The Willow Summit brings local and regional presenters, advocates, service providers, and community partners together for a day of learning, connection, and shared commitment to preventing and addressing domestic violence.
Friday, October 9, 2026
8:30am – 4:30pm
The Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship
150 Sawgrass Dr.
Rochester, NY 14620
Registration:
Coming Soon
Speaker RFP Now Open
Willow is now accepting speaker proposals for the 2026 Willow Way Summit. We welcome submissions from individuals and organizations interested in sharing knowledge, lived and professional expertise, promising practices, research, advocacy tools, and survivor-centered approaches that support a coordinated community response to domestic violence.
Proposals will be accepted until Friday, May 15, 2026. After the submission period closes, proposals will be reviewed by a multi-disciplinary group of professionals.
Strong proposals will align with the Summit’s purpose, center survivor safety and dignity, include clear learning objectives, reflect diverse experiences and perspectives, and offer meaningful takeaways for professionals, advocates, allies, and community partners.
The Willow Way Summit is a day of community, discussion, advocacy, learning, and hope. Presenters from across the region address issues of domestic violence through a multidisciplinary lens, encouraging shared understanding and action across systems.
Together, we can continue building safer futures by strengthening awareness, improving response, and shifting power back into the hands of survivors.
Who Should Attend
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- Sessions should be 75 minutes, including 10–15 minutes for Q&A.
- Submissions must be survivor-centered and sensitive to trauma triggers, especially the use of images depicting violence, assault, or vulnerability.
- Submissions should demonstrate inclusivity and honor the lived experiences of all survivors, including communities on the margins.
- It is strongly suggested that sessions include participant engagement, such as discussion, reflection, polls, brainstorming, or small-group activities.
- Submissions and presentations must not represent a political party, promote a political view, or attempt to lobby.
- Slide decks must be ADA compliant.
- Presentations must not plagiarize in any way. Presenters must have rights to, or permission to use, all content referenced.
- Presenters must not attempt to sell goods or services during the session.
For questions about speaker proposals, please contact events@willowcenterny.org.
