Social Impact

See how event organizers and others are using meetings and events to make a difference.

X-Culture Program Inspires Students to Innovate in the Events Industry

It’s difficult to say who learned the most from a competition that brought together students and event experts: The students who solved a real-life business events challenge or the experienced professionals who got a glimpse into next-gen’s perceptions of the events industry.

BY Jennifer N. Dienst January 13, 2025

To Space and Beyond

Two Convening Leaders sessions showed how the innovative Space Cities Network initiative can serve as a blueprint for other sectors — and underscore how events can leverage the power of the knowledge economy.

BY Michelle Russell January 12, 2025

‘Right Now, We’re in Triage Mode’

Event and hospitality workers are playing a big role in helping devastated areas throughout the Southeast recover from Hurricane Helene. In the Gulf, Category-5 Milton threatens to batter Florida’s Gulf Coast once again. Here’s how you can help.

BY Jennifer N. Dienst October 7, 2024

Empowering Latinx Nonprofits in the Fundraising World

Fundraising Con Ganas, a two-day conference geared toward helping small- and medium-sized Latinx-focused nonprofits, addresses an industry inequity and ensures that what participants learn has organization-wide impact.

BY Casey Gale August 30, 2024

Making Space for Makers in Portland

Portland’s My People’s Market has created opportunities for local makers and entrepreneurs who need a platform — and the events, tourism, and hospitality industries are a part of the mix.

BY Jennifer N. Dienst June 12, 2024

Discovering Indigenous Culture Through Crafts and Stories

Marc Forgette, founder of Makatew Workshops, uses Indigenous crafting sessions at meetings and events to help participants focus on the story he shares about his Indigenous heritage.

BY Casey Gale June 10, 2024

How Knoxville Became a Model for Supporting Local Makers

As Etsy’s first official U.S. ‘Maker City,’ Knoxville, Tennessee, is growing the local economy through arts, crafts, and entrepreneurship.

BY Casey Gale June 9, 2024

Academic Conferences Tackle the Taylor Swift Phenomenon

Taylor Swift’s fans are legion, but she has also attracted the attention of academia: In the past six months, two successful academic conferences have been built around discussing her impact on the economy and pop culture.

BY Casey Gale April 17, 2024

How an Agrifood Event Is Cultivating Innovation and International Participation

Rooted in New York but reaching the world online, the Grow-NY Competition and Summit provides $3 million in funding for innovative startups working throughout the agrifood ecosystem, from new farming technologies to ready-to-eat food products.

BY Casey Gale March 18, 2024

Why Organizations Are Choosing to Meet in Controversial Destinations

Instead of canceling their events at — or boycotting — politically polarized host destinations, organizations are choosing to show up and speak up, in a show of support.

BY Jennifer N. Dienst January 22, 2024

Indigenous Artwork Gives Visual Identity to HIV Science Conference

When the International AIDS Society commissioned a local artist for its conference logo, it did more than honor the Indigenous population of host city Brisbane. It helped raise awareness of that community’s challenges with HIV. 

BY Curt Wagner January 22, 2024

Medical Group Takes Training Workshops on the Road

To better support physicians’ soft skills development, the American College of Chest Physicians launched a country-wide tour of its empathetic listening training workshops, focused on the critical first five minutes of clinician/patient interaction.

BY Jennifer N. Dienst September 1, 2023

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