The Social Innovator Fellows Gather at the University of Notre Dame

The Social Innovator Fellows Gather at the University of Notre Dame

From October 4–8, 2026, the new cohort of Love Ethic Social Innovator Fellowship gathered at the University of Notre Dame for their first in-person meeting, hosted by the Institute for Ethics and the Common Good (ECG).

The five-day gathering offered an opportunity to build community, exchange ideas and explore how love-based ethics can inspire meaningful social change. Through moments of reflection, discussions and workshops, the fellows explored moral leadership, the importance of a clear ethical vision and the practical challenges of translating values into action.

A key part of the meeting was the Work in Progress sessions, where participants presented their projects, shared questions and challenges, and received feedback from the group to strengthen their ideas. A session with Professor Meghan Sullivan, “Loving Strangers: A Philosophical Vision,” further encouraged reflection on the meaning of love and our responsibility towards others.

Among the fellows is Veronica De Sanctis from the Scalabrini International Migration Institute (SIMI), whose project, “Expanding Psychological and Empowered Support (PES) for Migrants Through Love-Based Ethics,” explores how an ethic grounded in love can strengthen psychological support and empowerment for migrants.

The gathering marks the beginning of a year of collaboration, learning and project development, connecting ethical reflection with concrete responses to today’s social challenges.