2026 WAVE Conference
About this Event
Welcome to the 2026 WAVE Conference!
Join us for a day of inspiring speakers, engaging sessions, and meaningful connections in the heart of Silver Spring. This year’s conference will once again take place at the Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza, a fully accessible venue that provides a welcoming space for our gathering.
Come to learn, share ideas, exchange expertise, and connect with others from across our vibrant regional Village network. It’s a great opportunity to engage, connect, and grow together!
We can’t wait to see you there!
Anticipated session topics include:
Supporting Those Aging Solo
Solo aging is a growing and increasingly urgent topic, touching more members of our Villages every year. We want to highlight programs and practices that support members aging without family caregivers nearby. How did you identify and connect with solo agers in your community? What programming has shown success in engaging and meeting the needs of solo agers? How can other Villages replicate your success?
When Our Members Needs Grow
As the Village movement matures, our membership continues to age. How can Villages continue to serve increasingly frail members? How has your Village responded to the need? Has your Village identified resources or partnerships to support some of your frail Village members? When your members need exceed your Village’s capacity, what approach has your Village taken? What would you want other Villages to learn from your experiences?
Exploring AI in Your Village
From simple tools to advanced applications, we want to hear how your Village uses AI to support members or volunteers. For those hesitant about AI, hearing how a peer Village has navigated the use of AI tools can turn worry into curiosity! What specific AI tools have you employed and what tasks has the use of AI helped you tackle? How have you governed/managed the use of AI for your Village? What do you wish you had known before starting?
Building Strong Villages, Board by Board
Strong leadership is the foundation of our success. We are looking for examples of organizational development in action. Are you launching a brand-new Village or keeping an established Board healthy, diverse, and engaged? Have you navigated a transition from a founder-led Board of Directors? Have you managed the growth of your Village from an all-volunteer organization to staffing support? This is about real-world challenges—bring your lessons learned and what you wish you had known!
Growing and Supporting Your Volunteer Base
Engaged, well-supported volunteers are vital to our communities. Share what has worked for your Village when recruiting, training, onboarding, and retaining volunteers. How have you switched up your recruitment approach to find needed skills? How have you successfully "activated" inactive volunteers? How has your Village rethought appreciation and celebration to better fit your volunteer community?
Growing Your Village to Reflect and Serve the Fullness of Your Community
Incredible work is happening across our region, and small steps are crucial to the process. We want to spotlight how your Village is learning, stepping forward, opening doors, and inviting people in. What tangible efforts is your Village making to become more inclusive, accessible, and representative of your community?
Agenda
🕑: 09:00 AM - 05:30 PM
Session Details Coming Soon! Tentative schedule below.
🕑: 08:00 AM - 09:00 AM
Registration and Exhibitor Hall Opens - Networking Breakfast
🕑: 09:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Networking Breakfast + Welcome
🕑: 10:00 AM - 11:15 AM
First Session Block
🕑: 11:30 AM - 12:45 PM
Exhibit Hall Open / Networking / Lunch/ Village Hot Topics
🕑: 12:45 PM - 01:15 PM
Lunch Panel
🕑: 01:30 PM - 02:45 PM
Second Session Block
🕑: 03:00 PM - 04:15 PM
Third Session Block
🕑: 04:30 PM - 05:30 PM
Networking Reception
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 70.00 to USD 110.00
