Lived Experience Collective Convening

We’re excited to welcome you to the 4th Annual Lived Experience Collective Convening, happening October 24–25, 2025 in Colorado Springs, CO.

This year’s convening centers on community building, self-care, and cultural inclusion, while empowering the lived experience community to develop both individual and organizational advocacy agendas. Together, we’ll focus on turning pain into purpose and building pathways for meaningful change.

The convening opens with an optional United Survivor’s signature Eye of the Survivor Workshop & Retreat on Friday, October 24th.

On Saturday, October 25th, participants will engage in a full day of transformational sessions, featuring opportunities to:

• Build community with fellow survivors and advocates
• Explore strategies for self-care and resilience
• Learn inclusive practices to strengthen impact
• Create actionable advocacy platforms for change

This powerful gathering is designed to inspire, connect, and equip those with lived experience to continue leading change in their communities.

Agenda:

• 7:30 AM – Guest Arrival & Check-In
• 8:00 AM – Welcome: Who is US?, Land Acknowledgment, Intention Setting & Lighting of the Candles
• 8:30 AM – Keynote: How Lived Experience Changes Systems — Susie [수지] Reynolds Reece
• 9:15 AM – Cultural Inclusion Panel
• 10:45 AM – Advocacy, Community Building & Self-Care Tracks
• 12:00 PM – Lunch
• 1:00 PM – Interactive Panel
• 2:00 PM – Advocacy, Community Building & Self-Care Tracks
• 3:30 PM – Advocacy, Community Building & Self-Care Tracks
• 4:50 PM – Closing Ceremony

Susie [수지] Reynolds Reece: Reece is the director of Lived Experience Initiatives for the Suicide Prevention Resource Center. In that capacity, Reece leads the development of multi-organizational inclusion practices, provides guidance to national experts in the field, and develops international recommendations for centering lived experience in any field. Reece bolsters lived experience engagement by elevating the voices of lived experience experts from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.

Reece has been a recognized leader and suicide prevention strategist for a decade. She leads from her own suicide-centered lived experience, which helps her continually center the needs of those most affected by suicide.

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Host or Publisher United Suicide Survivors International