Our Mission

We are an annual conference and festival held in Charleston founded to create agency and hope through community-driven solutions.

The Hope Summit is a multidisciplinary and intersectional ideas and solutions summit with core thematic tracks that include water quality and plastic pollution, stewardship and citizen science, governance, ecological restoration, resilience and adaptation, storytelling as a catalyst of change, environmental justice, and traditional ways of experiencing and managing terrestrial and marine ecosystems.

Our Theme in 2026

Creating Vibrant Communities

THS 2026

THE HOPE SUMMIT

October 1st - 4th | Charleston, South Carolina

At-A-Glance

THS 2026 Conference

Oct 1st - 2nd

The Conference returns as a two-day intersectional and multi-disciplinary gathering at the Charleston Museum to explore what it means to create vibrant communities. Join us in person or virtually through our new hybrid, more interactive format.

THS 2026 Film Festival

Oct 3rd

Stories have the power to change the world. At The Hope Summit, we aspire to inspire by showcasing powerful stories about solutions-driven action.

Join us for two powerful blocks of ocean stories on October 3rd.

THS 2026 Community Festival

Oct 3rd

A family-friendly open-air festival featuring nonprofits, sustainable local businesses, workshops, and a Repair Fair at the Charleston Museum.

The Hope Summit Next Generation Scholarships

Conference Scholarships

Proposals and Applications due by September 1st

At The Hope Summit, we are committed to developing and accelerating young emerging leaders through mentorship, workshops, equitable access, community, and scholarships for 100 students and early career professionals to receive fully-sponsored Conference Passes. We have two opportunities for applications in 2026.

The Carolina Ocean Alliance and the College of Charleston Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program invite students, researchers, practitioners, artists, nonprofits, and community members to submit an abstract for work related to resilience, sustainability, environmental stewardship, climate action, food systems, conservation, community engagement, environmental justice, public health, innovation, and community-driven solutions.

Poster Session Proposal Submissions

COA is proud to partner with FutureSwell to offer an exciting opportunity for students and early-career communicators, creatives, and storytellers to attend The Hope Summit 2026 and be part of the summit's collaborative storytelling process.

All recipients will create a short video, blog post, podcast, or other creative expression of their experience at The Hope Summit. This can include an interview with one of the speakers or featured attendees, a deeper dive into a panel or program topic that resonated with you, profiles of organizations participating in The Hope Summit 2026 Community Festival, or a story that blends your experiences at The Hope Summit 2026 with how you are working to create a vibrant community.

Applications