Volunteering & Social Impact Live Learning Series

Join us for the next session in our Volunteering & Social Impact Live Learning Series: The Power of Service: Building Thriving Communities.

This webinar offers a sneak peek into programming from the 2025 Points of Light Conference, with topics aligned to our new learning pathways. This session supports the Reigniting National Service pathway — exploring strategies to create meaningful, purpose-driven volunteer experiences that contribute to community and societal impact.

Service and civic action are essential to fostering well-being, resilience, and a shared sense of purpose. In this powerful conversation, hear from leaders driving innovation and impact through purposeful volunteering and cross-sector collaboration:

• Vanessa Diamond, Executive Vice President, Global Network and Nonprofit Programs, Points of Light
• Tommi Laitio, Founder, Convivencia Urbana
• Laura Rog, Chief Service Officer for the City of New York
• Dave Smith, CEO, California Volunteers Fund

Together, they’ll explore:

• The traits of effective government, nonprofit, and corporate partnerships
• Fresh research on the evolving landscape of volunteering and social impact
• The critical elements driving public sector innovation

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain insight and inspiration from experts at the forefront of service and community building.

What do we really mean by “community-centered volunteerism?” While some definitions and practices may touch on the principle, they often miss the mark.

In this session, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of this approach, discussing how certain strategies can unintentionally perpetuate harm and how to instead center the community’s voice. Breauna will share real examples of both decentering and dreaming with the community, along with practical ways to strategize with trust and shared power.

Whether you’re a volunteer engager, AmeriCorps director or involved in CSR, you’ll leave this webinar inspired and equipped with practical tools to authentically show up and center the community in its rightful place.

This learning session aligns with the Empowering Community-Centered Volunteerism conference learning pathway, where workshops focus on how to engage communities in playing a central role in the design and implementation of volunteer programs.

In this dynamic 60-minute virtual session, discover how to harness the power of storytelling to strengthen the bridge between your employees and community impact. Through real-world examples and interactive exercises, you’ll learn strategies to capture and share compelling stories that showcase purpose and inspire broader engagement.

We’ll give you a framework for:

• Understanding and developing the ‘why’ of storytelling
• Building a story bridge
• Crafting effective stories of impact

Whether you’re looking to energize your employee communications, showcase your CSR initiatives, or build a more purpose-driven culture, this session will equip you with actionable strategies.

This virtual workshop is ideal for CSR professionals, HR leaders, and anyone responsible for employee engagement or corporate storytelling. Due to the interactive nature of this session, space will be limited so save your seat today!

Volunteering is more than an act of service; it’s a transformative practice that fosters personal, community and societal well-being. For social impact professionals, who often face the demands of addressing complex and emotionally challenging issues, the balance between giving and receiving is essential. Join Points of Light CEO Jennifer Sirangelo for a conversation with Arianna Huffington, Thrive Global Founder and CEO to discuss how prioritizing self-care is not just beneficial, but integral to sustaining their ability to serve effectively and make a sustainable impact.

This session explored:

• The health benefits of self-care: How it sustains energy, sharpens focus and prevents burnout.
• Practical strategies for daily self-care: Simple, actionable steps to nurture emotional resilience and well-being.
• Volunteering as self-care: Discover how acts of service provide purpose, connection and fulfillment that support mental and emotional health.
• Strengthening social connections through volunteering: How volunteering can reduce isolation, build community and bridge divides.