Following its 2024 debut, the Taking Action Together (TAT) summit returned to Houston on April 22-23 to a warm welcome from participants. At the event entrance, in neon letters, read the summit’s 2026 theme “Root, Act, Rise” – a phrase that serves as a call to action.

The summit was organized by the SUSTAIN Wellbeing COMPASS Coordinating Center (SUSTAIN Center), a research project within the Graduate College of Social Work (GCSW). Its aim is to bring together members of the HIV justice community into a space for meaningful conversation and education. Attendees came from all walks of life, including community organizers, case workers, academics, and caregivers.

One unique aspect of TAT is its people-centered ethos, said Alejandra Avilés, SUSTAIN Center’s Program Director. It was something her team prioritized building because of their past collective experiences at other social work conferences, “We felt that at these types of conferences, you need to create a space that feels healing-centered and gives people space to think through the things they’re hearing.”

The TAT organizers did just that by intentionally building time into the agenda for participants to prioritize their mental wellbeing. Self-care stations, such as a yoga room and sensory-friendly activity spaces, were positively received.

Aside from SUSTAIN’s organizing role, GCSW faculty and staff also presented their research to attendees. Program Manager Lladira Aguilar presented on building trauma-informed care within – and outside of – HIV care organizations. Senior Researcher Dr. Bec Sokha Keo led a session on the roots of community organizing by examining a Black Trans-led collective as a case study. Dr. Katie McCormick, a 2018 alumna of the MSW program, also presented her work on harm reduction principles.

Current students also had the opportunity to learn from sessions and volunteer with the SUSTAIN team. Hallie Hasenbank, a current MSW student, attended some of the sessions and found value in what she heard. She even noted that learning from one of Lladira’s sessions, where she moderated a conversation between four panelists, added a valuable component to the skills they learned from the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance (NLA), a focused learning opportunity (FLO) offered at the GCSW.

When asked what value she found in attending the sessions, she said, “As a macro student who can easily spend all my efforts analyzing harmful systems and identifying more equitable paths forward, these conversations reminded me that when there is no clear end in sight, taking care of yourself, your people, and your community is an equally important and valuable part of the process. TAT gave me the opportunity to slow down, connect with community, and root deeply in the ‘why.’”

As the SUSTAIN Center continues its journey toward accomplishing its mission, its presence in the local community continues to strengthen, along with the potential for future summits Alejandra is focused on the possibilities for the future, stating, “One of the speakers said they wanted to bring the summit to El Paso. But I hope we can continue hosting in Houston. This is our home.”