Launching a Movement
Join us to launch a bold, national movement to reconnect our communities through service. It’s time to make volunteering relational, restorative, and ready for this moment.
October 15
Who It’s For
This invite-only summit brings together visionary leaders shaping the future of connection through service, including:
If you lead people, programs, or policies that use service as a lever for connection, this gathering is designed for you.
Agenda
Registrations
Welcome Address
Personal Reflections
The Case for Designing Service for Connection
How We Operationalize Connection in Volunteering
Design Studio Kickoff
Morning Break
Design Studios
Afternoon Break
Plenary Integration
Plenary Synthesis
Closing Reflections and Wrap-up
“The decline in connection and trust is the greatest challenge of our time. ”
1 in 4 Americans say they have no close friends.
Strong relationships are the #1 predictor of happiness and longevity
Connection makes us more resilient to disasters and lowers crime.
1 in 5 employees feel lonely at work daily
Lonely employees are 4.5x more likely to report productivity issues
Only 39% of Americans are strongly connected
18% of the formal volunteers participated in online volunteering
Lonelier employees also tend to work less hard (63% vs. 74%)
Engaged workers are 64% less likely to report loneliness
Only 32% of Americans say
"most people can be trusted."
1 in 4 Americans say they have no close friends.
Strong relationships are the #1 predictor of happiness and longevity
Connection makes us more resilient to disasters and lowers crime.
1 in 5 employees feel lonely at work daily
Lonely employees are 4.5x more likely to report productivity issues
Only 39% of Americans are strongly connected
18% of the formal volunteers participated in online volunteering
Lonelier employees also tend to work less hard (63% vs. 74%)
Engaged workers are 64% less likely to report loneliness
Only 32% of Americans say
"most people can be trusted."
Co-designing service to optimize for connection.
Volunteering Reconnected
A Peek Inside Volunteering Reconnected
Personal Reflection
Facilitated breakfast table conversations about our experience with connection in our lives.
Design Studios
Small group design work to reimagine volunteering to optimize for connection and reduce division.
State of Connection and Service
Briefing by Aaron Hurst on the state of connection and service in America, along with Goodera’s data-driven perspective on how volunteering is shaping human connection.
Our Path Forward
Developing our shared charter to launch this movement and move the work forward.
Venue Details
Volunteering Reconnected will take place at the Hyatt Centric Mountain View, a modern, light-filled venue in the heart of Silicon Valley. With panoramic views of the Santa Cruz Mountains and a design that blends sophistication with comfort, it’s an inspiring setting for reflection, collaboration, and co-creation.
The hotel’s central location offers easy access to downtown Mountain View, outdoor terraces for informal conversations, and contemporary spaces designed for connection. It’s the perfect backdrop for reimagining the future of volunteering together.
Our founder, Aaron Hurst, redefined corporate volunteering 25 years ago by launching the Taproot Foundation and catalyzing the $15B pro bono service movement. Now, we’re doing it again—this time focused on redefining volunteering to prioritize human connection.
Goodera helps 500+ companies run engaging volunteering programs that build real connections and drive impact. With a network of 50K+ nonprofits and an all-in-one platform, we make it easy to bring people together through service.
Request an Invite
Volunteering Reconnected is an invite-only summit of national leaders in volunteering — from companies to nonprofits to government to academia.
If you would like to join us, please request an invite and let us know why you want to be a leader in this movement.
There is no registration fee, and a limited number of travel stipends are available.
