ALL IN: Mobilizing Individuals, Families, Churches, Cities,
and Resources to Bring
Everyone Home.
October 23-24, 2026 | Roosevelt Island, NY
We're excited to be hosting City Relief Summit, a two-day conference designed
to bring our community together for learning, connection, and inspiration.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
OCTOBER 24
9:00 AM – Doing What We Can With What We Have | Dr. Terence Lester
10:30 AM – Breakout Sessions
Mobilizing Families – How parents/guardians can equip their children to care for the most vulnerable
Mobilizing Churches – How Churches Can Make a Difference
Mobilizing the City – Working With City Leaders and Organizations
Mobilizing Politicians – Getting Politicians to Act
Mobilizing Money – Raising Funds to Serve Neighbors
12:00 PM – Lunch
1:00 PM – Breakout Sessions
2:00 PM – Final Session – Authentic Activism | Eugene Cho
Subject to change
OCTOBER 23
7:00 PM – The Path to Home: Understanding the Crisis | Josiah Haken, City Relief CEO
Post-Session – Rooftop Gathering
Connection, conversation, and community following the session.
DR. TERENCE LESTER
Dr. Lester is a storyteller, public scholar, speaker, community activist, and author. He is the Founder and Executive Director of Love Beyond Walls, a nonprofit organization focused on raising awareness about poverty and homelessness and on community mobilization.
He has authored seven books and three traditionally published works, including:
I See You: How Love Opens Our Eyes to Invisible People
When We Stand: The Power of Seeking Justice Together
All God’s Children: How Confronting Buried History Can Build Racial Solidarity.
EUGENE CHO
Eugene is the President/CEO of Bread for the World and Bread Institute, a prominent non-partisan Christian advocacy organization urging both national and global decision makers to help end hunger – both in the United States and around the world.
He is also the founder of One Day's Wages, a grassroots movement of people, stories, and actions to alleviate extreme global poverty.
He has authored two books, including:
Thou Shalt Not Be a Jerk: A Christian’s Guide to Engaging Politics
Overrated: Are We More in Love with the Idea of Changing the World Than Actually Changing the World?
JULIE WON
Julie Won represents the 26th Council district in Western Queens covering the neighborhoods of Long Island City, Sunnyside, Astoria, and Woodside. She is the first woman and immigrant to represent this district in the city’s history. As a tenant and activist, Julie has committed to a new vision for her community with a deep focus on creating and preserving affordable housing, increasing access to city resources for all New Yorkers, ensuring that access to quality and affordable internet is guaranteed, and many other issues that are top of mind for her constituents.
Prior to her election, Julie served her neighbors as board member of Queens Community Board 2, Community Capacity Development (CCD), 696 Build Queensbridge, QNS Together, and was a co-founder of the Queens Small Business Alliance (QSBA). Working at IBM for a decade, Julie was an advisor to the federal government and tasked with reworking various agencies’ use of technology to serve people better.
JAMES WINANS
James Winans serves as President & CEO of The Bowery Mission, leading a team of staff, volunteers, partners, and supporters who meet essential needs and foster transformative community, continuing a 153-year legacy of service to New York City neighbors in need.
James first encountered the realities of homelessness and the promise of transformation through a life-changing volunteer internship at The Bowery Mission more than 25 years ago. He later served as Chief Development Officer. Before joining The Bowery Mission, James served as Education Director at Family Promise and has contributed as a consultant, board member, or volunteer leader with several other nonprofits.