Celebrating 60! Revolutionizing Community
October 26-28, 2023
The Festival Center | Washington D.C.
“Revolutionizing Community” is a three-day gathering of CVN member program staff and faith-based service partners that will live into the ways community calls us to action NOW. Learn more about our re-framer and coaches here.
We purposefully timed our gathering to finish as the Ignatian Family Teach-in for Justice begins at the Washington Hilton on Saturday, October 28, 2023. We are partnering with the Ignatian Solidarity Network to engage with conference attendees about service and our member programs through a breakout session, a networking fair, and showcasing within the exhibit hall.
Single Member Rate
- Includes access to each day of the conference, including all speakers, programming, and provided meals for a single staff person from a CVN Member Organization..
2 Members Rate (from same org)
- If your organization sends 2 people, the total ticket price is $525. Includes access to each day of the conference, including all speakers, programming, and provided meals.
3+ Members Rate (from same org)
- If your organization sends 3 people, the total ticket price is $725. Any additional individual would cost $200. Includes access to each day of the conference, including all speakers, programming, and provided meals.
Friend of CVN
- Includes access to each day of the conference, including all speakers, programming (including 60th celebration!), and provided meals for individuals and organizations who are currently not member organizations of CVN.
CONFERENCE DETAILS
The time was THEN -- 60 years ago -- to serve, mobilize, and create a community that can support one another and enjoy the benefits of shared vision, practice, and resources. The United States was experiencing heightened racial conflict as segregation laws were being challenged by nonviolent action and societal disruption as American values of freedom and equality for all were questioned. The Church was on the brink of a new moment, contemplating just how they were called to engage in dialogue with a pluralistic, secular world so as "not to conquer but to serve, not to despise but to appreciate, not to condemn but to comfort and save".
The time is NOW to serve, mobilize, and create a community that can support one another and enjoy the benefits of shared vision, practice, and resources.
- The world since COVID...
- Our communities since the latest racial reckoning with the disproportionate imprisonment and killing of black peoples by law enforcement...
- The Church since re-configuring after the horrific sex abuse scandals... and now listening through engaging in the Synod on Synodality since 2021 and through 2024...
The time is NOW to act together and mobilize for change.
JustUs. This is a time for us to assess our Network's gifts, talents, resources to shape a constellation of collaboration that continues to be organizzed, coordinated and ready to mobilize on actions that would secure a more dignified life for ourselves and those in our community who are most vulnerable.
We will be companioned by re-framers and coaches who will help to name and clarify the moment, disrupt harmful patterns, and cultivate creative and responsive approaches to building mutual relationships.
Olga Marina Segura is a freelance writer and the co-founder of the multi-media project, Religion in Revolt. She writes a monthly newsletter exploring Dominican identity in NYC called Bronx Frontlines.
She is the author of Birth of A Movement: Black Lives Matter and the Catholic Church , which will was published February 2021.
Previously, she was an associate editor at America Media, where she wrote and solicited articles on race and culture. She is a co-founder and former co-host of the podcast, “Jesuitical." Her writing has appeared in The Guardian, Latino Rebels, Shondaland, Sojourners, Refinery29, and The Revealer.
Prior to working at America Media, Olga was an intern at the Permanent Mission of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations.
She graduated from Fordham University with a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Arts in Italian Language and Literature. She speaks Italian and Spanish fluently and was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Left to Right: Danny Dominguez & Cindy Berrios, On the Margins
Left to Right: Jane Bleasdale, PhD, and Yetunde Daniels Rubinstein, Bleasdale Educational Research Consulting
Kathryn Racine, Clarity Evaluation Partners
We will hear from each other and train with each other.
We will organize ourselves into small cohort groups "doing the work" together. CVN is looking for member organization staff that are interested in hosting a cohort. Interested? Let Jocelyn know. We will learn, train, and support one another in these Communities of Practice.
Sponsors will have the opportunity to support our critical collaborative resourcing, and organizing while promoting advocacy, partnership, and education for faith-based service leaders. For CVN members, there is a special sponsorship tier with unique benefits just for service programs!
Sponsorships now available through October 1, 2023!
Commit now with 3 easy steps:
- Reserve Your Sponsorship
- Make your payment online (including e-check).
If you prefer to pay by installments, we are happy to accommodate! Just let us know.
3. Email your logo and website URL to Senior Fellow for Gatherings, Haley Todd.
Thursday, October 26
*Sponsorship Exhibit Hall open 3-6pm and during Community Social.
3:00 pm Sponsorship Exhibit Hall Opens
4:00 pm Registration Begins
6:00 pm Opening Session: Arriving to this Moment and Keynote Re-Framer, Olga Segura
8:00 pm Community Social
Friday, October 27
*Sponsorship Exhibit Hall open during breakfast, morning break, lunch, afternoon break, and Celebrate 60.
7:30 am Breakfast
8:30 am Prayer
9:00 am Workshop: On the Margins
10 minute break
9:55 am Workshop: Clarity Evaluation Partners + On the Margins
10 minute break
10:50am Workshop: Clarity Evaluation Partners + BERC
11:35 am Lunch + BERC
1:00 pm Beginning to Organize Together: CVN Leadership Team, Workshop Facilitators, Assessment Coaches
15 minute Break
2:00 pm CVN News + Updates
BREAK: Choose Your Own Adventure -- Explore Historic Adams Morgan, Collaborate with Colleagues, Rest!
6:00pm Celebrate 60! Food + Drinks + Dancing
Saturday, October 28
*Sponsorship Exhibit Hall open during breakfast, morning break, and lunch.
7:30am Breakfast
8:45am Morning Prayer
9:00pm Big Experiments + Big Questions: Continuing the Work through Collaboration + Networking
9:30am Communities of Practice: How we Learn from One Another
20 minute break
10:50am Mobilizing Community: Moving Forward Together
11:35am Going Forth: Closing Ritual
12:05pm Grab 'n Go Lunch
On to Ignatian Family Teach In!
We will gather at The Festival Center, a partner organization and 2020 Fr. George Mader Award recipient.
Catholic Volunteer Network is committed to making the National Conference on Faith-Based Service as accessible as possible and is excited to provide an experience that offers many meals included in the cost.
Registration includes full access to the conference with great coaching and support, meals and snacks, and a party!
The registration fee for CVN Members is $275 for an individual in your organization. If your organization sends 2 people, the team cost is $525. Each additional person is $200.
The Festival Center is approximately 8.1 miles from the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.
Catholic Volunteer Network encourages attendees of the conference to coordinate travel from and to the airport with other conference guests to help save on costs for rented vehicles or rideshares. Check out this link to let us know what you need/are able to contribute!
Parking is very limited in the Adams Morgan neighborhood, so we're encouraging folks to grab a friend and enjoy a walk or scooter to gather at The Festival Center each day. It's a 0.8 mile journey from The Normandy Hotel to The Festival Center. We'll be nearing 80 degrees each day of the conference, so soak in that Vitamin D!
A few additional recommendations:
- Use Spot Hero to find the nearest parking locations near you
- Check out public transportation options with the WMATA
- The Metro train can take you from Dulles or Ronald Reagan airport to the Woodley Park station less than a mile from The Normandy
- Bus lines 42 and 43 along Columbia Rd NW connect the bus stop at California St NW (near the Normandy and the Washington Hilton) with the stop at Quarry Rd NW (near the Festival Center). You can take Northbound (destination: Mt Pleasant) when traveling from the hotel to The Festival Center, then Southbound (destination: Kennedy Center) on the trip back to your hotel.
- Paid parking is available nearby at Washington Hilton
Catholic Volunteer Network has secured a block rate of rooms at The Normandy Hotel (less than a mile away from The Festival Center).
Block rates begin at $199.00 and are available both Thursday and Friday nights of the conference, as well as three days before and after the conference for those extending this travels. Blocked rooms are limited so we encourage you to book early. Visit this special booking link to reserve your room now. This link must be used to receive the discounted rate when booking online.
Wanting to book by phone? Call (202) 483-1350 and mention "Catholic Volunteer Network National Conference" when completing your booking.
Book by October 4, 2023 to secure the rate!
Other housing options:
- Check out The Generator. They have a variety of room options, including dorm style accommodations!
- Consider renting a house with other staff from member organizations!
- If you are staying for the Ignatian Family Teach-in for Justice, The Washington Hilton (also about a mile away from The Festival Center) would be the place you can stay for both events.
Looking to coordinate a room share with another visiting guest? Let us know how we can help you coordinate your efforts by completing this short form.
All meals and snacks are included from Thursday evening through Saturday lunch. Thanks to our partnership with The Festival Center, all meals are catered in-house. When registering, please let us know of any dietary needs or concerns so we may accommodate you.
Meet The Festival Center's Chef in Residence and Director of Arts and Food Justice, Lisbeth Melendez Rivera.
Frequently Asked Questions
Different CVN member programs leverage our conferences and staff involvement in a variety of ways. Some programs want newer staff to attend to learn, network, and gain a solid footing as they take on a new role. Larger programs often send several staff to enhance cohesion and nurture development together. Others view our gatherings a chance for Executive Directors to connect with other decision makers for support and sharing of best practices. All are welcome, and we believe all benefit.
As you ask who should attend this year, consider sending everyone! No really. Consider sending key staff. Consider sending someone from your Board. Consider sending someone in your pool of alumni. Consider sending someone from a partner site/organization. Our network is much wider then just our staffs. Consider how celebrating 60 years of faith-based service would be fun for everyone!
We know budgets are tight and that attending a conference is expensive. We understand there remains uncertainty during this time about where to focus, how to invest time and energy, and what is most impactful for your staff and programs.
CVN has taken that into account in planning Revolutinizing Community: we have deliberately separated the housing feature for this experience from the day and evening programming. Cost for the conference is just for food and our gathering space because we believe that breaking bread together and spending time reconnecting in person is an important practice of our faith. We are thrilled to facilitate such community and opportunities. We hope it allows you to relax and focus on being with others.
We encourage you to find alternatives for housing that meet your needs and make sense for your budgets. To help, CVN has booked a block of rooms at The Normandy Hotel. We also encourage you to look into dorm room options at The Generator or perhaps consider renting a house with other CVN member program staff.
Lastly, CVN can help to facilitate accommodation-sharing for those looking to split the cost of lodging with another or other attendees. You can fill out this short form to express interest in room-sharing. Let us know how we can help make the conference most affordable to you!
Exhaustion is real. Do what you need to do for yourself, for your organization.
We believe that celebration is an act of renewal and refreshment. We hope you are able to re-consider just how community can contribute to your rest, your sabbath, your re-commitment to our work and life together.
Come to be with others, so that your well of friendship, resources, and motivation may run deeper than ever before.
We are excited to be with you! This event is in-person.
At the same time, we recognize that not all who would like to attend can do so, and that virtual gatherings is what we host throughout the year.
We are assessing if we can offer some virtual content. We will know more in August.
Some CVN member programs have closed in past years. Some have decided to pause for a year and evaluate. Others are experimenting with new elements. But some are confident in their models and approaches and are operating as usual.
Regardless of where your programs fits – and regardless of if you say “transition” out loud – all of us have experienced cultural and social change in past years. You may not understand that as directly relevant for your program, but the ripple effects of this time offer opportunities to be curious about change and transition.
William Bridges says: “Change is situational. Transition is psychological. Without a transition, change is just rearranging the furniture.”
CVN continues to address both change and transition. It will invite you to consider what each mean for your program. CVN believes that focus is critical. We believe leaders can benefit from space to do that. We know each of you are unique and that one size does not fit all. When we gather, we persist in honoring your journey of change/transition by being with others on equally challenging – and maybe exciting – journeys.
This year, we can all choose to learn, grow, support, act, mobilize...together. And when we do that, we continue to revolutionize the ways our communities live into God's dream for the world.
The Normandy Hotel has been kind enough to extend our discounted, block room rate for three days before and three days after "Revolutinizing Community." You'll be able to use the same link to book your hotel room for those days.
Need to purchase rooms on a personal card? We recommend you book your room for the Conference first and then make a second booking for your personal room. You can then call the hotel and discuss your situation to ensure you can stay in the same room without the hassle of needing to check in and out. Want to stay on site longer than the block rate days? We recommend booking directly with the hotel via telephone so they can tell you the best way to secure your rooms.
Questions?
Questions about the National Conference on Faith-Based Service? Contact Jocelyn A. Sideco.
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