2026 Fall Board of Directors Meeting and Building Better Futures: A County Leaders' Symposium on Youth Outcomes

Welcome and Opening Remarks

1:30 – 2:15 P.M.

Omni Charlotte Hotel

NACo Incoming President George Dunlap and partners will open the symposium by setting the tone for a collaborative, outcomes-focused discussion. Speakers will highlight shared priorities, the importance of partnerships and the opportunity to advance practical approaches that improve outcomes for youth.

Bus Departs Omni Hotel for Nourish Up

2:30 p.m.

Mobile Tour Experience: Nourish Up

3:00 P.M.

When children experience food insecurity, the effects go far beyond hunger. Inadequate nutrition in childhood and adolescence is directly linked to impaired cognitive development, poor school performance, increased stress and behavioral health challenges — making food access a foundational youth issue, not just a social service one.

Nourish Up is a Charlotte-based organization working at that intersection — connecting families not only to nutritious food, but to the wraparound supports that help children and young people thrive. Through a network of food pantries, mobile distributions and community partnerships, Nourish Up meets families where they are and addresses the conditions that shape how our youngest residents grow and learn.

During the tour, attendees will:

• See how food security functions as an upstream intervention for youth outcomes — including school readiness, behavioral health and family stability
• Learn how Mecklenburg County integrates food access with broader family support services to reduce barriers for children and caregivers
• Explore how community-based, mobile models reach families that traditional systems often miss
• Discuss how counties can replicate or partner with similar models to address root causes affecting youth in their own communities

Depart Nourish Up for Omni Charlotte Hotel

4:45 p.m.

An Evening Above and Beyond: Symposium Reception & Dinner

6:00 – 8:00 P.M.

Sullenberger Aviation Museum
4108 Minuteman Way, Charlotte NC 29208

Attendees will cap off the first day of the symposium with an unforgettable evening at the Sullenberger Aviation Museum set on the grounds of the Charlotte Douglas International Airport. This special reception and dinner will bring together members of NACo's Large Urban County Caucus and Board of Directors for an evening of networking, relationship-building and shared purpose. Set among historic aircraft and exhibits that celebrate human ingenuity and the drive to push boundaries, the venue serves as a fitting reminder of what becomes possible when visionary leaders come together with a common goal.

Breakfast

8:00 – 8:45 a.m.

Youth National Anthem/Opening Performance

8:45 – 9:00 a.m.

Building Better Futures Symposium

Welcome and Opening Framing

9:00 a.m.

Keynote Conversation

9:15 a.m.

Youth-Led Panel

9:45 a.m.

Break

10:30 a.m.

County Innovations and Practices

10:45 a.m.

Symposium Luncheon:
Thrive: How the Science of the Adolescent Brain Helps Us Imagine a Better Future for All Children
Lisa M. Lawson, CEO & President, Annie E. Casey Foundation

12:00 – 1:30 p.m.

Breakthroughs in brain science show that young people need stable relationships, meaningful opportunities and strong support to thrive — yet too many grow up without them. In her new book, Thrive, Lisa M. Lawson reveals how families, communities and public systems can rise to the challenge, offering clear, practical steps to ensure every young person has a fair chance to flourish.

Symposium Mobile Experience Tour
VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts Center)

2:00 – 4:00 P.M.

Supporting youth isn't only about preventing harm — it's about creating the conditions where young people can genuinely flourish. The arts are one of the most time-tested ways communities have done exactly that. As part of the symposium, participants will visit the VAPA Center (Visual and Performing Arts Center) in downtown Charlotte — an innovative community space where arts, community and youth development intersect.

The VAPA Center brings together artists, nonprofit organizations and creative enterprises under one roof, creating a collaborative environment where arts and community intersect. Many of the programs and partners housed within VAPA are focused on engaging young people—particularly those who may face barriers to traditional supports—through creative expression, mentorship and skill-building.

During the tour, county officials will:

• Explore how arts-based programs can support youth development, engagement and well-being
• Learn how community partnerships expand access to creative opportunities for underserved populations
• See how shared spaces and collaborative models maximize resources and impact
• Discuss how similar approaches can complement existing youth services and prevention strategies

By highlighting the role of the arts in fostering confidence, connection and opportunity, this tour will provide a practical example of how community-driven solutions can help support positive outcomes for vulnerable youth.

NACo Board of Directors Business Meeting (Part 1)

2:00 – 5:00 P.M.

Symposium Adjournment

4:00 P.M.

Breakfast Options

8:00 – 8:50 a.m.

• Board of Directors Orientation and Refresh
• Informal Networking Breakfast

NACo Board of Directors: Strategic Planning Forum

8:00 – 11:30 A.M.

NACo Blueprint: Setting the Stage for 2030 Prosperity

9:00 a.m.

NACo Board Focus Groups and Feedback

9:30 a.m.

Adjournment

11:30 a.m.