Everyone Is Welcome Here — Let’s Make It Real!
Creating communities where everyone is welcome requires knowledge, skill, intention, and courage. It asks us not only to open doors, but to build systems, practices, and relationships that make belonging possible for all.
On Saturday, January 24, 2026, we gathered at JUMP in Boise for a day of connection, learning, and action-oriented conversation. Together, we explored what it means to create environments— workplaces, schools, neighborhoods, and civic spaces—where dignity is honored, differences are embraced, and every person has the opportunity to belong and thrive.
Through keynote addresses, interactive breakout sessions, and community-building experiences, participants:
Deepened their understanding of human rights and belonging
Learned practical strategies for cultivating compassion and inclusion
Strengthened skills for dialogue, empathy, and community leadership
Connected with partners and peers committed to building welcoming communities
Left inspired and equipped to make “Everyone Is Welcome Here” a lived reality
Civic leaders, youth advocates, educators, community builders, and others committed to advancing human rights joined us for this powerful day.
Thank You for Joining Us
Next Year’s Cultivating Compassionate Communities Conference will take place on:
Saturday, January 30, 2027
Together, we’ll connect, learn, and create a more compassionate future.
Keynote Address
Dr. Mitch Maki, President and CEO, Go for Broke National Education Center
This year’s conference will be anchored by a powerful keynote address from Dr. Mitchell Maki, President and CEO of the Go For Broke National Education Center and one of the nation’s leading scholars on the Japanese American redress movement.
Dr. Maki brings deep historical insight and lived wisdom to the question of what it truly means to build belonging in the face of injustice. As lead author of the award-winning book Achieving the Impossible Dream: How Japanese Americans Obtained Redress, he offers a compelling case study of how moral clarity, collective action, and perseverance led to the passage of the 1988 Civil Liberties Act.
Beyond his scholarship, Dr. Maki has played a pivotal role in preserving and amplifying community voices. His national and international speaking engages audiences with lessons that are as relevant today as ever, challenging us to consider how memory, accountability, and empathy shape more just futures.
Closing Plenary
Sarah Inama, Boise, Idaho Educator and Andy Scoggin, Interfaith Sanctuary Board President and Scoggin Capital Investment CEO
Close the conference with a powerful, timely conversation between educator Sarah Inama and community leader Andy Scoggin as they explore this year’s theme, Everyone is Welcome Here – Let’s Make It Real.
Sarah Inama, a world studies teacher at East Junior High in Boise and national voice for inclusive classrooms, will reflect on what it truly means to stand by students and create spaces where every young person belongs.
Andy Scoggin, CEO of Scoggin Capital Investment, Board President of Interfaith Sanctuary Homeless Shelter, and former member of the Idaho State Board of Education, brings deep experience in civic leadership and community impact.
Together, Sarah and Andy will invite us to move from intention to action and imagine what is possible when dignity and belonging guide our choices.
Meet Our Session Presenters
Sponsorship Opportunities
We invite you to become a vital partner in our 4th annual Cultivating Compassionate Communities Conference! By sponsoring this event, your organization will gain meaningful visibility and support an impactful day of learning that promotes empathy, equity, and community connection.