Music, innovation and social change converge at third annual event
Belmont University’s third annual Hope Summit brought together "Agents of Hope" from diverse sectors for three transformative days of collaboration, learning and inspiration, Oct. 27-29. The Summit convened change-makers, thought leaders and innovators committed to shaping a more hopeful world through practical action and strategic partnerships.
Opening Night Celebrations
The summit began with the Night of Hope celebration at the Country Music Hall of Fame & Museum, where community leaders and organizations were honored for their impactful work in Nashville and beyond. The evening included the presentation of Champions of Hope Awards along with the third annual Rick Byrd Character Award to Vince Gill and Amy Grant, celebrating those who exemplify hope in action.
Day One: Stories of Hope and Transformation
Monday's programming opened with a keynote address by renowned leadership expert Dr. Henry Cloud as part of the Andrea Waitt Carlton Family Foundation Lecture Series. Dr. Cloud unpacked trust and its essential role in making hope real in our lives. The day later featured specialized workshops targeting different stages of impact-making, including sessions on discovering one's calling as an Agent of Hope, implementing human-centered design principles, measuring social impact and applying redemptive entrepreneurship frameworks.
Workshop leaders included experts like David Kim and Amilee Watkins from Goldenwood, who guided participants in aligning their purpose with meaningful work. JoyCorps leaders Josie Mackenzie and Erica D'Souza shared strategies for shifting from service to systemic problem-solving, while Dr. Colin and Gabrielle Habberton of Relativ Impact equipped attendees with tools for measuring and validating their impact.
Evening of Songs & Dreams
The day culminated in "An Evening of Songs & Dreams" at Monday Night Brewing, presented by Goldenwood and Creative Arts Collective. The event masterfully combined storytelling and music, featuring three remarkable dreamers: Sarah Spear, founder of Empowered Together; filmmaker Matthew "Perk" Perkins and education leader Christina Farinacci-Roberts. Performances from acclaimed artists Sandra McCracken, Andrew Osenga, Cindy Morgan, Brett Taylor and Melanie Penn enriched the evening.
Day Two: Building Bridges Through Collaboration
Tuesday's sessions centered on "Building Bridges Through Collaboration," highlighted by a conversation with Marguerite 'Maggy' Barankitse, who shared her extraordinary story of founding Maison Shalom and supporting more than 47,000 children in Africa's Great Lakes region. As part of the Andrea Waitt Carlton Family Foundation Lecture Series, former MLB pitcher and Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey discussed his journey from adversity to impact during a live recording of The Hope People podcast.
Roundtable Discussions and Summit Impact
The final day featured intensive discussions spanning crucial themes in social innovation, from healthcare accessibility and economic development to arts-based cultural initiatives and systemic solutions to improve Tennessee's foster care system. These curated conversations brought together experts from organizations like Sterling Campus, Corner to Corner, the Harrison Center and Faith Driven Investor to explore practical solutions for community transformation.
Highlighting the collaborative spirit of the Summit, Belmont students reported out alongside nationally recognized leaders during the roundtable sessions, articulating key insights and outcomes from their shared conversations. These meaningful exchanges exemplified the success in connecting established change-makers with emerging voices, fostering partnerships that will continue to shape the future of social innovation.