Communities in Action: Building Justice Together
Community organisations and settlement houses sit at the heart of our neighbourhoods. Every day, practitioners respond to complex social challenges, from funding pressures to shifting community safety needs. Yet, finding the time to pause, reflect, and share practical solutions with peers remains a rare privilege.
To bridge this gap and support meaningful collaboration, IFS Americas is thrilled to announce the next event in our 2026 Peer Learning Series: Communities in Action: Building Justice Together.
We invite you to join us on April 21, 2026, for an engaging virtual conversation designed to help place-based organisations embed a strong social justice focus into their daily work.
The Power of Peer Learning
The 2026 Peer Learning Series is a core initiative of IFS Americas, the North American branch of the International Federation of Settlements and Neighborhood Centers. Our network connects settlement houses across the region, creating spaces where practitioners can learn from one another while staying grounded in their local contexts.
We built this series on a simple but powerful premise: stronger relationships between organisations lead to stronger communities. By bringing people together, we can surface practical approaches and highlight the innovative work happening right across the Americas.
This specific event invites you to reflect, share, and connect with a larger movement grounded in care, equity, and belonging. These core values underpin the vital work you do locally, while also resonating on a global scale. When we gather to share our experiences, we transform isolated local challenges into shared opportunities for growth.
Spotlight on Irma Rodriguez
For this session, we are incredibly honoured to feature a conversation with Irma Rodriguez, the former Executive Director of Queens Community House.
Under her leadership, Queens Community House stood as a beacon of support, providing individuals and families with the tools they needed to enrich their lives and build healthy, inclusive neighbourhoods. During our event, Irma will share her firsthand experiences and outline exactly how her organisation moved to deeply embed a social justice focus into their operational framework and community programmes.
Embedding social justice is not just about changing a mission statement. It requires a fundamental shift in how an organisation operates, delivers services, and advocates alongside its community. Irma will discuss the practical steps, the inevitable hurdles, and the immense triumphs involved in moving an organisation toward a more equitable and justice-oriented model.
Why Embedding Social Justice Matters
In community work, we often focus heavily on direct service delivery. We provide food, housing support, after-school care, and senior services. While these services remain absolutely essential, a true settlement house model also asks us to look at the systemic root causes of the inequities our communities face.
By integrating a social justice framework, organisations move beyond just treating the symptoms of poverty and marginalisation. They begin to advocate for systemic change, empower community members to raise their voices, and ensure that equity sits at the centre of every decision.
During our session, we will explore:
- How to transition from a purely service-based model to an advocacy-driven approach.
- Ways to engage staff and community members in social justice initiatives.
- Practical methods to measure the impact of equity-focused programmes.
- Strategies for maintaining momentum during challenging times.
A Space for Staff at All Levels
One of the most important aspects of this event is that it is designed for everyone. Meaningful change within an organisation does not just happen at the executive level. It requires the dedication, insight, and active participation of every team member.
Whether you are a frontline youth worker, a volunteer coordinator, a middle manager, or an executive director, this conversation is for you. We believe that staff at all levels hold valuable insights into how we can build more just and equitable communities. By bringing together diverse voices from different tiers of organisational structure, we foster a much richer and more comprehensive dialogue.
Event Details at a Glance
We want to make sure you have all the information you need to join this pivotal conversation. Please mark your calendars and secure your spot.
- Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2026
- Time: 3:00 – 4:30 PM ET
- Format: Virtual via Zoom
- Registration: You must register in advance to attend this event.
How to Get Involved
We encourage you to bring your questions, your experiences, and your passion for community building to this event. IFS Americas continues to evolve as a network shaped by the people it brings together, and your voice is an essential part of that evolution.
If you would like to learn more about the 2026 Peer Learning Series, need assistance with registration, or want to explore other ways to get involved with IFS Americas, we would love to hear from you. Please reach out directly to TKAELBER@UNHNY.ORG.
We look forward to seeing you on Zoom as we work together to build justice, foster belonging, and strengthen the international settlement house movement.
Please note: A PDF with the full event flyer and additional details is available for download at the end of this post.
