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Welcome to the Community Solutions Program's fourth annual Solutions Summit! This event is open to participants through invitation only and will be an opportunity to connect, learn, and share with other experts and practitioners committed to reducing the effects of climate change and developing more sustainable communities.
Summit participants will exchange good practices in the field of environmental issues and will hear from environmental experts in Peru, the country selected for this year’s Summit spotlight. We will then dive-deeper into the subthemes of climate change, conservation, environmental awareness and education, waste management, and food security and sustainable agriculture through subtheme forums. Finally, there will be several networking opportunities that connect participants for one-on-one relationship building.
We hope each participant leaves the Summit with an expanded network of community leaders and potential collaborators addressing similar challenges, as well as a new collection of knowledge, strategies, and tools to apply to your work.
Exchange inclusive models, knowledge, tools, and strategies to address climate change
Foster relationships between CSP cohort years and develop a broad network of CSP community members working on environmental issues
Encourage greater collaboration within the CSP community
Connect change makers working on environmental issues across the international community and U.S. government exchange alumni network
The Community Solutions Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State with funding provided by the U.S. Government and supported in its implementation by IREX
8:00 – 8:25 a.m. EDTIn this session, IREX and the U.S. Department of State welcome participants and explain the Summit themes and subthemes, agenda, format, and objectives.
8:30 – 9:30 a.m. EDTIn this panel discussion, Peruvian environmental champions will discuss their community development work and good practices they have identified related to their work in environmental issues.
9:35 – 10:30 a.m. EDTDuring this hour, Dr. Deidre Combs will lead a facilitated interactive networking activity designed to help participants build relationships, establish shared understandings, and set intentions and objectives for the Summit.
10:35 – 11:00 a.m. EDTFollowing the facilitated networking session, participants will be encouraged to continue building professional connections by using the “Matchmaking” feature on the vFairs platform. Through the matchmaking application, participants will respond to a few questions and will be paired with an individual working in the same subtheme for live networking.
12:00 – 12:30 p.m. EDTIn this session, preselected participants will share short, compelling presentations of their personal story, why they are passionate about their field of work, a challenge they have overcome in their community work, or an obstacle they are currently addressing within environmental issues.
12:35 – 1:35 p.m. EDTDuring this round of Expert Workshops, preselected facilitators will present an interactive workshop on a topic within their subtheme with the goal of providing attendees with a tangible resource or skill that participants can apply in their own work. Participants are encouraged to attend their subtheme's Expert Workshop in addition to others that may be of interest. More information regarding Expert Workshop subthemes will be available soon.
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. EDTDirectly following Expert Workshops on a specific subtheme, there will be an open exchange session for members of that subtheme to connect and share about their work. More information regarding Open Exchange subthemes will be available soon.
8:00 – 8:30 a.m. EDTIn this session, Melania Guerra will share her experience working in extreme environments, her passion for science diplomacy at the international level, and strategies for using your platform to spread awareness about climate change. Following her remarks, Melania will be available to answer participant questions.
8:35 – 9:05 a.m. EDTIn this session, preselected participants will share short, compelling presentations of their personal story, why they are passionate about their field of work, a challenge they have overcome in their community work, or an obstacle they are currently addressing within environmental issues.
9:10 – 10:10 a.m. EDTDuring this round of Expert Workshops, preselected facilitators will present an interactive workshop on a topic within their subtheme with the goal of providing attendees with a tangible resource or skill that participants can apply in their own work. Participants are encouraged to attend their subtheme's Expert Workshop in addition to others that may be of interest. More information regarding Expert Workshop subthemes will be available soon.
10:10 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. EDTDuring this roundtable discussion session, Summit participants will engage in discussions with USG exchange alumni from Peru whose work focuses on environmental issues. Presenters will share good practices and their expertise around a set discussion topic and will then engage in a guided discussion with Summit participants.
12:00 – 1:55 p.m. EDTIn this session, participants will come together to reflect on the challenge they accepted for themselves or their organization at the Pre-Summit Convening one month earlier. In small groups, participants will reflect on their challenge experience, discuss successes and tips, and consider the impact of the challenge. This session will close with a share-out that captures good practices and learnings from the challenge experience.
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. EDTIn this interactive session, CSP Leadership Coach Deidre Combs will present participants with strategies for mitigating the effects and challenges they face through their community work within the field of environmental issues.
8:00 – 8:30 a.m. EDTIn this session, preselected participants will share short, compelling presentations of their personal story, why they are passionate about their field of work, a challenge they have overcome in their community work, or an obstacle they are currently addressing within environmental issues.
8:35 – 9:35 a.m. EDTDuring this round of Expert Workshops, preselected facilitators will present an interactive workshop on a topic within their subtheme with the goal of providing attendees with a tangible resource or skill that participants can apply in their own work. Participants are encouraged to attend their subtheme's Expert Workshop in addition to others that may be of interest. More information regarding Expert Workshop subthemes will be available soon.
9:40 – 10:10 a.m. EDTIn this session, Tim DeChristopher will talk about his experience using nonviolent civil disobedience as a powerful advocacy tool in climate justice work. He will share his motivations for his continued work as a climate justice advocate and practices he has found provide balance and sustainability for his activism.
10:10 – 10:40 a.m. EDTIn this session facilitated by Dr. Combs, participants will actively reflect on their learnings from the Summit, celebrate community and connection, and solidify their commitment to carrying the impact of the Summit forward.
10:40 – 11:00 a.m. EDTIn this closing session, participants will join CSP staff in sharing Summit outcomes and exploring opportunities for future collaboration within this newly established network of change makers, including CSP’s upcoming Communities of Practice (COPs).
11:00 – 11:30 a.m. EDTParticipants will be encouraged to continue building professional connections by one again using the “Matchmaking” feature on the vFairs platform. Through the matchmaking application, participants will respond to a few questions and will be paired with an individual working in the same subtheme for live networking.
8:00 – 8:25 a.m. EDTIn this session, IREX and the U.S. Department of State welcome participants and explain the Summit themes and subthemes, agenda, format, and objectives.
8:30 – 9:30 a.m. EDTIn this panel discussion, Peruvian environmental champions will discuss their community development work and good practices they have identified related to their work in environmental issues.
8:00 – 8:30 a.m. EDTIn this session, Melania Guerra will share her experience working in extreme environments, her passion for science diplomacy at the international level, and strategies for using your platform to spread awareness about climate change. Following her remarks, Melania will be available to answer participant questions.
10:10 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. EDTDuring this roundtable discussion session, Summit participants will engage in discussions with USG exchange alumni from Peru whose work focuses on environmental issues. Presenters will share good practices and their expertise around a set discussion topic and will then engage in a guided discussion with Summit participants.
12:00 – 1:55 p.m. EDTIn this session, participants will come together to reflect on the challenge they accepted for themselves or their organization at the Pre-Summit Convening one month earlier. In small groups, participants will reflect on their challenge experience, discuss successes and tips, and consider the impact of the challenge. This session will close with a share-out that captures good practices and learnings from the challenge experience.
2:00 – 3:00 p.m. EDTIn this interactive session, CSP Leadership Coach Deidre Combs will present participants with strategies for mitigating the effects and challenges they face through their community work within the field of environmental issues.
9:40 – 10:10 a.m. EDTIn this session, Tim DeChristopher will talk about his experience using nonviolent civil disobedience as a powerful advocacy tool in climate justice work. He will share his motivations for his continued work as a climate justice advocate and practices he has found provide balance and sustainability for his activism.
10:10 – 10:40 a.m. EDTIn this session facilitated by Dr. Combs, participants will actively reflect on their learnings from the Summit, celebrate community and connection, and solidify their commitment to carrying the impact of the Summit forward.
10:40 – 11:00 a.m. EDTIn this closing session, participants will join CSP staff in sharing Summit outcomes and exploring opportunities for future collaboration within this newly established network of change makers, including CSP’s upcoming Communities of Practice (COPs).
12:00 – 12:30 p.m. EDTIn this session, preselected participants will share short, compelling presentations of their personal story, why they are passionate about their field of work, a challenge they have overcome in their community work, or an obstacle they are currently addressing within environmental issues.
12:35 – 1:35 p.m. EDTDuring this round of Expert Workshops, preselected facilitators will present an interactive workshop on a topic within their subtheme with the goal of providing attendees with a tangible resource or skill that participants can apply in their own work. Participants are encouraged to attend their subtheme's Expert Workshop in addition to others that may be of interest. More information regarding Expert Workshop subthemes will be available soon.
1:35 – 2:30 p.m. EDTDirectly following Expert Workshops on a specific subtheme, there will be an open exchange session for members of that subtheme to connect and share about their work. More information regarding Open Exchange subthemes will be available soon.
8:35 – 9:05 a.m. EDTIn this session, preselected participants will share short, compelling presentations of their personal story, why they are passionate about their field of work, a challenge they have overcome in their community work, or an obstacle they are currently addressing within environmental issues.
9:10 – 10:10 a.m. EDTDuring this round of Expert Workshops, preselected facilitators will present an interactive workshop on a topic within their subtheme with the goal of providing attendees with a tangible resource or skill that participants can apply in their own work. Participants are encouraged to attend their subtheme's Expert Workshop in addition to others that may be of interest. More information regarding Expert Workshop subthemes will be available soon.
8:00 – 8:30 a.m. EDTIn this session, preselected participants will share short, compelling presentations of their personal story, why they are passionate about their field of work, a challenge they have overcome in their community work, or an obstacle they are currently addressing within environmental issues.
8:35 – 9:35 a.m. EDTDuring this round of Expert Workshops, preselected facilitators will present an interactive workshop on a topic within their subtheme with the goal of providing attendees with a tangible resource or skill that participants can apply in their own work. Participants are encouraged to attend their subtheme's Expert Workshop in addition to others that may be of interest. More information regarding Expert Workshop subthemes will be available soon.
9:35 – 10:30 a.m. EDTDuring this hour, Dr. Deidre Combs will lead a facilitated interactive networking activity designed to help participants build relationships, establish shared understandings, and set intentions and objectives for the Summit.
10:35 – 11:00 a.m. EDTFollowing the facilitated networking session, participants will be encouraged to continue building professional connections by using the “Matchmaking” feature on the vFairs platform. Through the matchmaking application, participants will respond to a few questions and will be paired with an individual working in the same subtheme for live networking.
11:00 – 11:30 a.m. EDTParticipants will be encouraged to continue building professional connections by one again using the “Matchmaking” feature on the vFairs platform. Through the matchmaking application, participants will respond to a few questions and will be paired with an individual working in the same subtheme for live networking.
We encourage you to share your journey during the Summit Challenge and Solutions Summit on social media using #2022CSPSolutionsSummit. Share your contribution to building sustainable communities in celebration of Earth Day using #InvestInOurPlannet. Remember to like and follow CSP and the U.S. Department of State – Exchange Programs on all social media platforms and tag us in your posts so we can share them with our network of over 33,000 followers!
8:00 – 9:30 a.m. EST