2026 IASWG INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM

The Power of Groups: Cultivating Hope, Acknowledging Fears and Taking Action

The International Association for Social Work with Groups invites group work students, practitioners, researchers, faculty, administrators, community workers and activists, and group organizers from various professional disciplines, to submit presentation proposals.

Proposals are welcomed in all areas of group work, especially related to group work practice with populations in a variety of settings, multicultural practice, group work in developing countries or underserved communities, community development, activist group work practice, group work research and training.

• Presentations are 30 or 60 minutes; comprised of interactive discussion of didactic learning or skill development with an experiential component.
• Posters are visual representations of research, practice, or training initiatives and are shared at designated times during the Symposium.

Proposals may be submitted in English, French, Spanish or German, and sessions at symposium may be conducted in these languages as well.

2026 SYMPOSIUM THEME

Group work is increasingly vital. Through group work we engage in building mutual understanding and respect while developing a sense of belonging in a world experiencing waves of negativity and hatred, causing rifts among individuals, groups and communities. Through group work we engage in collective action against injustice, hate, and fears by cultivating hope, understanding, and joy.

We invite you to share your group work experiences in practice, research and education in relation to this year's theme.

The IASWG believes in social group work's practical and powerful ways to bring people together – in small or large groups – to make a difference for individuals, local communities, and across the world. Join us in San Juan, Puerto Rico, 3 June–5 June 2026, to share your knowledge, innovations, research and experiences, and to feel our sense of local connection and global togetherness.

For more information, please visit www.iaswg.org/2026-symposium or email symposium@iaswg.org. We encourage presenters to be current IASWG members. All presenters must register for the symposium.