Agenda

Agenda as of 3/13/2026, to be updated as new details become available. All times listed in EDT.

AGENDA PDF

MARCH 25 • WEDNESDAY

1:30 pm – 4:30 pm

YA on the Hill

U.S. Capitol Building

1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Registrant Check-In Opens

Westin Wash., DC City Center
1400 N & Terrace

5:00 pm – 6:00 pm

Networking Happy Hour

Westin Wash., DC City Center
1400 N & Terrace

Evening

Dinner on your own / with colleagues

MARCH 26 • THURSDAY

8:00 am – 11:30 am

Registrant Check-In

Westin Wash., DC City Center
Ballroom Foyer

8:00 am – 9:00 am

Breakfast

National Ballroom

9:00 am – 10:00 am 

Welcome & Opening Remarks

National Ballroom

10:00 am – 10:15 am

Break

10:15 am – 11:15 am

Breakout Sessions A

A1. RAISE Action Research Poster Session

A2. Advocacy in Action: From Capitol Hill to Community Impact

A3. Telling Our Story Together: Community-Centered Models for Arts Learning

A4. Honoring the Past, Activating the Future: Engaging Alumni as Leaders, Mentors, and Lifelong Advocates

Various

11:30 am – 12:30 pm

Lunch (Plated)

12:30 pm – 1:15 pm

Breakout Sessions B

B1. Expanding the Narrative: The PD/Residency Model

B2. Lessons Learned Through Dance: The Impact of Our RAISE Program Grant

B3. The Odd Couple: Data Collection and Arts Education

B4. What Story Are We Telling? Reimagining Narratives Through Youth-Centered Practice

Various

1:15 pm – 1:30pm

Break

1:30 pm – 2:30 pm

Breakout Sessions C

C1. Migration Stories

C2. I Will… Centering Youth Voice in Storytelling

C3. Soul of Langston: Crafting Community Narratives Through Arts and Humanities

C4. Telling ArtsNOW’s Professional Learning Story Through Data

Various

2:30 pm – 2:45 pm

Break (coffee served)

2:45pm – 3:45 pm

Breakout Sessions D

D1. Embodied Narratives: Telling Our Personal and Collective Stories Through Dramatic Dance and Movement

D2. Dramatic Adventures: Creating Original Stories with Children

D3. Joyful Learning: The Story of STEAM Told Through the Joy of Art Making

D4. The Board’s Role in Fundraising Success (and How to Get Them There)

Various

5:00 pm – 5:15 pm

Gather in Hotel Lobby
(to walk as a group or share car service with others to Planet Word Museum)

Westin Wash., D.C. City Center

5:30 pm – 8:00 pm

National Reception

Planet Word Museum
925 13th St NW 

MARCH 27 • FRIDAY

2:30 pm – 3:30 pm

Breakout Sessions D

D1. Embodied Narratives: Telling Our Personal and Collective Stories Through Dance and Movement

D2. Dramatic Adventures: Creating Original Stories with Children

D3. Joyful Learning: The Story of STEAM Told Through the Joy of Art Making

D4. The Board’s Role in Fundraising Success (and How to Get Them There)

Various

8:00 am – 9:00 am

Breakfast

Westin Wash., DC City Center
National Ballroom

9:00 am – 9:10 am

Opening Remarks

National Ballroom

9:10 am – 10:15 am

Friday Panel: Arts for Learning Maryland
Through Their Eyes: Student, Artist, and Leadership Perspectives on Arts Education

National Ballroom

10:15 am – 10:30 am 

Break

10:30 am – 11:30 am

Breakout Sessions E

E1. Drumming Up Connections

E2. Beyond the Algorithm: Preparing Students to Think, Feel, and Create in an AI World

E3. Supporting Reflective Practice: Tools to Guide Teaching Artist Growth (Pt. 1 of 2)

E4. From Partnership to Impact: Building Sustainable Arts Integration Models with School Districts

Various

11:30 am – 11:45 am

Break

11:45 am – 12:45 pm

Breakout Sessions F

F1. A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: Using Art and Imagination to build a Narrative

F2. In Response to Place: Personal Postcard Collage as Storytelling Practice 

F3. Artistic SEL Core Practices: Foundations for Intentionally Embedding SEL in Arts Education (Pt. 2 of 2)

F4. From Story to System: How Narrative Drives Arts Education Policy in Alabama

Various

12:45 pm – 1:00 pm

Lunch (grab and go)

1:00 pm – 1:45 pm

Breakout Sessions G

G1. Let’s Play! Developing Arts Learning Programming Rooted in Creative Exploration

G2. Using Data to Shape the Narrative of Program Impact

G3. You’re Already Doing This: Simplifying Action Research and Integrating It Into Your Practice

G4. Board Member Circle: Conference Recap and Next Steps

Various

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Closing Connections

1. Teaching Artists & Administrators

2. School-based Teachers & Staff

3. Board & Executive Leaders

Various