Imagine Tomorrow, Today
Imagine Tomorrow, Today
Imagine Tomorrow, Today
Three days. One global gathering.
Three days. One global gathering.
Three days. One global gathering.
June 23–25, 2026
Chicago, Illinois
June 23–25, 2026
Chicago, Illinois
June 23–25, 2026
Chicago, Illinois
What is Every Child Thrives Festival?
What is Every Child Thrives Festival?
It is a global, multigenerational, child-centered gathering where imagination becomes action.
It is a global, multigenerational, child-centered gathering where imagination becomes action.
Every Child Thrives Festival is a global, multigenerational gathering where imagination fuels action and diverse voices shape a future in which all children can thrive. The Festival brings together youth, families, leaders, advocates and practitioners working across community, cultural, corporate, educational, health and systems-shaping spaces to spark possibility, act boldly and build lasting change.
Rooted in community and driven by lived experience, the festival centers equity, healing, and collective well-being while advancing a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive. We intentionally elevate diverse voices, geographies, and leadership pathways, ensuring those closest to the work of shaping children’s futures are leading the conversation and the change.
Your Three-Day Experience
Your
Three-Day Experience
Your Three-Day Experience
Over three dynamic days, you’ll connect, create and celebrate alongside youth leaders, artists and community changemakers. Each day builds on the last, transforming bold ideas into meaningful action and collective joy. By the end, attendees will leave with the tools and inspiration to ensure our children thrive.
Day 1
Inspiration
Kick off with youth-led conversations and creative explorations that spark fresh perspectives.
Day 1
Inspiration
Kick off with youth-led conversations and creative explorations that spark fresh perspectives.
Day 2
Activation
Step into hands-on learning and community-driven experiences that move ideas into action.
Day 2
Activation
Step into hands-on learning and community-driven experiences that move ideas into action.
Day 3
Celebration
Honor progress with performances,
reflections and a community-powered festival.
Day 3
Celebration
Honor progress with performances, reflections and a community-powered festival.
Why Thrive…?
Why Thrive…?
Every Child Thrives Festival is not like any other conference or experience.
Every Child Thrives Festival is not like any other conference or experience.
Choose your Thrive by actively shaping your experience through diverse opportunities for learning, creativity and connection. This gathering brings together people across generations and sectors to collaborate in ways that spark bold ideas and inspire meaningful change.
Presented by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the festival offers a range of experiences designed to elevate youth leadership, foster intergenerational collaboration and turn ideas into action—all intentionally crafted to build solutions, honor lived experience and celebrate collective progress.
The 2026 Experience
The 2026 Experience
Youth-led,
intergenerational sessions
These sessions create a space where all generations learn from each other and build solutions together.
Role-reversal panels
By flipping traditional roles these panels invite fresh ideas and challenge usual ways of thinking.
Intentional moments
Joy and celebration are woven throughout to nurture relationships and sustain energy for the work ahead.
Hands-on labs and activations
Participants move beyond conversation to create real world solutions they can carry forward.
Immersive storytelling
and creative spaces
Stories and art bring to life the deep roots and rich diversity of our communities.
FAQs
Where is the festival being held?
Most of the festival programming will take place at Obama Presidential Center. We’re curating a list of recommended hotels and accommodations nearby to make your stay comfortable and convenient - details will be shared soon.
Is this like a regular conference or festival?
Nope! Every Child Thrives Festival isn’t about long days of sitting still, panels that talk at you or closed-off spaces. It’s active, creative and built by the community; it will be full of movement, dialogue, hands-on labs, storytelling, art, music and real connection.
Who will attend?
You’ll find young people with bold ideas, caregivers and families who show up for their communities and educators, organizers, creatives, researchers, practitioners — all united by a shared commitment to help children thrive.
Is it multigenerational?
Absolutely. Every Child Thrives brings generations together to learn from one another — youth leading conversations, adults collaborating and elders grounding us with wisdom and lived experience.
What role do young people play at Every Child Thrives?
Youth are not just attendees. They are co-creators, facilitators, storytellers and leaders throughout the experience. From THRIVEChats to labs and mainstage moments, youth voice and agency shape the agenda, the conversations and the outcomes.
How much does it cost to attend?
There is no registration fee to attend this event in person. However, participants are solely responsible for covering all costs associated with their participation, including travel, lodging, meals outside of those provided during the event and any other incidental expenses incurred. For those attending virtually, there will also be no cost to attend.
Are scholarship opportunities available?
A limited number of scholarships are available to help reduce financial barriers to participation. Scholarships will be awarded based on demonstrated financial need and eligibility criteria. If approved through the independent intermediary organization, the scholarship will cover roundtrip airfare or train travel and lodging. All travel must be booked through the contracted travel agency, and lodging will be arranged on your behalf. The scholarship program does not provide stipends, per diem allowances, or expense reimbursements, and it will not reimburse independently arranged travel or lodging.
How does the interest and selection process work?
For this inaugural Every Child Thrives Festival, in-person attendance is by referral. Participants are thoughtfully invited to reflect a wide range of perspectives, lived experiences and roles connected to children, youth and community well-being. Those selected will receive an invitation to confirm their participation.
Is Every Child Thrives accessible?
Yes! Accessibility is key to belonging here. We provide multilingual support including live translation in select languages, ASL interpretation, accessible routes, sensory-friendly spaces and staff ready to support a wide range of needs.
What should I bring?
Bring your curiosity, your courage and comfortable shoes for walking, creating and moving between experiences. Most importantly, bring an open mind and a readiness to imagine a future where every child and community can thrive.
What is the age range of festival attendees?
Festival attendees will range from as young as (chaperoned) 16-year-olds and up. As a reminder, only registered guests will be able to attend the festival.
What is the dress attire for the festival?
Please dress in a way that feels comfortable and authentic to you, while remaining respectful of others in our shared setting. We encourage comfortable shoes throughout the event. While the weather in Chicago brings warm, early-summer weather with average high temperatures ranging from the upper 70s to low 80s (25°C to 28°C) and overnight lows cooling down to the low to mid-60s (15°C to 18°C) you'll also want to think about air conditioning while sitting in indoor sessions and breakout rooms.
Am I allowed to bring a guest?
Due to capacity limits at our festival locations, only registered attendees ages 16 and older are permitted to attend the festival.
Will a private lactation room be available?
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Who should I contact with additional questions?
Please contact ECTFest@wkkf.org with any additional questions about the festival.
Is there parking at the Obama Presidential Center?
Please contact ECTFest@wkkf.org with any additional questions about the festival.
FAQs
Where is the festival being held?
Most of the festival programming will take place at an exciting venue in Chicago’s Hyde Park. (*Specific details of the actual location will be provided upon confirmation of participation.) We’re curating a list of recommended hotels and accommodations nearby to make your stay comfortable and convenient - details will be shared soon.
Is this like a regular conference or festival?
Nope! Every Child Thrives Festival isn’t about long days of sitting still, panels that talk at you or closed-off spaces. It’s active, creative and built by the community; it will be full of movement, dialogue, hands-on labs, storytelling, art, music and real connection.
Who will attend?
You’ll find young people with bold ideas, caregivers and families who show up for their communities and educators, organizers, creatives, researchers, practitioners — all united by a shared commitment to help children thrive.
Is it multigenerational?
Absolutely. Every Child Thrives brings generations together to learn from one another — youth leading conversations, adults collaborating and elders grounding us with wisdom and lived experience.
What role do young people play at Every Child Thrives?
Youth are not just attendees. They are co-creators, facilitators, storytellers and leaders throughout the experience. From THRIVEChats to labs and mainstage moments, youth voice and agency shape the agenda, the conversations and the outcomes.
How much does it cost to attend?
There is no registration fee to attend this event in person. However, participants are solely responsible for covering all costs associated with their participation, including travel, lodging, meals outside of those provided during the event and any other incidental expenses incurred. For those attending virtually, there will also be no cost to attend.
Are scholarship opportunities available?
A limited number of scholarships are available to help reduce financial barriers to participation. Scholarships will be awarded based on demonstrated financial need and eligibility criteria. If approved through the independent intermediary organization, the scholarship will cover roundtrip airfare or train travel and lodging. All travel must be booked through the contracted travel agency, and lodging will be arranged on your behalf. The scholarship program does not provide stipends, per diem allowances, or expense reimbursements, and it will not reimburse independently arranged travel or lodging.
How does the interest and selection process work?
For this inaugural Every Child Thrives Festival, in-person attendance is by referral. Participants are thoughtfully invited to reflect a wide range of perspectives, lived experiences and roles connected to children, youth and community well-being. Those selected will receive an invitation to confirm their participation.
Is Every Child Thrives accessible?
Yes! Accessibility is key to belonging here. We provide multilingual support including live translation in select languages, ASL interpretation, accessible routes, sensory-friendly spaces and staff ready to support a wide range of needs.
What should I bring?
Bring your curiosity, your courage and comfortable shoes for walking, creating and moving between experiences. Most importantly, bring an open mind and a readiness to imagine a future where every child and community can thrive.
What is the age range of festival attendees?
Festival attendees will range from as young as (chaperoned) 16-year-olds and up. As a reminder, only registered guests will be able to attend the festival.
What is the dress attire for the festival?
Please dress in a way that feels comfortable and authentic to you, while remaining respectful of others in our shared setting. We encourage comfortable shoes throughout the event. While the weather in Chicago brings warm, early-summer weather with average high temperatures ranging from the upper 70s to low 80s (25°C to 28°C) and overnight lows cooling down to the low to mid-60s (15°C to 18°C) you'll also want to think about air conditioning while sitting in indoor sessions and breakout rooms.
Am I allowed to bring a guest?
Due to capacity limits at our festival locations, only registered attendees ages 16 and older are permitted to attend the festival.
Will a private lactation room be available?
Kompa is the ultimate design plugin for Framer. Effortlessly build and launch your site with hundreds of prebuilt, responsive UI elements.
Who should I contact with additional questions?
Please contact ECTFest@wkkf.org with any additional questions about the festival.
Is there parking at the Obama Presidential Center?
Please contact ECTFest@wkkf.org with any additional questions about the festival.
FAQs
Where is the festival being held?
Most of the festival programming will take place at an exciting venue in Chicago’s Hyde Park. (*Specific details of the actual location will be provided upon confirmation of participation.) We’re curating a list of recommended hotels and accommodations nearby to make your stay comfortable and convenient - details will be shared soon.
Is this like a regular conference or festival?
Nope! Every Child Thrives Festival isn’t about long days of sitting still, panels that talk at you or closed-off spaces. It’s active, creative and built by the community; it will be full of movement, dialogue, hands-on labs, storytelling, art, music and real connection.
Who will attend?
You’ll find young people with bold ideas, caregivers and families who show up for their communities and educators, organizers, creatives, researchers, practitioners — all united by a shared commitment to help children thrive.
Is it multigenerational?
Absolutely. Every Child Thrives brings generations together to learn from one another — youth leading conversations, adults collaborating and elders grounding us with wisdom and lived experience.
What role do young people play at Every Child Thrives?
Youth are not just attendees. They are co-creators, facilitators, storytellers and leaders throughout the experience. From THRIVEChats to labs and mainstage moments, youth voice and agency shape the agenda, the conversations and the outcomes.
How much does it cost to attend?
There is no registration fee to attend this event in person. However, participants are solely responsible for covering all costs associated with their participation, including travel, lodging, meals outside of those provided during the event and any other incidental expenses incurred. For those attending virtually, there will also be no cost to attend.
Are scholarship opportunities available?
A limited number of scholarships are available to help reduce financial barriers to participation. Scholarships will be awarded based on demonstrated financial need and eligibility criteria. If approved through the independent intermediary organization, the scholarship will cover roundtrip airfare or train travel and lodging. All travel must be booked through the contracted travel agency, and lodging will be arranged on your behalf. The scholarship program does not provide stipends, per diem allowances, or expense reimbursements, and it will not reimburse independently arranged travel or lodging. During the Cvent registration process, participants may indicate their interest in applying for a scholarship. Those who select this option will receive a follow-up email with detailed application instructions.
How does the interest and selection process work?
For this inaugural Every Child Thrives Festival, in-person attendance is by referral. Participants are thoughtfully invited to reflect a wide range of perspectives, lived experiences and roles connected to children, youth and community well-being. Those selected will receive an invitation to confirm their participation.
Is Every Child Thrives accessible?
Yes! Accessibility is key to belonging here. We provide multilingual support including live translation in select languages, ASL interpretation, accessible routes, sensory-friendly spaces and staff ready to support a wide range of needs.
What should I bring?
Bring your curiosity, your courage and comfortable shoes for walking, creating and moving between experiences. Most importantly, bring an open mind and a readiness to imagine a future where every child and community can thrive.
What is the age range of festival attendees?
Festival attendees will range from as young as (chaperoned) 16-year-olds and up. As a reminder, only registered guests will be able to attend the festival.
What is the dress attire for the festival?
Please dress in a way that feels comfortable and authentic to you, while remaining respectful of others in our shared setting. We encourage comfortable shoes throughout the event. While the weather in Chicago brings warm, early-summer weather with average high temperatures ranging from the upper 70s to low 80s (25°C to 28°C) and overnight lows cooling down to the low to mid-60s (15°C to 18°C) you'll also want to think about air conditioning while sitting in indoor sessions and breakout rooms.
Am I allowed to bring a guest?
Due to capacity limits at our festival locations, only registered attendees ages 16 and older are permitted to attend the festival.
Will a private lactation room be available?
Kompa is the ultimate design plugin for Framer. Effortlessly build and launch your site with hundreds of prebuilt, responsive UI elements.
Who should I contact with additional questions?
Please contact ECTFest@wkkf.org with any additional questions about the festival.
Is there parking at the Obama Presidential Center?
Please contact ECTFest@wkkf.org with any additional questions about the festival.