GCSW Festival of Ideas & Anniversary Dinner

When people & ideas meet, something magical happens!

At Grand Challenges for Social Work, we cultivate that magic. We’ve found that when great ideas come together — and when great minds come together to receive them — they become something grander. Ideas become more than possibilities, or promises, or mere changes in perspective. In the minds and lives of everyone who has participated in the Grand Challenges, they become a new vision for the world as it could be.

The 10th anniversary celebration brings together brilliant leaders and thinkers from the field of social work and beyond to discuss the ideas that will shape tomorrow and help us understand today.

Celebrate a decade of GCSW vision & impact! Join us at Howard Univeristy in Washington, D.C., for a landmark gathering marking the 10th anniversary of the Grand Challenges for Social Work. This is more than a celebration—it's an intellectual experience. From midday to sundown, you'll engage with bold change-makers, visionary scholars, policy leaders, and on-the-ground innovators in a day of dynamic conversation, critical reflection, and future-focused dialogue. Instead of traditional presentations, the format invites spirited panels, thought-provoking interviews, and interactive forums where diverse perspectives converge. We'll spotlight the urgent challenges facing our society and the people designing solutions that bridge research, practice, and policy. Expect unexpected connections, fresh ideas, and a renewed sense of purpose.

• REGISTRATION HAS CLOSED.

GCSW FESTIVAL OF IDEAS [11:00 am – 5:00 pm] is designed to share and discuss ideas that shape society and social policy. Hosted by the Grand Challenges for Social Work (GCSW), our purpose is to:

• EXCHANGE ideas across GCSW networks & all festival participants
• ENGAGE and dialogue on social work and society’s most pressing issues
• INSPIRE and articulate what’s next for the GCSW
• GENERATE ideas that will shape the future of the GCSW

This event is highly participatory, and we encourage a significant amount of audience dialogue, participation, inspiration, and aspiration.

NETWORKING RECEPTION: [5:15pm – 6:15pm]: This kickoff session will spotlight the next generation of social work innovators - students, emerging practitioners, and emerging scholars whose work represents the future of the GCSW and society. Through a series of brief, dynamic presentations, these future leaders will share high-potential projects that address pressing social issues with creativity, rigor, and a commitment to justice.

SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION

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DINNER [6:30pm – 8:00pm]
JOIN US for a special evening commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Grand Challenges for Social Work—a decade of innovation, collaboration, and shared commitment to using science to drive social progress toward a more socially just, inclusive, and flourishing world. This milestone dinner will bring our community together to celebrate the extraordinary leadership of our Leadership Advisory Council and Network Leads who have shaped and sustained this transformative movement.