Bright yellow background with red text that reads "Bonanza!" and smaller text below that says "IDEAS, CONNECTIONS & FUN 2026".

Imagine what happens when artists, coffee shop baristas, bookstore owners, third-space operators, social and civic entrepreneurs, faith leaders, weavers and organizers gather.

Bonanza! is an invitation-only unconference for ideas, connections, and fun. We convene the people who create the spaces, events, and organizations through which community life happens across Connecticut. We intentionally curate each gathering so people connect with peers who they otherwise might not meet, and so the event fulfills their needs and aspirations.

Bonanza! Organizers

Close-up of a smiling man with short dark hair, wearing a denim shirt, standing outdoors with green plants in the background.

Rick Brush

A smiling man with long dark hair, beard, and mustache standing outdoors near water and buildings.

Tony Bacigalupo

A headshot of a man with short dark hair, wearing a dark blue button-up shirt, against a plain gray background.
A woman with gray hair outdoors in a green field with mountains and trees in the background, wearing a plaid shirt and turquoise earrings.

Aly Fox

Andrew Ferguson

A young woman with curly dark hair, wearing a black blazer, a gray top, and gold jewelry, smiling against a dark gray background.
A woman with curly brown hair wearing a bright green shirt, smiling, in a colorful arts and crafts room with various artworks, plants, and decorations in the background.

Elise Granata

Gabi Garcia-Perez

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions? Take a look at the FAQ or reach out anytime. If you’d like to join us or want to learn more, connect!

  • We have two goals.  First, we’re organizing the gathering to build community among people, so they can share ideas, make connections, and have fun with peers who lead similar work throughout Connecticut.  Second, we hope that the ideas sparked and the relationships formed lead to collaborations that advance each participant’s passions.  Great things happen when incredible people gather.   

  • Friday, September 25, 2026.  Information about the location and time are shared with the invitation.

  • 100 people from across Connecticut, including community builders of all forms: artists, coffee shop baristas, bookstore owners, third-space operators, social and civic entrepreneurs, faith leaders, weavers and organizers.

  • An unconference is a participant-driven gathering where the agenda is created by attendees on the day of the event, rather than pre-planned by organizers.  At the start, participants propose and self-organize sessions around shared interests.  Peer exchange replaces formal presentations.  People attend sessions they actually care about, which surfaces real expertise and produces ideas, connections, and fun aligned to what participants actually need.

  • $50 per participant.  This price helps us to cover some of the event costs.  We believe the best gatherings happen when everyone has skin in the game. A few scholarships are available based on need.

  • Bonanza! is invitation-only because the gathering is designed to enable participants to meet people who lead similar work throughout Connecticut but who they otherwise might not meet but for Bonanza!  If you’d like an invitation, reach out anytime.  Tell us about yourself and share your interest in Bonanza!

  • As part of the curated community experience, we’ve created an app that enables participants to learn about each other before the gathering, and to easily connect afterwards.  

  • Yes!  We intend to organize Bonanza! every year.  The inaugural gathering of 100 people happens this September.  They invite a friend in 2027, growing the community to 200.  And then they invite a friend in 2028, and so on.  By 2029, Bonanza! is 800 people gathering in a giant field under big tents.  Imagine the possibilities!

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