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CONVENINGS & SYMPOSIUMS
April 25, 2026 | Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport | Arlington, Virginia
Inside the Military Child World Expo
Convenings & Symposiums
Bringing Voices Together. Building Solutions. Centering Youth.
The Military Child World Expo convenes families, youth, educators, practitioners, and community leaders through curated convenings and symposiums focused on the real experiences and future needs of military-connected children.
These are not traditional conferences.
They are accessible, welcoming, and youth-centered gatherings designed for learning, dialogue, and connection.
All convenings are:
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Free and open to the public
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Family-appropriate
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Designed for shared learning and engagement
STEAM & FUTURE READINESS SYMPOSIUM
Inspiring curiosity, creativity, and pathways forward
This symposium explores how science, technology, engineering, arts, and math can spark imagination and prepare military-connected youth for the future.
Topics include:
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Hands-on STEAM learning
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Youth innovation and creativity
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Robotics, space science, and emerging technologies
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Education and scholarship pathways
Who should attend:
Children • Teens • Parents • Educators • STEAM organizations
FINANCIAL WELLNESS & LIFE SKILLS SYMPOSIUM
Building confidence, capability, and long-term resilience
Focused on practical tools and real-life skills for youth and families navigating military life and transitions.
Topics include:
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Youth financial literacy
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Family financial resilience
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Life skills for teens and young adults
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Preparing for independence and adulthood
Who should attend:
Teens • Young adults • Parents • Caregivers • Community organizations
HEALTH, WELLNESS & CAREGIVING SYMPOSIUM
Supporting the whole child and the whole family
This symposium centers emotional wellbeing, caregiving experiences, and community-based support for military-connected families.
Topics include:
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Youth mental health and wellness
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Teen caregiving experiences
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Family support systems
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Community solutions and resources
Who should attend:
Families • Caregivers • Youth • Health & wellness professionals
YOUTH VOICES & LEADERSHIP CONVENINGS
Youth are not observers, they are leaders and contributors.
These convenings elevate:
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Youth speakers
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Teen-led discussions
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Lived experiences
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Peer-to-peer engagement
Participants may include:
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Military-connected youth
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Teen caregivers
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Youth entrepreneurs
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Student leaders
WORKSHOPS & COMMUNITY SESSIONS
Select organizations may host small-group workshops or interactive sessions aligned with the Expo’s mission.
Workshops may include:
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Skill-building activities
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Interactive demonstrations
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Guided discussions
A small cost-recovery fee may apply for organizations hosting workshops.
FOR ORGANIZATIONS & SPEAKERS
Organizations interested in:
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Participating in a symposium
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Hosting a workshop
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Contributing expertise
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Supporting youth-led sessions
Contact: info@mcwef.org
WHY THIS MATTERS
Military-connected children and families have consistently shared that they want:
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Spaces to be heard
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Tools to succeed
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A community that understands them
Convenings and symposiums ensure the Expo is not just something to attend, but a place to learn, connect, and build together.
Family Resilience & Caregiving
The Weight We Carry. The Love We Lead With.
Military-connected children and teens often take on roles that are rarely named, but deeply felt:
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Caring for siblings during deployments
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Supporting a parent through transition or recovery
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Translating emotion or culture within the home
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Holding steadiness for the family during change
This symposium reframes caregiving as leadership, not invisible labor.
We gather to:
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Recognize the emotional and practical labor youth carry
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Share real stories of care and resilience across the family system
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Develop community and school-based pathways to support, credit, and honor youth caregivers
This track introduces Turn Care Into Credit (TCCSH) and the Torch of Care Recognition Pathway, offering families and schools ways to acknowledge care as service and leadership.
Care is not extra responsibility. Care is wisdom. Care is leadership.
Policy & Community Leadership
When We Say “Support,” What Do We Mean?
This symposium connects ** lived experience + leadership + long-term change.**
We begin with:
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Youth and caregivers sharing what support has actually meant in real life, and when it has fallen short.
Then we move to:
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Community organizations, base programs, nonprofits, and policymakers reflecting and committing to real, measurable next steps.
This is where we introduce:
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The Promise We Carry Act
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Torch of Care Recognition
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A Shared Community Leadership Statement
that each organization can sign and carry home.
Policy is not paperwork. Policy is how we treat each other.
Education & School Transitions
Belonging is the First Curriculum.
Military-connected students move between 6 and 9 times, often across states, countries, languages, and cultures. Every move requires:
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Rebuilding identity
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Starting friendships over
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Re-learning school culture
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Adjusting expectations and support
But belonging should not be a question mark every time a child walks into a classroom.
This symposium brings together:
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Purple Star schools
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DoDEA educators
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Public school counselors + administrators
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Youth with lived transition experience
Together, we co-design what welcoming, culturally-aware schools look and feel like.
Deliverable:
A School Belonging Activation Kit, schools can take home and use.
Schools are not only where we learn.