Gathering for Change Gala

May 30, 2025

“We want to help imagine a world that is actually better. And we know that we can’t do that alone.” – Ned LeBlond (Managing Director)

Thank you for joining us for an unforgettable evening at the Gathering for Change Gala, where the community came together to learn about and celebrate the unwavering power of collective action in building a better future, even in uncertain times. During the event, guests mingled with changemakers and visionaries affiliated with the institute, along with other like-minded individuals from across the region who continue to fight for positive change.

It was a night of inspiring stories, live music, delicious food and refreshments, and meaningful connections, all while learning how to support transformative initiatives. We shared lessons from our work on how strategic research, education, and community partnerships can help create lasting change for justice and sustainability, both locally and globally.

We also honored our founding Faculty Director, Professor Chris Benner, who has been instrumental in building the long-term vision of the institute, and we introduced our incoming Faculty Director, Professor Galina Hale, who will boldly lead us into the future.

“…we spend a lot of time in the university in our heads and studying the world, and yet change requires, heads, hands, and heart. You’ve gotta have the social science knowledge, uh, the scientific knowledge to understand the world. You’ve gotta get your hands dirty, right? And be involved in those movements in social change and be connected to those that are sharing those values. It’s also gotta come from the soul and from the heart and the connections that make this work meaningful. It has been the greatest privilege of my career to be part of and help support the networks that the institute has connected with.” – Chris Benner (Faculty Director)

Word Cloud

At the event, we invited guests to answer the question below. Their collective responses were used to create the Word Cloud.

“Everything about the Institute is social. We are supporting people working together in solidarity and alliance. It’s not anti-authority or questioning authority. It’s not innovation, it’s transformation of our students, of our society, of ourselves.”- Katharyne Mitchell (Dean of Social Sciences)

Event Photos

The Institute works with communities, not at communities, right? We encourage community engaged research, but we also train faculty how to work with communities in the inclusive way, in the way that benefits everybody. And we want to continue helping students to grow into successful leaders for positive social change. Social change only comes when the stakeholders are all aligned. And so going forward, we are looking to expand our academic base at the UC, Santa Cruz and beyond, and also grow our community ties in depth and reach. And we also want to deepen our collaboration with policymakers and business communities. We are here in a hay barn, not in the ivory tower. That is flat as opposed to vertical. What does it mean to me? It means that nobody is more important than anybody else. We are all on the same level. We are all here because we want to make the world a better place. And so we cannot not do it. We can try to do it all as individuals, but we’re gonna be a lot more effective if we do it all together. – Galina Hale (Incoming Faculty Director)

“…what I’ve come to understand is that emerging leaders, especially those of us from underrepresented backgrounds, need space to be seen, to be believed in and to try. Chris modeled that kind of leadership and he saw people not just for who they are, but for who they could become. That belief, simple as it is, is transformative, and as I continue to grow in my own journey, affect ineffective social work, I will always carry that lesson with me. To see potential in others before they see it in themselves.” – Fernando Gallardo (Transforming Futures Coordinator)