Gathering for Change Gala

May 30, 2025

Event Photos

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.

Quotes from Speakers

“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

“We spend a lot of time in the university in our heads and studying the world, and yet change requires head, hand, and heart. You’ve got to have the social science knowledge and the scientific knowledge to understand the world. You’ve got to get your hands dirty, right? And be involved in those movements in social change and be connected to those that are sharing those values, and it’s also got to come from the soul and from the heart and the connections that make this work.”

Chris Benner

Faculty Director & Professor of Environmental Studies and Sociology

“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 & Professor of Sociology

“The Institute works with communities, not at communities. We encourage community-engaged research, but we also train faculty how to work with communities in an inclusive way, in a way that benefits everybody. 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. 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. We can try to do it all as individuals, but we’re going to be a lot more effective if we do it all together.”

Galina Hale

Associate Faculty Director, Institute for Social Transformation and Professor of Economics

“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. I will always carry that lesson with me. To see potential in others before they see it in themselves.”

Fernando Gallardo

Transforming Futures Program Coordinator

Event Slideshow

Word Cloud

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

Going Forward

The Institute for Social Transformation is working toward change. If you feel moved to join us in that effort, we invite you to explore ways to get involved with our programs. Your continued engagement helps us build partnerships, provide invaluable educational experiences, and drive the development and application of transformative research, both locally and globally.

Get Involved!