximize mission impact
Potential topics include:
COMMUNITY COLLABORATIONS: Forging partnerships that amplify collective impact
Potential topics include:
Presentation Formats
These concise sessions highlight original research findings relevant to the summit themes. Presenters will share methodology, key results, and implications in a structured format. Ideal for empirical studies, evaluations, or literature syntheses that contribute new knowledge to the field. Each presentation includes 20 minutes for content delivery followed by 5 minutes for targeted Q&A, allowing attendees to engage with emerging evidence and data-driven insights.
Focused on real-world application, these sessions showcase innovative programs, interventions, or organizational approaches that have demonstrated impact. Presenters will outline the challenge addressed, describe their innovative solution, share implementation insights, and discuss outcomes. These case-study presentations connect theory to practice, offering attendees replicable models and practical takeaways they can adapt to their own contexts.
These hands-on learning experiences engage participants in skill-building or collaborative problem-solving. Workshop facilitators guide attendees through structured activities, discussions, and exercises that promote deep learning and application. Proposals should outline specific participation methods, learning objectives, and takeaway tools. Ideal workshops balance content delivery with meaningful participant interaction and provide resources attendees can immediately implement in their work.
Bringing together diverse perspectives, panel discussions feature 3-4 experts exploring complex topics through moderated conversation. These sessions illuminate multiple viewpoints on challenging issues, emerging trends, or cross-sector approaches. Panels should include speakers representing different sectors, backgrounds, or viewpoints to ensure rich dialogue. Proposals must detail the panel focus, moderator approach, and strategies for ensuring audience engagement beyond traditional Q&A.
This category provides an opportunity for emerging scholars and practitioners to showcase their research, projects, or innovations in a visual format. Posters will be displayed in a dedicated virtual gallery where attendees can browse submissions and interact with presenters during designated networking sessions. This format offers students and emerging leaders valuable presentation experience while introducing fresh perspectives to the summit community. Submissions should emphasize visual communication of concepts and findings with clear implications for practice and policy.
*In your proposal application, please indicate if you are willing to present your material in an alternative format if it is not accepted for the selected presentation format.
