We Learned When Our Sector Comes Together, We Are Unstoppable
When we opened the doors to the 2025 Unstoppable Social Impact Sector Summit on October 9, the energy was electric. More than 400 nonprofit and social impact leaders gathered at Almansor Court in Alhambra, each bringing their own story, their own purpose, and their own determination to move their missions forward.
We began the morning by grounding ourselves in place and purpose. Samuel Lopez of the Gabrieleno Tongva San Gabriel Band of Mission Indians led a powerful land acknowledgment, reminding us that our work to advance equity happens on Indigenous land and that honoring that truth is part of our collective accountability. This was followed by student poet Dharma Lemon of GetLit Words Ignite, who moved the room with an original piece, inviting us to reflect on hope, resilience, and what it means to lead with heart.
Our keynote speaker, Brenda Solorzano, President & CEO of The California Endowment, set the tone beautifully: inviting us to re-imagine what’s possible when collaboration drives impact – especially when it may come from unlikely alliances. She reminded us that change doesn’t happen by accident; it happens when courageous leaders refuse to settle for the status quo.
That courage echoed throughout the day. In the Philanthropy in Real Time plenary, leaders from The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, Weingart Foundation, and California Community Foundation offered insights into how funders are meeting this moment of challenge.
Across every breakout, one theme was clear: our sector is innovating in ways that protect our most vulnerable communities. Sessions such as “Responsibly Using AI to Maximize Equitable Outcomes,” “First-Generation Professional Leadership,” and “Revamping Impact Narratives” demonstrated that transformative change can occur at the intersection of creativity, data-driven thinking, and authenticity.
We also made space for breath, reflection, and mental health. Under the gazebo, Okha Shank Butler guided participants through breathwork and grounding practices, while later in the afternoon, Ponti Lambros led Messy & Meaningful, reminding us that creativity and rest are vital parts of leadership, too.
A standout moment came during lunch, when Supervisor Hilda Solis joined us for a fireside chat on the essential role nonprofits play in shaping a more just society in Southern California. Her words reinforced what so many of us already feel: that the heart of this region beats through its nonprofits.
As the day continued, the afternoon panels, focusing on Impact Resilience, Consultant Partnerships, and Reclaiming the Narrative, pushed us to think boldly about the future and how we sustain our missions, tell our stories, and define our value on our own terms.
And then, of course, came the joy. The Summit Social Club closed the day with an unforgettable drag performance by Elektra Armenta, a reminder that celebration is resistance.
We owe deep gratitude to our sponsors, whose partnership made this gathering possible. Thank you to JP Morgan Chase, Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, California Community Foundation, Community Partner, Angell Foundation, Edison International, Bank of America, Kaiser Permanente, East West Bank, Deloitte, First 5 LA, SoCalGas, CalNonprofits, Blue Shield of California, The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation, The California Wellness Foundation, Vasquez & Company, Cause Communications, Star Inisights, Nonprofit Finance Fund, Orange County Community Foundation and many others who believe in strengthening the nonprofit sector from the ground up.
As I looked around the room that afternoon, I saw community. Leaders who show up even during unprecedented challenges, from ICE raids, climate disasters, DEI hostility and federal probes. Yet none of it has stopped us. These moments have only strengthened our resolve. I saw leaders who innovate, collaborate, and lift one another higher.
Because when we come together, we are, and will continue to be, unstoppable.
In solidarity,Efrain Escobedo
President & CEO of The Center for Nonprofit Management
