ResilienceCon 2025 will be held in
Nashville, TN
April 6-8, with a Resilience Portfolio Consortium on April 9 from 9-2pm Central
Abstract Submission Deadlines:
General Submission Deadline: October 21, 2024, 11:59pm CST
Late-Breaking Submission Deadline: January 24, 2025, 11:59pm CST
Deadline for Promising Scholar and Promising Advocate Scholarships:
November 15, 2024 by 11:59pm Central
Questions? Email us at lifepaths@lifepathsresearch.org
Join us for ResilienceCon 2025 at the Scarritt Bennett Center in Nashville, Tennessee!
Help us celebrate our 10th anniversary!
ResilienceCon™ is an international conference that focuses on strengths-based approaches for research, prevention, and intervention on violence and other adversities. We take a multidimensional approach to resilience. We believe—and the science supports—that there are many pathways to healing and most people use multiple assets and resources to overcome trauma. Although trauma has many harmful effects, it is possible to thrive after trauma. Anyone can get better at resilience! Our conference is dedicated to improving the science, policy, and practice of resilience. We have a strong social justice and community focus and try to embody that with our conference community.
For 2025, we offer two submission deadlines: The general submission deadline is October 21, 2024, 11:59 PM CST. We prefer people to submit to the general submission deadline if possible. We also offer a late-breaking submission deadline: January 24, 2025, 11:59 PM CST. For the late-breaking deadline, preference will be given to new research and projects that have not been presented at other conferences and were completed after the general submission deadline.
For more information about ResilienceCon, visit our website: https://resiliencecon.org
Program Topics
We invite submissions on all aspects of resilience and adversity, including:
- Strengths (protective factors) of individuals, families, schools, and communities who have experienced violence or other adversities
- Strength and resilience among people and communities of color
- International and cross-cultural research on strengths or resilience
- Community-based participatory research to promote health and well-being
- Developmental and other longitudinal studies of strengths or resilience
- Resilience and schools, including school climate and social networks
- Resilience across the full spectrum of sexual and gender identities
- Community resilience, including research on health disparities and other systemic issues
- Resilience among individuals with disabilities
- Resilience and rehabilitation in criminal justice and other offender settings
- Resilience among active military personnel and veterans
- Research on well-being, health, post-traumatic growth, and other resilient outcomes
- Resilience and self-care for professionals and diverse workforces
- Strengths-based approaches to prevention and intervention, such as (but not limited to): social and emotional learning (SEL), cultural connectedness, redefining masculinity, bystander programs, mindfulness, narrative, arts-based programs, movement-based programs, and trauma-informed care
- Policy initiatives to promote resilience
We also welcome submissions that focus on violence, trauma, and adversities or primarily on well-being or other outcomes. Understanding antecedents and consequences is essential for understanding the strengths that contribute to resilience, which is the process leading to thriving despite experiences of adversity.
Session Formats
One unique feature of ResilienceCon is our focus on promoting interactions among presenters and attendees. Breakout sessions (20X20s, Perspectives, and Hot Topics) are divided into 3 roughly sections: shorter presentations, a moderated Q&A by the session host (sort of a talk show format), and an open Q&A with the audience. Posters offer informal conversations. A lot of effort has gone into bringing all these great and passionate minds together and we want to make sure you talk to each other!
Guidelines and examples for all presentation types are on our website at: https://lifepathsresearch.org/resiliencecon-guidelines-presenters-moderators/
Posters. A poster is a visual presentation of a project. Poster sessions offer opportunities for informal interaction with conference attendees. If you are a student or someone else who is working on their first research study, then we recommend the poster format, but more senior researchers may also submit posters.
Data blitz option for poster presenters. Poster presenters can indicate whether they would like to be participate in the data blitz before the poster session. During the data blitz, each presenter has 3 minutes and 3 slides to showcase their poster. Think of it like a movie trailer for your poster–what would tempt people to stop by your poster after the data blitz? A great introduction to giving an oral conference presentation.
20×20 presentations. 20×20 presentations are fast-paced slide presentations that are similar in style to TED talks. Each presentation is 20 slides set on a 20-second automatic advance. So, each presentation lasts exactly 6 minutes, 40 seconds. The format favors slides that focus on a few words or images, not densely packed text. 20×20 presentations are great for helping you to hone your key take-home messages.
- If you submit a single 20×20 presentation, you will be grouped with others presenting on similar topics.
20×20 symposia. We also welcome teams of 3 to 5 presenters to organize their own 20×20 symposia (usually the symposium organizer then becomes the session host).
Perspectives. Perspectives are 8-10-minute talks in a more traditional format. You may submit a single Perspectives presentation, and then you will be grouped with others presenting on similar topics.
Perspectives symposia. Teams of 3-4 presenters may organize perspectives symposia (usually the symposium organizer then becomes the session host).
“Hot Topic” panel discussions. A 3-to-5-person panel on a current question in the field. These can be trending topics, controversies, or understudied issues (or all 3). The first section of these will be an opening statement, 5-7 minutes long, of the presenter’s position, ideas, or information on a topic. This will be followed by the interview section. Typically, in Hot Topics panels, the session host works in advance with the panelists to develop discussion questions (examples on the Guidelines section of our website). Most Hot Topics presenters do not use PowerPoint or other slides, although it is permitted. This is a chance to move beyond the constraints of data-driven presentations to talk about theory building, brainstorm about reconciling contradictory findings, or making new connections between research and practice.
Submission Guidelines
To submit your abstract you will need the following information: Title; abstract (up to 200 words); presenter’s name, affiliation, and contact information; co-authors’ names, affiliations, and emails; presenter bio (up to 100 words); and conflict of interest certification. Organized symposia also require an overview abstract. If you have questions about the session formats or your submission plans or ideas, contact us at lifepaths@lifepathsresearch.org
- Please note that presenters are responsible for their own expenses, including travel and registration.
- Conference registration includes breakfast and lunch on Monday and Tuesday, afternoon snacks on Monday, and hors d’oeuvres during the poster session on Sunday. The Wednesday RPC meeting includes lunch.
- Presenters from low-income countries (as determined by the World Bank) may qualify for reduced registration rates. Click here to see if you qualify. The reduced fee schedule is also on our registration page. All eligible presenters are welcome to apply for the scholarship opportunities described below.
Scholarship Opportunities
We offer two types of scholarships: Life Paths Promising Scholar Award and Life Paths Promising Advocate Award. Full scholarships include conference registration and a $200 housing allowance for people who travel to Nashville from outside the area (with housing receipt).
A limited number of honorable mentions are also available (50% off registration).
Scholarship winners are expected to attend the entire conference, April 6-8, 2025.
For full application details, click here.
Life Paths Promising Scholar Award. Four scholarships for presentations that focus on under-served or marginalized communities. Scholarships include conference registration. Eligibility is limited to current students (graduate and undergraduate), post-baccalaureate fellows, and post-doctoral fellows. Click here to to apply for a Promising Scholar Award.
Life Paths Promising Advocate Award. Four scholarships for advocates who currently work at a non-profit organization serving people and communities who are underserved or have experienced violence, marginalization, or distress. Click here to apply for a Promising Advocate Award.
*We give preference to people in full-time advocacy, first responder, and practitioner positions.
Exhibitor & Sponsorship Opportunities
Organizations with similar missions can have booths at ResilienceCon 2025. Other advertising opportunities are also be available. Please email lifepaths@lifepathsresearch.org for inquiries, or click here.
Conference Setting: Resilience Inside and Out
The Scarritt Bennett Center offers a beautiful and serene oasis in the heart of Nashville. The campus has historic buildings (on the National Register of Historic Places) and tree-lined green spaces. The Scarritt Bennett Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to social justice. The environment supports ResilienceCon goals by providing space (literally) to reflect on our roles as researchers and practitioners.
Scarritt Bennett, near Vanderbilt University, is within easy walking distance of restaurants and shops in the vibrant West End and Music Row areas. It is a short drive to Broadway music venues.
There are many local hotels and housing options near the Scarritt Bennett Center. In addition, Scarritt Bennett offers recently renovated, low-cost housing in converted dorms. Their spaces include private suites and rooms with a shared bath.
Nashville is Music City USA and one of the most vibrant cities in the United States. Experience live music, a fantastic restaurant scene, world-class shopping, and many museums and landmarks in the vicinity. There are many family-friendly activities as well.
Chairs of ResilienceCon
Sherry Hamby, Ph.D. (Life Paths Research Center and University of the South)
Nicole Yuan, Ph.D., MPH (University of Arizona)
Susan Yoon, Ph.D., MSW (The Ohio State University)
Victoria Banyard, Ph.D. (Rutgers University) – Founding Chair
Click here if you would like to become involved in the ResilienceCon program committee, see information on eligibility requirements, responsibilities, and benefits.
Contact Us
Inquiries can be sent to the Conference Director, Liz Taylor, at lifepaths@lifepathsresearch.org
ResilienceCon and the ResilienceCon logo are trademarks of Life Paths Appalachian Research Center, LLC.