United Way NEXT Advocates at the 2026 National ALICE Summit

The National ALICE Summit is hosted by United Way of Northern New Jersey, led by CEO Kiran Handa Gaudioso, who we are proud to share is our 2026 Chair Elect for the United Way NEXT Board of Directors. The national gathering brings together United Way peers from across the country who are uplifting ALICE families through innovative partnerships, policies, and programs. 

The summit celebrates the ALICE movement and connects like-minded professionals from nonprofits, corporations, foundations, and government as they come together with a shared commitment to transforming communities.

This year’s conference took place January 5th through 7th at the Fontainebleau in Miami Beach, FL, with over 700 people in attendance. The event kicked off with a Welcome Reception on Monday evening, featuring inspiring remarks from United Way CEOs Symeria Hudson of United Way of Miami, Kathleen Cannon of United Way of Broward County, Melissa Nelson of United Way of Florida, and Kiran Handa Gaudioso of United Way of Northern New Jersey. 

"It was inspiring to connect with colleagues from across the country who share our passion for making a difference in the lives of families who are ALICE and in poverty,” expressed Kiran Handa Gaudioso. Moments like these remind me why our work matters and how much stronger we are when we collaborate, connect, and support the ALICE movement."

Pictured left to right: Kiran Handa Gaudioso & Carole Peters (January 2026).

A Real Impact on ALICE Advocates

The ALICE Summit is a conference designed for our United Way network, showcasing ALICE in action within local communities across the country. This impressive event featured engaging presentations, dynamic keynotes, breakout sessions, and meaningful opportunities for networking. More than 200 individuals joined forces to present across 50+ learning sessions and six keynotes, offering real-world examples of how local United Ways, hospital systems, foundations, and corporations are leveraging the ALICE data to create real impact in their communities.

Lucky for us, United Way NEXT was selected for a session on Wednesday, January 7th, facilitated by UW NEXT CEO Carole Peters alongside presenters DJ Hampton II, CEO of Trident United Way, and Rodney Prunty, CEO of United Way of North Central New Mexico. Both of whom also serve on our UW NEXT Board of Directors.

Their presentation “Hitting Home: ALICE Storytelling Strategies that Move Hearts, Minds, and Resources” attracted a standing-room-only audience of more than 80 attendees. Carole, DJ, and Rodney were so excited to connect with fellow ALICE advocates and share real-world examples of how United Ways in South Carolina and New Mexico are using ALICE data and storytelling to drive change.

“Seeing ourselves in the story is key to really understanding ALICE,” shared Carole Peters. “In 2001, I vividly remember, as a single mom of a three-year-old, using my credit card in between pay periods to buy milk, apple juice, and diapers for my son. I felt ashamed because I had a good job, a nice home, and a decent car, but I still struggled each month to cover the basic needs for my family.”

“Later, when I joined the United Way of Greater McHenry County as CEO and our UW of IL State Association invested in the ALICE report, I finally realized the way I felt was normal because I was an ALICE family. Learning about ALICE and seeing how many of us experience financial hardship at some point helped me let go of that shame. From the outside, I looked like I was thriving but, on the inside, I was just surviving,” commented Carole.

This session included personal stories from DJ, Carole, and Rodney and an interactive activity that deeply resonated with attendees. Participants were asked to stand in response to questions centered around the basic needs for every family in our country. As the room filled with people standing, they were reminded that financial hardship often exists closer to home than we realize. Reinforcing the message that “We are ALICE.”

Carole pictured with DJ Hampton, Rodney Prunty, Matt Marshall, Omoiye Kinney, Bonnie Duncan, & Shannon Jenkins.

A Rich Opportunity for Networking

If you know Carole, you know how passionate she is about ensuring everyone has a seat at the table, and the National ALICE Summit was no different. Throughout the event, Carole took every effort to connect with UW NEXT members, local United Ways, and State Associations. She also took time to introduce herself to new professionals entering the United Way network and reconnected with colleagues she’s met over the past three and a half years as UW NEXT CEO.

And throughout the summit, her messaging was consistent: United Way NEXT is more than a lifelong resource. It’s a rich community of passionate United Way professionals and alumni who share a profound sense of purpose and belonging. Whether someone is just starting out in their career or transitioning into retirement, UW NEXT remains a constant source of connection, guidance, and inspiration.
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“Attending the National ALICE Summit provided a wonderful opportunity to connect and reconnect with local United Way staff who have benefited from UW NEXT resources,” shared Carole. “The value received is evident and the feedback very positive as staff look for ways to learn, develop, and grow in their roles. Meeting CEOs who I have always admired was a highlight, and I treasured connecting with so many new UW staff who joined the network this past year. This was truly a WOW experience for me.”

Ali Haigh, Jessica Safransky Schacht, Carole, Michael Williamson, Bonnie Duncan, Byron Garrett, Tiffany Pellicier, & Tiffani Mensch.

United Way NEXT Member Representation

UW NEXT Board Member Jessica Safransky Schacht, COO of United Way of Racine County, shared her experience on LinkedIn following the summit.

“I was fortunate to attend the National ALICE Summit last week in Miami. Learning from others who are #United4ALICE was inspiring and affirming. We all know ALICE. Many of us have been ALICE... ALICE keeps our communities running but struggles to make ends meet. United Ways and partners across the network are committed to creating practices, programs and policies that support ALICE.”

Jessica also shared her appreciation to Michael Williamson, CEO of the UW of Southeast Louisiana, whose keynote panel highlighted the importance of trust, transparency, and partnership during times of crisis. He emphasized that years of relationship-building, data sharing, and community trust enabled swift and effective response when his community needed it most. Michael also shared his ALICE Summit experience on LinkedIn.

UW NEXT member, Engage & Exchange Work Group volunteer, and former United Way CEO Bonita Duncan also attended the summit and reflected on her experience.

“When you retire, some folks believe a part of your life/career is set aside,” Bonita shared. “I have found that my passion for ALICE families is still strong and so searching for ways that I can still contribute matters. Attending the ALICE Summit as a volunteer and member of UW NEXT allowed me to reconnect with colleagues, meet new ones, and continue learning from others committed to creating a better life for ALICE families.”

Dona Ponepinto, Robyn Davis, Keisha Browder, Carole, Bob Giannino, Patricia Boyce, Kristi Birkland, Frank McCain, Crashonda Andrew, Holly Miller, Mari Perez-Dowling, & Adria Johnson.

Carole also made note of the many UW NEXT members and supporters in attendance, including Consultant Collaborative members: Bob Giannino, Heather Davidson, Jessica Rodriguez, and Robyn Davis. As well as countless CEOs and team members from local United Ways who support UW NEXT including: Frank McCain from UW of Greater Greensboro, Keisha Browder from UW of Bay Area, Adria Johnson from Metro United Way, Eithne McMenamin from UW of IL, Tiffani Mensch from UW of Collier and the Keys, Dina Sears Graves from UW of Southeastern CT, Shannon Jenkins from UW of East Central Alabama, Isabel Almeida from UW of Coastal & Western CT, Kristi Birkland from UW Whatcom County, Heather Blanchard from UW of Acadiana, and so many more!

Spending time with members of the UW NEXT Board of Directors who were also representing at the summit was especially meaningful. These incredible individuals continue to show up for ALICE and UW NEXT by sharing their lived experience, leadership, and passion for strengthening communities. Being together in person created space for reflection, collaboration, and renewed energy as the Board looks ahead to how UW NEXT can continue supporting the broader United Way network.

UW NEXT Board Members: DJ Hampton, Dona Ponepinto, Jessica Muroff, Jessica Safransky Schacht, Carole, & Rodney Prunty.

A Conference to Remember

By the end of the National ALICE Summit, there was an overwhelming sense of optimism and momentum. The conference wasn’t just about learning, it was about rekindling passion, strengthening relationships, and reminding ourselves why we do this work in the first place.

“Spending time with peers across the network and hearing about their successes and challenges provided me the opportunity to reflect on ways that UW NEXT can continue supporting the network,” said Carole. “Seeing old friends and making new ones is my favorite part of being at these conferences.”

With another inspiring National ALICE Summit in the books, one thing is clear: the future of United Way is bright, and the power of United Way NEXT continues to grow! Being a fierce advocate for ALICE brings meaning to our work, especially knowing that communities are counting on us to show up and lead.

A Way to Stay Connected

If you attended the summit, participated in UW NEXT’s presentation, or simply stumbled upon this article, we’d love to hear from you! Feel free to connect with us on LinkedIn or email us directly at info@unitedwaynext.org.