What do individuals and communities need to thrive? How can the conditions for social flourishing be encouraged in households and communities stuck in economic distress? When do nonprofits, the church, and businesses help, and when can they harm?
This conference gathers Houston-area leaders working in the nonprofit, foundation, business, religious, and academic sectors concerned with addressing problems of social and material poverty.
From Thursday evening through Saturday midday, attendees will have the opportunity to step away from the busyness of their work to reflect and engage in spirited discussions with others in their field about the principles and practices of addressing poverty and encouraging upward mobility.
Alongside sessions on a Christian view of society, neighborhood revitalization, the family, and economic development, attendees will also have an advance screening of Poverty Trap, a new feature-length documentary by the Acton Institute on social and material poverty in the United States, followed by Q&A with the filmmakers. Learn more about the film here.
This conference is organized by the Acton Institute’s Center for Social Flourishing, a new initiative of the Acton Institute that studies and promotes civil society that mediates upward mobility and humane communities. The Acton Institute has organized weekend-long seminars focused on the principles and practices of poverty alleviation for more than three decades.
Conference Details
This is a small conference. Participants will have the opportunity to engage the speakers and other attendees throughout the event in a relaxed and comfortable setting including meals and evening receptions. As relationship building is a focus of the event, all participants are expected to stay at the venue for the duration of the conference.
Space is limited, and conference attendance is considered by application only. This conference is ideal for nonprofit and ministry leaders, philanthropists, and business leaders of social enterprises from the Houston area. However, all applications are welcome and will be considered.
Successful applicants will receive a reading packet via email. All attendees are expected to complete the readings before the conference.
Conference fees, meals, lodging, and travel will be covered for accepted applicants.
