Lived Experience Collective Convening
The Lived Experience Collective Convening brings together the lived experience community to energize and reinvigorate their passion for turning pain into purpose. Each year, we bring together survivors to build community, learn from one another, and set our changemaking intentions for the coming year. This important community event and conference includes speakers and workshops designed to foster community, networking, self-growth and advocacy strategies. The Lived Experience Collective Convening takes place in October in odd years, and in partnership with the Pan-American Conference of the International Association for Suicide Prevention in even years.
We’re excited to announce the 4th Annual Lived Experience Collective Convening will be held October 24-25, 2025 in Colorado Springs, CO. This year’s Lived Experience Collective Convening focuses on community building, self-care, and cultural inclusion, while empowering the lived experience community to create their individual and organizational advocacy agendas and platforms for creating change and turning pain into purpose. This transformational convening kicks-off with United Survivor’s signature Eye of the Survivor Workshop & Retreat and welcoming reception, followed by a full day of transformational sessions. Registration opens September 3, 2025.
Agenda
This year’s Lived Experience Collective Convening centers on community building, self-care, and cultural inclusion - empowering those with lived experience to shape their personal and organizational advocacy agendas. Together, we aim to transform pain into purpose and create lasting change.
7:30 - Guest Arrival
8:00 - Welcome, “Who is US?,” Land Acknowledgment, Intention Setting, Lighting of the Candles
8:30 - Keynote “How Lived Experience Changes Systems”
9:15 - Cultural Inclusion Panel
10:45 - Advocacy, Community Building and Self-Care Tracks
Lunch
1:00 - Interactive Panel
2:00 - Advocacy, Community Building and Self-Care Tracks
3:30 - Advocacy, Community Building and Self-Care Tracks
4:50 - Closing Ceremony
Pre-Conference
This year’s convening kicks-off with an Eye of the Survivor Workshop and Retreat and Welcoming Reception.
Featured & Keynote Speaker
Susie [수지] Reynolds Reece
“How Lived Experience Changes Systems”
Reece is the director of Lived Experience Initiatives for the Suicide Prevention Resource Center. In that capacity, Reece leads the development of multi-organizational inclusion practices, provides guidance to national experts in the field, and develops international recommendations for centering lived experience in any field. Reece bolsters lived experience engagement by elevating the voices of lived experience experts from diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
Reece has been a recognized leader and suicide prevention strategist for a decade. She leads from her own suicide-centered lived experience, which helps her continually center the needs of those most affected by suicide.
Sponsors & Partners
If you need more information about this year’s sponsorship opportunities, email us here.
Location & Travel
This year’s Lived Experience Collective Convening will be held at the El Pomar Foundation in Colorado Springs, CO.
Hampton Inn & Suites I-25 South Colorado Springs:
Lived Experience Collective | $119 rate per room per night
Home2 Suites Colorado Springs South
Lived Experience Collective | $129 rate per room per night
3rd Annual Lived Experience Collective Convening 2024
Thank you to the amazing speakers, sponsors, committee members, partners and participants who made the 3rd Annual Lived Experience Collective Convening a milestone success!
2nd Annual Lived Experience Collective Convening 2023: Living Beyond Suicide Summit
In 2023, United Suicide Survivors International partnered with Living Beyond Suicide to host the 2023 Summit. Special thanks to all those who came and supported the 2023 summit.
