A national conversation.
Rooted in Spartanburg.

Every child's future is shaped by more than talent or determination, it is shaped by the opportunities they encounter, the relationships they build, and the communities that invest in their success.

Thrive 2026 brings together educators, practitioners, nonprofit professionals, business partners, philanthropists, policymakers, and government leaders to explore how stronger relationships, partnerships, and community connections expand opportunity and help children and families thrive.

Hosted in Spartanburg, South Carolina, a nationally recognized model for cross-sector collaboration and collective impact, Thrive 2026 is more than a conference. It is a place to connect with innovative leaders, learn from proven strategies, and build the partnerships that create lasting change.

Together, we'll discover how communities can transform systems, expand opportunity, and ensure every child has the relationships, resources, and support needed to achieve life success and reach their full potential.

October 29, 2026

7:45 AM – 4:00 PM

Spartanburg Marriott
Spartanburg, South Carolina

REGISTER NOW

$200 TO ATTEND

Includes full conference admission, continental breakfast, lunch, materials, and networking opportunities.

Leading Voices. Bold Ideas. Real Impact

FEATURED SPEAKERS

A smiling man in business attire with a white shirt and dark suit in an office setting.

DR. RAJ CHETTY

Keynote Speaker

Professor of Economics at Harvard University and Director of Opportunity Insights, Raj Chetty is one of the nation’s leading scholars on economic mobility and opportunity. His groundbreaking research uses large-scale data to examine how neighborhoods, schools, social networks, and community connections shape a person’s chances of upward mobility. His work is helping communities across the country better understand the conditions and connections that can expand opportunity and improve life outcomes for children and families.

CHRISTIAN RHODES

Featured Speaker

Chief National Impact Officer of Harlem Children’s Zone, Christian Rhodes leads national efforts to scale one of the country’s most recognized place-based approaches to expanding opportunity for children and families. His work focuses on building strong pathways from early childhood through education and into career, while aligning schools, family supports, community organizations, and investment around shared outcomes. He brings deep experience in education policy and systems change to efforts aimed at helping communities create lasting, measurable impact.

LISA M. LAWSON

Featured Speaker

President and CEO of the Annie E. Casey Foundation and Board Chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, Lisa M. Lawson leads national efforts to improve outcomes for children, youth and families. She champions Thrive by 25® and is the author of Thrive: How the Science of the Adolescent Brain Helps Us Imagine a Better Future for All Children, exploring how adolescent development can shape brighter futures for young people.

JULIA FREELAND FISHER

Featured Speaker
Director of Education Research at the Clayton Christensen Institute, Julia Freeland Fisher is a nationally recognized expert on education innovation and social capital. She is the co-author of Who You Know: Unlocking Innovations That Expand Students’ Networks, which explores how schools and communities can harness the power of relationships and networks to expand opportunity and increase social and economic mobility for young people.

Conference Schedule

7:45 AM | Registration & Continental Breakfast
Doors open. Join early to connect with fellow attendees before the conference begins.
8:15 AM | Welcome
8:30 AM | Opening Keynote — Dr. Raj Chetty
The Threads That Hold: Relationships, Opportunity & Community
Professor of Economics, Harvard University & Director of Opportunity Insights
9:10 AM | Fireside Chat
Dr. Raj Chetty & Dr. Russell W. Booker
A conversation connecting research on economic mobility to communities like Spartanburg.
9:40 AM | Morning Plenary — Christian Rhodes
Weaving Opportunity Into Action: What Thriving Communities Do Differently
Chief National Impact Officer, Harlem Children’s Zone
10:15 AM | Break
10:40 AM | Education Session — Julia Freeland Fisher
The Missing Metric: Why Connection Matters for Students
Director of Education Research, Clayton Christensen Institute
11:10 AM | Q&A + Table Discussion
Reflect on the research and consider what stronger connections could mean for students and systems.
11:40 AM | Lunch
12:30 PM | Lunch Plenary Panel
At the Table Together: The Power of Shared Leadership
A conversation with community, education and parent leaders, moderated by Jauntavia Padgett, Director of Advocacy, SAM.
1:05 PM | Community Leadership Conversation
Weaving the Fabric for Community Change
Featuring Dena Chadwick, President & CEO, Philanthropy Southeast, and Mary Thomas, President & CEO, CFLeads. Moderated by Molly Talbot-Metz, President & CEO, Mary Black Foundation.
1:40 PM | Afternoon Plenary — Lisa M. Lawson
Everyone Can Thrive Here: Unlocking the Potential of Every Child
President & CEO, Annie E. Casey Foundation and author of Thrive
2:00 PM | Panel Conversation
The Finished Tapestry: Stories of Connection and Opportunity
Young people and community partners bring the day's themes of connection and opportunity to life.
2:30 PM | Cookie Break
2:45 PM | From Thread to Tapestry
What We Heard, What We Learned
Community leaders reflect on the ideas presented throughout the day and what they mean for Spartanburg.
3:10 PM | A Call to Action
What Thread Will You Weave?
Attendees move from reflection to action and consider the role each of us can play in strengthening connections and expanding opportunity.
3:30 PM | A Call to Connection
Closing reflections
3:40 PM | Adjourn