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Get Involved

Present, Exhibit, Showcase, Volunteer, Sponsor

Share your expertise, inspire action and help shape the 2026 SLC and Points of Light Conference in Washington, D.C.

We invite you to share your stories, successes, and lessons learned at the Conference! Expand each section below to apply and check out our additional options to get involved at the Conference below!

The 2026 SLC and Points of Light Conference in Washington, D.C. is more than just a gathering – it’s where we are Making Purpose Possible by bringing together companies, nonprofits, educators, and civic innovators to transform how volunteering and service strengthens personal purpose, deepens community connection and builds national resilience.

Attendees represent a wide range of sectors—nonprofits, government, business, education, faith-based organizations, and national service—and bring perspectives that span youth leaders to emerging professionals to C-suite executives. 

The integration of the SLC with the Points of Light Conference creates a shared platform where youth leaders and global changemakers collaborate as equals. It’s more than a programmatic shift, it’s a commitment to intergenerational leadership. It brings fresh energy and lived experience into strategies for volunteering and service. 

Workshops

Conference programming is all about dynamic, hands-on strategies to advance volunteering and civic engagement, showcasing the vibrant and diverse ways communities come together. Attendees are seeking practical takeaways, real-world examples of successful programs and partnerships, and innovative approaches to solve problems. They are interested in learning how to innovate, navigate challenges, build resilience, adapt strategies, and make informed decisions.

Submit your proposal to create a workshop that meets attendees at their current level of commitment to volunteerism, social good, service-learning, and civic engagement, providing actionable insights they can immediately apply in their daily work.

Session proposal deadline has passed - visit Points of Light for updates

Do you have a powerful idea, innovative project, or impactful lesson to share, but aren’t ready for a full workshop? Lightning Talks are your chance to connect, inspire, and engage in an energizing, small-group setting.

Think of it as the conference’s version of professional speed networking. During this dynamic 75-minute session, you’ll be stationed at a table with up to 8 participants. Here’s how it works:

  • Share your story: Present your idea, project, or insight in a focused 5–10 minute talk.

  • Connect deeply: Spend the next 10–15 minutes in open conversation—answering questions, exchanging ideas, and building connections.

  • Repeat and amplify: You’ll engage in up to three 20-minute rounds, as participants rotate between tables, while you remain in place.

Lightning Talks are a great opportunity for both youth and adults to showcase emerging work, elevate grassroots ideas, or test new concepts in a relaxed, conversational format. You can apply to present on one or both days of the conference.

There are two types of Lightning Talks: Skill/Idea Share and Program/Product Preview.

A Skill/Idea Share delves deep into a topic, offering substantial insights to the small group. Presenters are encouraged to highlight the innovation, direct impact on the organization or community, remarkable results, or significant learnings of their work.

A Program/Product Preview offers presenters the opportunity to showcase products such as curriculum, programs, or services. 

Proposals will be assessed on content quality, target audiences (broader is better this year), and creativity of delivery. We strongly encourage proposals from young people. The Review Committee will be looking for a slate that balances the variety of audiences and topics given the space and time available. More guidelines on creating a successful talk will be provided if selected.

Apply for a Lightning Talk!
Applications are due January 23, 2026.

Are you a young changemaker with a project that’s making waves in your community? Want to showcase your work and inspire others at the conference? Look no further than the Student Showcase! The Student Showcase provides the perfect platform to share your powerful message. It’s your chance to shine a spotlight on your high-quality project and connect with like-minded peers from across the country and around the world.

Share the story behind your project—how you implemented it, how it aligns with curricular goals, and what makes it so effective. Whether you’re tackling environmental issues, advocating for social justice, or sparking innovation in your school, the Student Showcase is your opportunity to showcase the incredible impact you’re making and inspire others to join you in creating positive change. 

Apply for a Student Showcase!
Applications are due January 23, 2026.

A Day on the Hill: Elevating Youth as Solutions on Capitol Hill, Monday, June 22

The National Service-Learning Conference is excited to offer a powerful opportunity for youth and their adult allies to advocate for young people as contributors and problem-solvers in communities across the nation. Attendees are invited to join together for a Hill Day Kick-Off Session designed to prepare them for productive and meaningful meetings with legislators before departing for Capitol Hill.

This interactive session will equip attendees with the knowledge and confidence to share how service-learning is shaping their leadership, strengthening their communities, and addressing real challenges. We will practice framing youth-led service as an essential strategy for community impact and guide participants in crafting clear, compelling messages for their elected officials. Adult allies will receive support on how to reinforce youth leadership and help create a respectful, empowering advocacy experience.

Following the Kick-Off Session, youth and adults will head to Capitol Hill to meet with members of Congress and their staff. Hill Day provides policy-makers with a rare opportunity to engage directly with youth leaders and hear firsthand what young people across the country are accomplishing through service-learning and community action.

The goal of Hill Day is to bring hundreds of youth advocates together to speak with one strong, united voice about the importance of youth leadership and civic engagement. This is a moment for young people to be heard, to be taken seriously, and to demonstrate the essential role they play as solutions in their communities.

Join us as we elevate youth voice, inspire policy-makers, and strengthen the future of service-learning.

*Included in conference registration

 
Pre-Registration Required

Docuthon, Wednesday June 24, 5:00 PM EST

Join NYLC for a powerful Docuthon experience featuring international films created by young changemakers from around the world, alongside documentaries from NYLC’s Youth as Solutions teams addressing education equity, community health, environmental sustainability, and more.

Through compelling short films, students share how they are identifying challenges in their communities and leading meaningful, solution-driven change. After each screening, participants will engage directly with the filmmakers through live conversations with both in-person and virtual presenters, offering insight into their creative process, the impact of their work, and the lessons they are learning as young leaders.

This interactive session celebrates youth voice, global connection, and the transformative power of service-learning in action.

 
included in conference registration

Sponsor

Join us in empowering the next generation of changemakers. As a sponsor, you’ll help elevate youth voice, advance service-learning, and connect educators, community leaders, and organizations committed to creating positive, lasting impact. Your partnership demonstrates a shared commitment to building stronger communities through youth leadership and civic engagement while gaining visibility among thousands of passionate attendees who believe in the power of service to change the world.

 
Contact Points of Light

Exhibit

By highlighting your organization as a conference exhibitor, you position yourself at the forefront of innovation, demonstrating your commitment to driving positive change and empowering communities. Whether it’s through groundbreaking programs, cutting-edge technologies, impactful services, or transformative events, your organization has the opportunity to inspire and inform attendees, forging meaningful connections and fostering collaboration that our conference participants are looking for.

 

Contact Points of Light

Volunteer

We’re excited to extend an invitation to participate as a volunteer.

Visit the Points of Light to learn more.

Become an Affiliate

Become a Conference affiliate! Affiliates distribute Conference information with their networks and staff; encourage participation; and, promote the Conference through social media, newsletters, and their website. Sample content will be provided.

In return, you will be listed as an Affiliate on the SLC Conference homepage– gaining exposure to an international audience of educators, state and federal officials, youth leaders, program coordinators, policy-makers, and community-based organizations involved in the service-learning movement. Affiliates are required to share conference-related communications a minimum of three times throughout the year.

Become an affiliate

"One insight I gained from attending is to continue to focus on the students, and use the students as the driving force for what should be taught in the classroom. Student voice and initiative is the most important."

-2025 Conference attendee