Become a Presenter at the 10th Annual Wellness Together Conference
Sept 9 - 11, 2026 | San Diego, CA
Applications are open now through May 25, 2026!
At WTC10, we are introducing a special breakout model centered around Navigation Sessions. These sessions are led by speakers who guide students, colleagues, and communities through today’s complexities with empathy, resilience, and human connection.
What is a Navigator?
Navigators are leaders working at the intersection of expertise and human connection. They guide students, colleagues, and communities through today’s challenges while emphasizing relationships as the most powerful tool for change. Navigators are leaders, innovators, and practitioners doing the work. At the conference, they will:
Share lived experience and practical insights
Provide replicable frameworks others can use
Focus on human-centered solutions
Seeking proposals that are:
⟡ Highly Interactive
Discussions, case work, hands-on learning
⟡ Deeply Applied
Tools, frameworks, implementation strategies
⟡ Focused on Emerging Challenges
Reflect the current youth mental health landscape
⟡ Grounded in Evidence
Research backed, data-driven, evidence-based
Priority Topics for 2026
We highly encourage presentations focusing on:
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Generative AI, student well-being, ethics, and school/clinical applications
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Phone policies, social connection, sensory-friendly spaces, and campus safety
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Legislative updates, compliance, and impacts on practice
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Scaling the California Youth Behavioral Health Initiative multi-agency collaboration, billing, and expansion to a national model
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Mental health’s role in academic success and intervention
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Adolescent brain science and applied youth development strategies
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Leading human-based initiatives that train and support current and future clinicians and wellness coaches
Submissions that align with these key areas are strongly encouraged.
How Selection Works:
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Submit Application
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Selection Committee Reviews
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Finalists Selected
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Community Voting
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Final Speaker Selection
Community Voting
Finalist videos are shared publicly. The community votes on who they want to learn from, helping elevate impactful voices.
Proposals require brief video submissions, which will be shared publicly for voting. Community voting helps spotlight the voices audiences are most excited to learn from.
Important Presenter Details:
⟡ In-Person:
All breakout sessions will take place at the San Diego Convention Center
⟡ Non-Commercial Presentations:
Sessions must be academic in nature. No sales pitches or promotions.
⟡ Complimentary Registration:
Lead presenters receive one complimentary speaker pass (Sept 9 - Sept 11).
⟡ Co-Presenters:
Up to 3 co-presenters/panelists allowed. Each receives 15% off conference registration.
⟡ Travel:
Presenters are responsible for their own travel and accommodations.
Important Dates
Proposals Due
On or before May 25, 2026
Notification of Acceptance
On or before July 21, 2026
Submission Guidelines
All proposals must:
Be non-commercial in nature
Include session goals, intended audience, and clear takeaways
Be submitted by the deadline using the official proposal form
Include bios and contact info for any additional presenters
Frequently Asked Questions
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In previous years, the conference has featured breakout sessions across a wide range of topics and speakers.
For our 10th Annual Wellness Together Conference, we are evolving this format. Navigation Sessions are designed to provide more focused, practical, and actionable learning experiences. We are prioritizing speakers who are actively engaged in the work they are presenting and can offer real-world insights.
Our audience consistently asks for fewer sales-driven presentations and more hands-on learning, concrete resources, and clear roadmaps. Navigation Sessions are intended to help attendees better navigate today’s rapidly changing mental health and education landscape.
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Proposals must be submitted by May 25, 2026.
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For full instructions, please refer to the application form.
In general, your video should clearly and concisely answer the following questions:
What specific problem are you addressing in your presentation?
What is your unique approach or solution?
Why does this work matter right now?
Why should this be shared and replicated at scale?
Strong submissions are clear, focused, and grounded in real-world impact.
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The WTC10 Selection Committee will first identify Top Finalists based on mission alignment, innovation, and clinical or educational rigor.
Community Voting: Elevating Your Voice
Finalist videos will be shared publicly with the Wellness Together community
Community members will vote on the speakers they most want to learn from
Finalists are encouraged to share their video and voting link with their networks
Voting is one factor in the final selection process and helps elevate voices that resonate with the field
Final Selection & Announcement
The Selection Committee will make final decisions based on a combination of evaluation criteria and community input. Selected speakers will be notified and publicly announced.
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For full details, please refer to the application form. Priority topic areas include:
AI and Youth Well-Being
School Communities
Youth Mental Health Policy & Advocacy
CYBHI Systemic Implementation
Mental Well-Being as a Foundation for Learning
Youth Brain Development
Expanding, Training, & Supporting the Global Behavioral Health Workforce
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Due to space and time constraints, and our goal of featuring a wide range of voices, some speakers may be offered a Lighthouse Talk in place of a Navigation Session.
Lighthouse Talks are 12-minute, high-energy presentations designed to spotlight powerful ideas, emerging trends, and compelling stories in a concise format.
Think of these as TEDx-style talks: big ideas, clear insights, and impactful storytelling that can inspire and spark new ways of thinking.
Still have questions? Please reach out to conference@wellnesstogether.org