2026 APHE Conference, April 29th - May 1st

We are thrilled to announce the upcoming conference, Rooted in Empathy: Branching out in The Bay, and are seeking speakers for this empowering event. This conference aims to delve deep into the realm of empathy and compassion, and explore the ways in which we can expand upon our program development, interactions with others, and our ideas about what humane education is.

Date: April 29th - May 1st

Location: Oakland, California

Speaker Guidelines:

We are seeking dynamic speakers who possess expertise in the fields of animal welfare, education, mental health, technology, psychology, social sciences, leadership, community engagement, and other related disciplines. If you have a compelling story, groundbreaking research, or practical tools to share on the power of empathy and compassion, we encourage you to submit your proposal. We are specifically seeking presentations on a variety of the following themes/topics:

Rooted in Empathy

Classroom Management and Engagement

• Behavior management/Dealing with combative children and/or parents

• Exciting lessons, games, crafts, and activities

• Developing successful new programs

• Incorporating animal ambassadors

Diving Deeper

• The link between animal abuse and human-directed violence

• Teaching effective altruism/Encouraging compassionate giving/actions

• How to approach difficult topics with the community (i.e. euthanasia)

• Teaching about food choices (veganism, vegetarianism, etc.)

Branching Out

Specific Programs/Audiences

• Summer camp resources

• HE programs for adults

• Engaging middle and high school-aged children

• HE outside of animal shelters: zoos, aquariums, wildlife centers, and more

Development

• How to raise money for HE programs

• Incorporating students into your fundraising

• Program evaluation/Data collection

• How to create a strategic plan

Leadership Buy-In and Team Building

• Getting staff support for HE programs

• Working with other departments

• Fitting HE into your organization’s mission/strategic plan

• Professional development opportunities

• Diversifying your staff and materials

Community Partnerships

• Reaching new communities/Expanding your audience

• School programs/Fitting HE into the classroom curriculum

• Incorporating different perspectives/cultures

• Prioritizing programs to fit community needs

Do you have something you would like to share that is not listed above? We would love to hear your creative ideas!

To guide you in filling out the form below, we recommend reviewing the Speaker Proposal Planning document first.

Proposal Deadline: October 19th, 2025

Submit Your Proposal