Plenary Session: Meeting Conflict with Courage and Hope

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.

Welcome from Host Committee: Lara Littlefield, Executive Director, Allen Family Philanthropies; Alesha Washington, President & CEO, Seattle Foundation

Civic Science Talk: Professor Kurt Gray, Weary Foundation Endowed Chair in Social Psychology, The Ohio State University

Video Interview: Rt. Hn. Dame Jacinda Ardern, Patron, Christchurch Call Foundation; Kathleen Enright, President and CEO, Council on Foundations

Fireside Chat: Shamil Idriss, CEO, Search for Common Ground; Kathleen Enright, President and CEO, Council on Foundations

Funder Reflection: Michael Brown, Chief Architect; Civic Commons; Ali Noorani, President, Barr Foundation

Emcee: Scott Shigeoka, Author, Speaker, and Curiosity Expert

Artist: Benjamin Hunter