Title: Weaving the Web of Change: Collective Power for Resilient Futures
Presenter(s):
Heather Polonsky (she/they)
Charis Lawson (she/her)
Room: Pyon Su 2108
Session Block(s): Session I
Time: 10:25 a.m. to 11:25 a.m.
Duration: 60 minutes
Program Abstract:
This workshop explores the importance of individual and collective action through the lens of Deepa Iyer’s Social Change Ecosystem Map. Participants will identify their unique roles within movements for social change and engage in a hands-on activity to put those roles into action. Presenters from Towson University’s Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility will share how they have implemented this framework to foster collaboration, belonging, and sustained engagement across campus.
Program Description:
In a time of rapid social, political, and environmental change, advocacy is not only a means of driving progress—it is also a form of resilience. This interactive workshop invites participants to explore how advocacy, grounded in community and self-awareness, sustains both individuals and movements for justice. Using Deepa Iyer’s Social Change Ecosystem Map as a guiding framework, participants will identify and reflect on their unique roles within the broader landscape of social change—whether as weavers, builders, visionaries, caregivers, or other key archetypes.
The session will begin with an introduction to the Social Change Ecosystem framework and an exploration of how it can deepen understanding of collective work and personal contribution. Participants will then engage in guided reflection and dialogue to map their own roles and consider how these identities show up in their personal, professional, and civic lives. Through a hands-on, small-group activity, attendees will apply the framework to a real-world issue, collaboratively envisioning ways to put their roles into action and strengthen resilience within their communities and institutions.
Presenters from Towson University’s Office of Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility will share how they have implemented this framework with students, faculty, and staff to foster belonging, collaboration, and sustained engagement. They will highlight examples of campus-based initiatives where role mapping has helped individuals align their passions with meaningful action and collective care.
By the end of the session, participants will leave with practical tools, a deeper sense of their place in the ecosystem of change, and renewed energy to approach advocacy as an act of resilience in an ever-changing world.