NASW-MN Unconference

A Whole New Way to Gather: Happening November 6, 2025

The world feels like it’s crumbling — and social workers are being asked to hold it all together.
You’re expected to care for clients, advocate for systemic change, and somehow tend to your own well-being. It is overwhelming.

At NASW-MN, we believe support, inspiration, and new approaches are essential for these unprecedented times.
That is why we are doing things differently.

Introducing the NASW-MN Unconference
A day designed to build resilience through community, creativity, and care.

About the Unconference

This is not a typical conference.
No panels. No breakout sessions. No PowerPoint fatigue.
Instead, the Unconference offers:

  • Tools for radical self-care
  • Practices for deep connection and community-building
  • Space to reflect on how we dismantle oppression and move toward liberation

Throughout the day, we will explore:

  • How do we care for ourselves in a profession built on caring for others?
  • How do we build authentic connections, even across differences?
  • How do we create real, lasting change?

This is a day to set down your laptop and bring your full self.
Expect keynotes that spark hope, interactive experiences, and moments of real conversation and reflection.

You will leave feeling supported, recharged, and reconnected.


What Does It Mean to "Unconference"?

un·con·fer·ence [uhn-kon-fer-uhns] verb
To gather with purpose, ditch the traditional format, and connect like humans.
To recharge through movement, reflection, laughter, and real talk.
To get what you actually need: rest, community, and a spark of hope.

"We unconferenced so hard, I left feeling seen, supported, and actually hopeful."


Support the Movement: Sponsor the Unconference

Social workers are being asked to do more than ever before, often without the resources and support they need.
The NASW-MN Unconference is a direct response: a bold space centered on radical self-care, authentic connection, and collective renewal.

Your sponsorship invests in:

  • The mental health and resilience of Minnesota’s social workers
  • An event built around care, creativity, and social justice
  • The future of a profession that serves on the frontlines of every crisis

Support the well-being of those who support our communities.

Become a Sponsor by emailing BDecker-Tonnesen.naswmn@socialworkers.org.