How can educators from all over the world unite for the communal goal of positive social impact? The 2025 Social Impact Educator Gathering organized by Daniela Papi-Thornton, was an event filled with a diverse group of educators seeking to make positive social change.
Hosted by Grinnell College, found outside Des Moines, Iowa, this gathering featured a series of workshops and peer-led discussions intended to spark innovative ideas and deepen our understanding of how to navigate complex systems.
Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement Director, Paul Heiderbrecht, had the opportunity to contribute to the event, and had a positive experience. This is a challenging time for many in the higher education sector, with systems breaking down and being disrupted, and Paul was struck by the many moments of profound care and inspiration shared at the gathering. Paul also appreciated being able to re-connect with like-minded educators involved with Oxford’s Map the System competition.
Paul presented insights from his experience equipping students and start-up founders in the Grebel Peace Incubator to engage governments as a pathway to systems change. With participants present from different regions, countries, and types of college and university programs, he was able to dig deeper into this and many other topics in subsequent conversations.
This event also helped to launch Systems Change Educators Unite an online community built to support educators in their efforts to create programming and drive institutional change. This, in turn, will help students find ways to positively contribute to social or environmental change. One key area of focus for this group is to support systems thinking mindsets and skill sets. A series of online workshops and other virtual connections will enable educators to test innovative ideas, find future collaborators, and co-create new initiatives.