Plenaries

Mending the Fabric: Restoring Relationships to End Poverty

Plenary 1, with Dr. Christine Jeske

Neither poverty nor wealth happens in isolation. To understand poverty—and ultimately to end it—we need to attend to our relationships with each other and with God. In this talk, we’ll consider how to practice mutuality, dignified listening, and humility as we mend the damaged relationships that perpetuate poverty.

G.O.Y.P

Plenary 2, with Vanessa McDowell-Atlas

Be in the place that God has called you to during this critical time.  

Breakout sessions:

Breakout Session 1

Hear the quick breakdown on these neighborhood breakouts. These first session breakouts are all centered on getting to know your neighborhood more deeply. If you live, work, or worship in Madison’s West High School attendance area, Madison’s East High School attendance area, or in the Sun Prairie area, we encourage you to attend that respective breakout. Otherwise, join with others in some a broad strokes approach to considering how God might be at work in your neighborhood and how we can engage in justice work wherever we are.

East HS Neighborhood Network

Birch

Join this East High School area-based breakout to experience a mini-neighborhood network which includes dwelling in the Word, hearing from a neighborhood 'person of peace,’ connecting with people who live around them, and naming a faithful next step.

Sun Prairie Area Neighborhood Network

Cypress

Join this Sun Prairie area-based breakout to experience a mini-neighborhood network which includes dwelling in the Word, hearing from a neighborhood 'person of peace,’ connecting with people who live around them, and naming a faithful next step.

West HS Neighborhood Network

Maple

Join this West High School area-based breakout to experience a mini-neighborhood network which includes dwelling in the Word, hearing from a neighborhood 'person of peace,’ connecting with people who live around them, and naming a faithful next step.

Neighborhood Network 101 (for anyone outside the other three areas)

The Porch

Join this non-place-specific breakout to dive into what it means to join God's work through exploring your neighborhood, knowing your neighbors, and taking faithful next steps toward justice right where you are.

Breakout Session 2

Changing Food System: Policy and Entrepreneurship with Noah Bloedorn and Chris Brockel

Cypress

Join Chris Brockel, Director of FEED Kitchens, and Noah Bloedorn, Director of the Dane County Food Collective, for a talk about our local food system, its impact on our community and levers for change through policy and entrepreneurship.

Faithful Stewardship: Embracing Generosity Across Life’s Seasons with Kyle Kittel and Joe Gabriel from Thrivent

Conference Room

At every stage of life, whether you’re just starting out, raising a family, planning for retirement, or looking to leave a legacy, there are faithful next steps you can take to steward your resources well. You’ll learn how to make generosity a natural part of your financial journey, even in small, everyday actions. The presentation will emphasize how choosing generosity—no matter the amount—aligns with God’s call to give and serves as a powerful tool for transformation, both personally and in the lives of others.

G.O.Y.P. in Action with Vanessa McDowell-Atlas

Maple

The Get On Your Post workshop calls God’s children to urgently align with His will and use their platforms for His glory during this critical time of leadership change in our nation. This is a call for sacrificers, not mere allies, to stand for what is right and address the needs of the poor: those facing economic hardship, spiritual suffering, or lack of basic needs. Designed for believers ready to take action, the workshop explores vital questions: What is God requiring of me now?  Will I answer His call to sacrifice and serve?

Maximizing Kingdom Impact with Adam Jeske

Juniper

Our resources can be invested in things that matter, here in Madison and around the world. Come for challenging stories and reflections from a life oriented toward significant outcomes, and be ready to engage challenging questions on your own and in small group conversations. Spoiler: we all should probably have more to give, and we should all probably be giving more.

Real Estate's Impact on Racial Disparities with Sara Alvarado

Birch

Since the Fair Housing Act in 1968, the gap between Black and white homeownership rates has increased, not decreased. Why is the problem getting worse and what can we do to change it? This breakout session shines a light on how modern-day redlining works in today’s market and offers ways for community members, homeowners, and real estate professionals to challenge and change the system through the work of Own It: Building Black Wealth. Through education, mentorship, and a private sector fund offering down payment grants of $19,000, we prioritize collaboration and innovation.

Spending with Purpose: Aligning Money and Justice with Mo Cheeks

The Porch

Many of us think of money as a personal resource. But what if we saw it as an instrument for justice? In this session, we’ll explore how our spending, giving, and investing choices can help dismantle unjust systems and alleviate poverty...or they can help reinforce them.

We’ll have an interactive discussion about radical generosity. Along the way, we'll also reflect on the common inclination to treat both money and time as personal assets – and how that shapes our relationships, priorities, and pursuit of justice. Come ready for real-world examples, biblical reflections, and practical steps to align your economic choices with building a more just world.

Navigate back to Breakout Session 1