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NNSP Annual Conference

How can we create a community of engaged learning that centers around community and civic engagement, social impact, and partnership?

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The NNSP Annual Conference on Community & Civic Engagement is an opportunity for educators nationwide to convene and collaborate around the development of community and civic engagement programs in their schools. It brings together educators who are curious about the intersection of community and civic engagement, social impact, and traditional academic curriculum. We share tangible examples of how schools can integrate opportunities for students to learn about the systemic issues prevalent in their communities and our nation, connect their learning to those issues, and create a student body with empathy, knowledge, and leadership skills to create meaningful community change.

  • Get in touch to receive information about the upcoming 2026 NNSP Annual Conference!
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Conference Highlights

There are ample opportunities during the conference to network with like-minded professionals and grow both your cross-sector understanding and your appreciation for the value of this work. The 2025 NNSP Annual Conference culminated with students from the NAIS Student Civic Leadership Summit sharing their vision and strategies for how to make a difference in their communities.

Sample Conference Sessions:

  • Principles of Good Practice: Participants learn about Charlotte Latin School’s Principles of Good Practice for Community-Engaged Learning, how they align with the school’s Core Values, and their application within a K-12 setting. Attendees gain insights into key takeaways, guiding questions, and ways to leverage these principles for student engagement, fostering stronger alignment within their school community. This case study offers a model for scholars and practitioners to consider for initiating or advancing similar conversations in their institutions.
  • Expanding Purpose: Amidst societal and environmental shifts, independent schools are reevaluating their role and impact, focusing on student learning and well-being. This workshop explores actionable strategies to utilize schools’ resources for the common good, empowering educators to translate aspirations into tangible change within their schools and communities.
  • Science of Reflections: Whether starting a new program or aiming for improvement, effective service-learning reflections reinforce learning concepts through real-world service experiences. By examining hundreds of reflection questions from successful programs nationwide, we address timing, theme, and clear expectations as essential elements.

Sample Keynotes: 

  • Alice Siu, Associate Director, Deliberative Democracy Lab at Stanford University: “AI for Good: Empowering Student Changemakers in Social Impact and Community Engagement”
  • Nathan Dietz, Associate Research Professor, Do Good Institute, University of Maryland: “Data-Driven Transformation: Unleashing the Potential of Social Impact Programs”
  • Ross Wehner, Founder, World Leadership School: “Is Purpose the Future of Learning?”

Conference FAQs

How do I register for the conference?
Where do educators stay during the conference?
How does the NNSP Annual Conference connect to the NAIS Student Civic Leadership Summit?
Can educators participate individually?
Does Close Up provide transportation for educators or their student group to Washington, D.C.?