Lead the Way – Call for Proposals

Call for Roundtable Moderators

Passionate about community engagement? Want to know what others are doing? Lead a roundtable discussion at Lead the Way 2025. We are looking for roundtable facilitators to help lead conversations around:

  • Community partnerships – Creating and maintaining partnerships respectfully and responsibly
  • Community pushback – What do you do when you get a complaint formally and informally?
  • Funding options – Budgeting priorities, grants, and other opportunities
  • Community engagement for suburban and urban communities
  • Community engagement for rural & tribal communities
  • Have another idea? Submit a topic of your own!

Roundtable Application

Anyone selected as a roundtable facilitator will receive a discounted conference registration. Deadline to submit application: September 2, 2024.

Call for Session Proposals

Deadline to submit your proposal: September 2, 2024

Sessions for the conference will be one hour. Panel presentations are accepted. Priority will be given to sessions that include interactive elements and audience participation. Every selected session will receive one complimentary conference registration. 

Proposal Application

Topics may include, but are not limited to: 

  • Services focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion
  • Culturally relevant programing
  • Strategic Planning 
  • Making Community connections & partnerships
  • Leveraging technology to enhance engagement 
  • Service & Programming re-boots
  • Data informed decision making
  • Funding community engagement projects
  • Community engagement for beginners

Browse past sessions – 2023, 2021 (virtual), and 2020 (virtual)

Proposal Evaluation

The committee will evaluate all of the submissions as individual entries, and how they fit within the balance of conference content as a whole. The Program Committee will evaluate all proposals submitted by the deadline using the following criteria:

  • Clarity and completeness of the proposal, particularly having well-developed content and sufficient speakers to address all relevant aspects of the topic;
  • Originality and relevance of the proposed topic;
  • Uniqueness of content in relation to other conference presentations;
  • A range of speaker experiences and representations

Questions? Contact the conference staff.

Diversity, Inclusion, And Equity Statement

The Program Committee encourages a diversity of presenters representing a variety of personal and professional backgrounds, perspectives, and voices. We encourage submissions from anyone who is interested in presenting, including students, new professionals, first-time presenters, and representatives of allied professions.