The 2026 Hope & Healing Conference of Western New York brought together advocates, professionals, and community members for two days focused on connection, learning, and hope.
The event, which was hosted in the Williams Center at the State University of New York at Fredonia, had more than 175 attendees participated in Day One on June 5th, joining for keynote presentations, breakout sessions, resource sharing, and conversations centered around the power of story. The event also held a series of Hope Talks, which offered personal perspectives that reinforced the importance of hope, resilience, and recovery. This year also marked a milestone as the conference welcomed an attendee from Algeria, extending the reach of Hope & Healing beyond Western New York.
Day Two, which was held Saturday, June 6th, was the Family & Community Day, which also included the discussion facilitated by Joseph Green, Camp Hope: Where Stories Grow. The interactive conversation created connections across generations and experiences. The participation throughout the discussion laid a strong foundation for continuing to grow the conference's two-day format in the years ahead.
The Hope & Healing Conference of Western New York is already looking ahead to building momentum and strengthening the experience for next year's event.
