Building Together 2026 - Plenary Sessions
Plenary Sessions
The Building Together plenaries will take attendees on a three-part journey into building the heartset, mindset, and skillset needed to constructively engage across differences, find common ground, and solve shared problems. These sessions are designed to ground participants in the realities of our moment, translate those realities into everyday practice, and culminate in a clear call to action. The plenaries will be facilitated by author and curiosity expert Scott Shigeoka, who will weave the plenary themes together.
Meeting Conflict with Courage and Hope
Tuesday, May 5 | 9 - 10:30 a.m.
Division continues to shape our politics, our communities, and even our sense of one another. In this plenary we’ll take a clear-eyed look at the stark challenges of our time—including the growing realities of political violence and extremism. Together, we’ll consider what it means to live in a society capable of holding and valuing differences, without losing its humanity. Featuring speakers with deep experience in peacebuilding, anti-extremism, and depolarization, this plenary invites us to step into our roles with courage and align philanthropic investments, partnerships, and leadership to meet these challenges.
Featuring:
- Michael Brown, Chief Architect, Civic Commons
- Kathleen Enright, President and CEO, Council on Foundations
- Professor Kurt Gray, Weary Foundation Endowed Chair in Social Psychology, The Ohio State University
- Shamil Idriss, CEO, Search for Common Ground
- Ali Noorani, President, Barr Foundation
- More to be announced!
Which Values Lead Toward Change?
Wednesday, May 6 | 9 - 10:30 a.m.
What motivates us to build the heartset and mindset to bring communities across the country together? Join us to listen in on a conversation among faith leaders as they grapple with humbling questions about moral authority, what is truly within our power to change, and how we know if our work is making things better—or inadvertently worse.
Featuring:
- Aaron Alexander, Senior Rabbi, Adas Israel
- Kayce Ataiyero, Chief External Affairs Officer, The Joyce Foundation
- Hurunnessa Fariad, Vice President of Strategic Funding and Relations, TAOFL
- Andrew Hanauer, President and CEO, One America Movement
- Ali Noorani, President, Barr Foundation
- Dr. Joel Rainey, Lead Pastor, Covenant Church
- Nancy Van Milligen, President and CEO, Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
- More to be announced!
Belonging, a Bridge to Possibility
Thursday, May 7 | 9 - 11 a.m.
What becomes possible when people feel seen and valued? And how can belonging be cultivated in unexpected places—both in practice, and in culture? Together, we’ll discuss what a more connected society could look like, and what kind of commitment it will take to build.
Featuring:
- Eric Liu, Co-Founder and CEO, Citizen University
- More to be announced!