Helping People Get Together
Welcome to the second installment of our “Gather & Grow” series! We know the job hunt can often feel isolating, with many of us grinding away on applications from our kitchens or basements. To combat this and foster stronger connections, we’re continuing our mission to highlight opportunities for connection (mostly in-person). Our goal remains to showcase events from around the globe, covering a diverse range of topics and themes.
Since our team is based in the DC area (mostly), it’s easy for us to miss out on fantastic events happening elsewhere. But that’s where you come in! Our community stretches across all 50 states and over two dozen countries. So lend us a hand, won’t you? If you’re aware of an event you believe others in our community would find valuable, please reach out and let us know!
Thursday, September 25th
A Global Opportunity: Building What Comes Next (Virtual)
Join Glen Burnett for a virtual discussion centered around four key questions designed to help our community grow and thrive. This session will run from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM EDT.
Here are the questions Glen will be exploring:
One year from now, what do you hope you are doing—and what do you hope our network will be doing together that you can continue to call on?
How do we as a community continue to grow and thrive together? What are the most important things we should prioritize next to make progress?
If a funder were to offer to back initiatives for our community of laid-off staff, what should those funds support?
What’s missing right now or in the way (tools, trust, governance, capital, access, etc.)—and which one gap must we close first?
Use this link to register for Building What Comes Next: A Listening Session for Former Public-Purpose Professionals.
Tuesday, September 30th
Hey DC Area Folks! S’mores for Social Impact
The Crisis in Care team and Child Partnership are inviting you to a Happy Hour where we’ll raise a glass (and a marshmallow stick) for kids who deserve s’more support. All proceeds from s’mores and treats go directly to Crisis in Care. Come celebrate, commiserate, and toast (or toast a marshmallow) to a new fiscal year—one we hope is far less terrible.
Where: Wet Dog Tavern, 2100 Vermont Ave NW, Washington, DC 20001
When: Tuesday, September 30th
Time: 4:00–6:00 PM
A Global Opportunity: FormFest (Virtual)
The Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation and Code for America present FormFest, a free virtual event showcasing governments working to make services accessible to everyone through forms. Sessions focus on Collaboration, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Transformation. The event runs from 12:00 PM to 5:30 PM EDT. Here’s a link to the registration page.
Thursday, October 2nd
Boston Crew, Dive into “Made in Ethiopia”!
The Boston University Global Development Policy Center is screening “Made in Ethiopia” at 5:00 PM at the Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground. This film lifts the curtain on China’s historic but misunderstood impact on Africa and explores contemporary Ethiopia at a moment of profound crisis. Attendees can participate in a Q&A session with directors Xinyan Yu and Max Duncan after the film ends. You can get tickets using this link.
Saturday, October 4th
DC Area: Celebrate Democracy!
Learning Life is hosting The DMV Democracy Festival at All Souls Church Unitarian from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The festival promises to widen and deepen civic engagement, foster collaboration, and make democracy more fun and social with a financially sustainable, youth and family-friendly democracy festival in the Washington, DC capital region. You can learn more about this festival and register to attend using this link. Shoutout to our friends at Grassroots Comedy who will be providing the entertainment.
Thursday, October 9th
Los Angeles (Virtual): LARC Network Meeting
The Los Angeles Regional Collaborative for Climate Action and Sustainability (LARC) is hosting their monthly Network Meeting from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM PDT. You can learn more about LARC and register for the meeting using this link.
Thursday, October 16th
Jacksonville: Charting the Course for Nonprofits!
The Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida is hosting their 7th Nonprofit Works Conference at the Florida Blue Conference Center. This year’s theme is Charting the Course, and sessions will cover:
Advocacy & Communications: Bridging the Sector
Beyond Boundaries: Creating Vibrant Teams
Data & Innovation: Building a Smarter Sector
Strategy & Sustainability: Rethinking What’s Possible
You can learn more about this event on the registration page.
Wednesday, October 22nd – Thursday, October 23rd
Fort Lauderdale : Florida International Trade and Cultural Expo
Broward County is hosting the 10th Annual Florida International Trade and Cultural Expo. This year’s main themes are Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Global Procurement. Attendees will engage with high-level government leaders, international trade experts, and delegations from around the world. This is a great opportunity to participate in dialogues relating to international trade, foreign direct investment, and culture. You can learn more about the Expo and register to attend using this link.
Tuesday, October 28th – Thursday, October 30th
Atlanta: Seeds of Connection Conference
The Foundation for Social Connection and Healthy Places by Design are hosting their 2025 Social Connection Conference: Seeds of Connection. Attendees will explore how intentional relationship-building across sectors of society can transform communities and systems at every level. You can learn more about this conference and register here.
Wednesday, October 29th – Friday, October 31st
Bordeaux: Global Forum for Social and Solidarity Economy
The Global Forum for Social and Solidarity Economy will take place at Palais 2 l’Atlantique at Bordeaux-Lac. It is an international organization of local governments and civil society networks committed to promoting the Social and Solidarity Economy as a means of achieving inclusive and sustainable local development. You can learn more about this event and register for it using this link.
Monday, November 3rd – Wednesday, November 5th
Nairobi: AVPA Conference 2025
The 2025 AVPA Conference will take place at the Trademark Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. This year’s theme is Driving Sustainable Investments and Innovations for Resilient Growth. The conference will provide a dynamic platform to explore innovative solutions, share best practices, and foster powerful partnerships that drive sustainable development on the continent. You can learn more about this event and register here.
Upcoming Deadlines for Artistic Events
If you’re interested in sharing your perspective with the world through art or storytelling, these events could be your chance to step into the spotlight.
Wednesday, October 1st – Wednesday, December 31st
DC Area: Remembering USAID Through the Arts
Lily Kak, Mihira Karra, and Clinton White are organizing a month-long art exhibition called Remembering USAID Through the Arts. This exhibit will tell the story of a shared experience of USAID employees, implementing partners, and their families and friends who supported the USAID mission with passion, compassion, and commitment to help save lives and build a better world.
The exhibition will take place in March 2026 at the Compass Atelier, but anyone interested in having their art showcased as part of the exhibition can reach out to the team starting October 1st.
Monday, October 20th
DC Area: Wonderlust Storytelling Competition
Wonderlust is a unique storytelling competition and cultural celebration where eight storytellers are paired with an actor and a coach to translate their story from words to the stage. Applications are open to anyone who has lived abroad for at least one year, and the story categories include: We Like to Party, Intercultural Romance, Lost in Translation, You’re Not in Kansas Anymore, The Town Gossip, and We All Bleed Red.
The event is on November 15th at 7:00 PM at Joe’s Movement Emporium, but the application deadline is October 20th.
Your Turn!
We’d love to hear from you if you attend any of these events! Share your takeaways and new connections with the community.
We’re dedicated to making this a consistent feature, a dedicated space for fostering connections. So, if you know of any events that would benefit members in your area (or globally), please send them our way! Let’s continue to build a stronger, more connected community together.