March 1-3 2026
#NYAR26
Hyatt Regency in Downtown Savannah
2 W Bay Street, Savannah, GA 31401
For over 32 years, the National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference has continued to provide quality, relevant training for all people interested in the well-being of youth, including but not limited to: Teachers at all levels, Principals and Assistant Principals, School Counselors and Psychologists, Health and Human Service Counselors and Personnel, Criminal Justice Professionals, Business and Community Leaders, Volunteer Service Providers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Social Workers.
About NYAR
The objective of the National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference is to provide high-quality, relevant training for professionals and community members dedicated to promoting the well-being of youth
Mission
The conference trains adults who serve youth to create safe, healthy, caring, and intellectually empowering educational environments that foster the well-being of all children and adolescents. To accomplish this mission, it offers 100+ presentations by nationally and internationally recognized presenters to 1400+ national and international conference participants. In these presentations, participants learn about current research-based educational programs and strategies, which empower young people to overcome social, intellectual, and emotional barriers that may threaten their safety, health, emotional needs, and academic achievement. Participants also gain knowledge of proactive solutions and best practices for meeting the serious challenges faced by youth today such as school violence, poverty, learning difficulties, underachievement, achievement gaps, illiteracy, boredom, apathy, low expectations, misbehavior, dropout, drugs, bullying, gangs, teen pregnancy, sexual harassment, racism, and dysfunctional families. Furthermore, participants gain effective educational tools to build strong caring schools, communities, and families, which can meet the diverse needs of all our young people.
Conference History & Future Vision
In 1990, the NYAR Conference was founded by the College of Education of Georgia Southern University. Past conference speakers have included nationally and internationally recognized educators and youth advocates such as Geoffrey Canada, Ron Clark, Stedman Graham, Dr. Pedro Noguera, Dr. Eric Jensen, Dr. Ruby Payne, Dr. Crystal Kuykendall, Dr. James Comer, Dr. William Glasser, Dr. James Garbarino, Dr. David Hawkins, Dr. Robert Brooks, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee Jim Brown, TV celebrity Judge Glenda Hatchett, “Peter, Paul, & Mary” folk singer Peter Yarrow, and several National Teachers of the Year. During the past 32 years, the conference has grown from a regional conference of 150 participants to a national conference of approximately 1400 participants from across the globe.
In 2021, the conference changed the name from National Youth-At-Risk to National Youth Advocacy and Resilience. This change was guided by the youth we serve and has been well received by our long-time conference supporters. In the next five years, the conference plans to expand from 1400 to 1600 national and international participants and to further enhance the quality and diversity of the conference program and presentations. The co-directors envision the conference as a space that provides national leadership, service, and research for the professional development of adults who serve and advocate for youth.
Conference Strands
Head
Heart
Hands
Health
Home
Head: Academic Achievement & Leadership
Closing achievement gaps and promoting learning for all children and youth. Some possible topics include:
- Effective school leadership for Title I schools and the success stories of Title I educators
- Reducing achievement gaps, dropout prevention, and leading equity audits
- Turning around low-performing schools
- High-performing, high-poverty schools
- Academic instruction for students at risk of failure
- Effective use of student data
- Differentiated and brain-based instruction
- English language learner instruction
- Cultural diversity and multicultural education
- Use of technology to engage students and expand learning opportunities
- Post-secondary and/or career readiness
- Inclusion and special education
Heart: Social & Emotional Skills
- Fostering social and emotional skills and the social climate for all children and youth. Some possible topics:
- School climate
- Academic resilience
- Caring curriculum and achievement motivation
- Student empowerment and leadership skills
- Emotional intelligence and communication skills
- Decision making and goal setting
- Mindfulness
Hands: Safety & Violence Prevention
Preventing violence and ensuring safety for all children and youth. Some possible topics:
- Bullying prevention and peer mediation
- Conflict resolution and crisis management
- Cybersafety and creating safe spaces
- Anger and behavior management
- Restorative discipline/practices
- Gang intervention and juvenile justice programs
- School safety laws and school security systems or programs
- School resource officers
- Law enforcement collaborations
Health: Mental & Physical Health
Promoting the mental and physical health of all children and youth. Some possible topics:
- Intervention, prevention, or treatment programs
- Wellness, counseling, or therapy programs
- Trauma-informed educational and community practices
- Drug, alcohol, or tobacco education
- Sex education, teenage pregnancy, STD and HIV/AIDS prevention
- Physical or emotional disorder treatments
- Eating disorders
- ADD/ADHD treatment or bipolar disorder treatment.
Home: Family & Community Engagement
Developing and enhancing family and community support for all children and youth. Some possible topics:
- Parental engagement in school, student achievement, or discipline prevention
- Effective communication with parents
- Parenting skills and support
- Adult-youth partnerships
- Foster care, mentoring, or internships
- Community programs, partnerships, or service projects
- Business collaborations or university partnerships
- Faith-based initiatives or social service programs
NYAR Planning Committee
Conference Co-Chairs
Alisa Leckie
Associate Professor of Middle Grades and Secondary Education
College of Education
Georgia Southern University
Taylor Norman
Assistant Professor of Middle Grades and Secondary Education
College of Education
Georgia Southern University
Planning Council
- Dr. Carol Solomon-Jenkins
- Duval County Public Schools
- Irene M. Denmark
- Bulloch Alcohol and Drug Council
- Ivory Brown
- Effingham County Schools
- Dr. Mary Felton
- Dougherty County School System
- Dionne Woods-Gamble
- Emmanuel County Schools
- Dr. Irma Gibson
- Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU)
- Tammy Davis
- Coastal Plains Educational High School
- Kiersten Morgan
- Brantley County School Counselor
- Renee Perry
- First District RESA
- Dr. Jacqueline Smart
- Retired Educator Savannah Chatham School System
- Deborah Clarke, LPC
- Retired Educational Administrator
- Dr. Alexandra Reyes
- Georgia Southern University
- Sandra Wallace Nethels
- Effingham BOE
- Jackie Ogden
- University of Georgia
- Cooperative Extension
- Dr. Marilyn Hutchinson
- Joseph Martin Elementary School
- Liberty County Schools, GA
NYAR FAQs
This conference should be attended by educators, school administrators, counselors, and mental health professionals who work directly with students, as well as community organizations, parents, and policymakers who influence support systems. Bringing together this range of stakeholders promotes a collaborative approach to creating supportive environments, policies, and resources to help students succeed.
The dress code for the conference is business casual.
The NYAR Conference will be held in the Hyatt Regency located at 2 W Bay Street, Savannah, GA, 31401.
Accommodations
Get Exclusive Rates
Attending the National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference means exclusive rates at the Historic District’s best hotels, all conveniently located at or near the conference venue.
Book online now to see a full listing of all rooms and rates available during your stay.
Valet parking is available at the Hyatt.
Yes. View room block information below:
TBA.
For general conference information, contact:
Email: NYARConference@georgiasouthern.edu
For registration assistance, contact:
Email: ce-registrations@georgiasouthern.edu
Phone: 912-478-5551