
THE HOPE SUMMIT 2023
The Hope Summit 2023 is where we will cultivate ideas, accelerate solutions and inspire hope.
THE EXPERIENCE
The Hope Summit is an annual conference and festival held in Charleston at the end of September to highlight the challenges facing our community and celebrate the community-driven solutions possible through the dozens of nonprofits, community organizations, schools, and local agencies working to create agency and hope in coastal South Carolina.
Now in its second year, The Hope Summit has grown to become a 3-day gathering including a conference, and festival with plans for a film festival and expo in the future. This is a multidisciplinary and intersectional gathering of knowledge of capacity sharing 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 knowledge ways in experiencing and managing terrestrial and marine ecosystems.

Our Logo Story
The Hope Summit 2023 logo symbolizes the power of community-driven solutions and of the role each of us plays in our human and wider living communities to be positive agents of change.
The design evokes the humble Eastern Oyster (Crassostrea virginica), a powerful partner of humanity for millenia in shaping and protecting coastlines and coastal ecosystems around the world. It also includes the crescent shape of the moon and the deep indigo of the Atlantic to evoke the role of tides in linking the oyster's local ecological impacts to the wider ocean.
The Hope Summit 2023 At-A-Glance
- Thu, Nov 02CharlestonNov 02, 2023, 6:00 PM – 9:00 PMCharleston, 360 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29403, USA
- Sun, Oct 01Daniel Island Waterfront ParkOct 01, 2023, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PMDaniel Island Waterfront Park, 101 River Landing Dr, Daniel Island, SC 29492, USAOct 01, 2023, 11:00 AM – 4:00 PMDaniel Island Waterfront Park, 101 River Landing Dr, Daniel Island, SC 29492, USAA family-friendly celebration of agency and hope. Meet dozens of local organizations, sustainable vendors, and solutions providers for a celebration of community-driven solutions at the Daniel Island Waterfront Park.
- Sat, Sep 30CharlestonSep 30, 2023, 8:30 AM – Oct 01, 2023, 4:40 PMCharleston, 202 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC 29401, USASep 30, 2023, 8:30 AM – Oct 01, 2023, 4:40 PMCharleston, 202 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC 29401, USAThe Conference is where solutions creators and accelerators exchange knowledge, experience, and best practices to strengthen community-driven solutions in the South Carolina Lowcountry and around the world.
- Fri, Sep 29CharlestonSep 29, 2023, 5:00 PM – Sep 30, 2023, 8:00 PMCharleston, 2200 Heriot St, Charleston, SC 29403, USASep 29, 2023, 5:00 PM – Sep 30, 2023, 8:00 PMCharleston, 2200 Heriot St, Charleston, SC 29403, USAThe Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network presents The Hope Summit 2023 Kick-off Party at 2022 host Brewlab. Meet and mingle with fellow Summit guests and VIPs as we kick off our celebration of community-driven solutions.
The Hope Summit Virtual Program
Presented by the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network

Join together with local conservation organizations to learn about the many important components of the Lowcountry, the threats they face, and how your students can help!
Organizations include: Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network who will be covering our local dolphins; The South Carolina Aquarium sharing about alligators; Coastal Expeditions discussing the importance of the salt marsh; Surfrider Foundation giving an overview of the importance of the ocean; Avian Conservation Center covering the impressive birds of prey in our backyard; SC Audubon highlighting the many important shorebirds of South Carolina; and more!
The Hope Summit Kick-off Party
Presented by the Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network



Brewlab
Friday, September 29th, 5 - 8 PM
2200 Heriot St, Charleston, SC 29403
The Lowcountry Marine Mammal Network presents The Hope Summit 2023 kick-off party at 2022 host Brewlab. Meet and mingle with fellow Summit guests and VIPs as we kick off our celebration of community-driven solutions.
The Hope Summit Conference
Sponsored by the Sustainable Ocean Alliance

College of Charleston,
School of Sciences, Mathematics, & Engineering
Saturday, September 30th -- 8:45 am - 4:30 pm
The Hope Summit Conference returns for its first year in person. The Conference is an opportunity for the global community of solutions creators, practitioners, and accelerators to exchange knowledge, experience, and best practices to strengthen community-driven solutions in the South Carolina Lowcountry and around the world.
The conference includes a mainstage speaker series, workshops, mentorship sessions, and opportunities for networking.

The Hope Summit Festival
Co-Hosted by the Daniel Island Neighborhood Association


Daniel Island Waterfront Park
Sunday, October 1st -- 11:00 am - 4:30 pm
101 River Landing Drive, Charleston, SC 29492
The Hope Summit Festival returns for its second year with even more solutions and local organizations. Come meet dozens of local organizations, artists, sustainable vendors, and solutions providers for a celebration of community-driven solutions at the Daniel Island Waterfront Park.
Sustainability
All events risk becoming unnecessarily wasteful. The Hope Summit organizers, partners, vendors, and attendees all have a shared responsibility to mitigate their waste and emissions. Learn how you can do your part.
Make your commitment to accomplish the tasks below:
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Carpool, walk, bike, or take public transportation
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Look before you throw and use the correct recycling and compost bins
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Utilize reusable cups or water bottles while at The Hope Summit
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Eat locally-sourced options from the food vendors on-site or from our list of sustainable local partners, bring reusable plasticware, and purchase beverages contained in recyclable metals.
