Looking Ahead: 2026 Champions for Youth Summit

April 15, 2026

Prevention Connections is proud to once again work alongside the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth to host the 2026 Champions for Youth Summit—a powerful convening of leaders dedicated to improving the health and well-being of Virginia’s youth.

📅 Monday, May 4 – Wednesday, May 6, 2026
📍 Hyatt Regency at Reston Town Center

Following the success of 2024’s gathering, which brought together nearly 500 prevention professionals, the Summit continues to serve as a dynamic space for connection, collaboration, and leadership. Attendees explored best practices for impacting youth and young adults, addressing critical topics like tobacco and nicotine use, substance use, and the factors influencing childhood obesity. The energy and shared commitment to youth well-being made one thing clear: this work is more important than ever.

Now, we look ahead.

The 2026 Summit will build on this momentum, bringing together educators, nonprofit leaders, healthcare providers, social workers, policymakers, and community advocates to explore innovative, evidence-based approaches to supporting youth and young adults. From addressing mental health and substance use to promoting healthy weight and overall well-being, the Summit is a space to learn, connect, and take action—together.

Featured Speakers(Pulled from their home page)

This year’s Summit will spotlight inspiring voices from across disciplines—bringing fresh perspective, research, and lived experience to the forefront.

Arthur C. Brooks

Harvard Professor & Bestselling Author
How to Find the Meaning of Your Life

A leading expert on the science of happiness, Arthur Brooks brings insights from his work at Harvard and beyond—exploring purpose, leadership, and how we can build more meaningful lives and communities.

Taanvi Arekapudi

Youth Well-Being Advocate & Bestselling Author
Beyond a Seat at the Table: Cultivating Authentic Youth Collaboration

At just 16, Taanvi Arekapudi is a nationally recognized leader in youth mental health innovation. As the founder of Uplift Teens Today and creator of a platform reaching over 1 million students, she brings a powerful youth-centered perspective on collaboration and change.

Caree J. Cotwright

Associate Professor, UGA & Former USDA Director of Nutrition Security
Rewriting the Recipe: From Nutrition Raps to Nutrition Policy

Dr. Cotwright blends science, storytelling, and policy expertise to reimagine how we approach nutrition and community health—demonstrating how creativity can drive lasting impact.

Introducing the 2026 Action Plan for a Healthy Virginia

A key highlight of this year’s Summit will be the release of the 2026 Action Plan for a Healthy Virginia—an updated, evidence-based roadmap for improving health outcomes across the Commonwealth.

Originally developed in 2019 through collaboration with Virginia’s leading experts, the Action Plan has been refreshed to reflect the latest research and best practices in promoting healthy weight and overall well-being.

More than a report, it’s a call to action.

Inside, you’ll find strategies to support eight key behaviors that build healthier futures:

Supporting breastfeeding
Eating more fruits and vegetables
Reducing ultra-processed food intake
Moving more
Decreasing screen time
Getting enough sleep
Practicing mindfulness to reduce stress
Limiting sugar-sweetened beverages

Whether you’re shaping policy, working in schools, supporting families, or leading community initiatives, this guide is designed to help you create environments where youth can thrive.

Be Part of Building a Healthier Virginia

The health of our youth is one of the strongest predictors of the future health of our Commonwealth. With the right tools, resources, and partnerships, we can build communities that support healthier habits and brighter futures for every child.

👉 Download the 2026 Action Plan for a Healthy Virginia and join us in creating lasting change—one behavior, one community, one young person at a time.

Download the Plan

Who Should Attend?

The Champions for Youth Summit is designed for professionals working with—and for—young people, including:

Educators and school leaders
Nonprofit organizations and youth-serving professionals
Social workers and mental health practitioners
Policymakers and community leaders

Join Us

The 2026 Champions for Youth Summit is more than an event—it’s a catalyst for collaboration, innovation, and meaningful change.

Prevention Connections looks forward to supporting connections that strengthen communities and advance the shared mission of building a healthier Virginia.