about the conference

The Active Minds Mental Health Conference is the nation’s leading mental health conference for young adults.

FOR STUDENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS

This highly anticipated conference will bring together 400 young adults and mental health advocates from across the country to share ideas and advance knowledge about mental health education, advocacy, and awareness.

The conference will showcase the most innovative and effective approaches to supporting young adult well-being and changing the conversation about mental health on campuses, in schools, in the transition to the workplace, and within our communities.

EXCEPTIONAL SPEAKERS

Highlights of the conference include inspiring keynote presentations and breakout sessions led by esteemed mental health, higher education, and other experts. The 2024 speaker list will be announced soon.

WHO ATTENDS

Young Adult Leaders ages 18-25+ and all who are committed to mental health awareness and changing the way mental health is valued and prioritized.

Active Minds Chapter Members and Alumni from colleges, universities, and high schools.

Active Minds Chapter Advisors and Youth Champions who are committed to supporting the mobilization of youth and young adults for mental health calls to action.

Student Members of Partner Organizations including fraternity and sorority leaders, student athletes, service-minded students, student body presidents, and more.

Leading Experts and Industry Leaders with tangible opportunities available for young adult advocates to learn, grow, and mobilize for mental health.

Visit the 2023 Conference Digital Program to learn more about the types of speakers, sessions, and interactive elements you can expect in 2024.

registration

Registration for the 2024 Conference is now open!

Conference Registration – $150 for Students; $240 for General. Online registration will be closed after July 25.

Register Now!

If you are registering more than four attendees, please contact Emelyne Ndikumasabo at emelyne@activeminds.org to process the group registration. We do offer a 20% group registration discount when registering more than four attendees.

Active Minds aims to provide a conference that is accessible to people who are passionate about changing the culture around mental health, despite potential financial barriers.  Stipend funding is available for youth and young adults (ages 18 and older) through an application process to assist the financial barrier that prevents youth and young adults from attending our Mental Health Conference located in Washington, DC.  Please see the FAQ page for additional information.  Applications for stipend funding closed on June 3, 2024.

The registration fee covers the cost to attend two days of the 2024 Active Minds Mental Health Conference, conference materials, and four meals.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Your company or organization is invited to become a sponsor at the 2024 Active Minds Mental Health Conference. Please download the sponsorship packet for more information. If you have any additional questions, please contact us at conference@activeminds.org to discuss partnership and sponsorship opportunities. We’re happy to work with you!

Sponsorship Packet

speakers and breakout session presenters

The complete list of speakers and presenters that will be at the 2024 Conference is now live. Keynote speakers will be announced soon. Keep checking back for additions and updates or sign up for our Conference Updates mailing list to get information directly to your inbox.

Full Speakers List

Keynote Speakers

Glenna Wright-Gallo

Click to Read Bio

Glenna Wright-Gallo

Assistant Secretary, US Department of Education

Glenna Wright-Gallo

Glenna Wright-Gallo

Assistant Secretary, US Department of Education

Glenna Wright-Gallo is the assistant secretary in the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services at the United States Department of Education. In this capacity, she serves as advisor to the U.S. secretary of education on matters related to the education of children and youth with disabilities, as well as employment and community living for youth and adults with disabilities. The mission of her office is to improve early childhood, educational, and employment outcomes, and to raise expectations for all people with disabilities, their families, their communities, and the nation.

Wright-Gallo has more than 25 years of experience supporting students and adults with disabilities. She served as the assistant superintendent of special education in the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in Washington from 2017–2022 and previously as the state director of special education for the Utah State Board of Education for seven years. In her state-level education leadership roles, Wright-Gallo provided expertise in the improvement planning, data analysis, and monitoring of public pre-K through 12th grade+ special education programs. Before her state-level education leadership roles, Wright-Gallo worked as a classroom teacher and administrator.

Wright-Gallo has a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science degrees in special education; special education teacher and administrative licenses; endorsements as a program administrator, principal, and superintendent; and a Master of Business Administration.

Alexander Stewart

Click to Read Bio

Alexander Stewart

Music Artist; Mental Health Advocate

Alexander Stewart

Alexander Stewart

Music Artist; Mental Health Advocate

With over half a billion streams to his name, Alexander Stewart’s skyscraping pop sound and heartbreaking anthems have made him one of Spotify’s Pop Rising Artists to Watch this year and 2023’s second most viewed artist on TikTok in Canada. His recently released debut album bleeding heart features his massive hit “i wish you cheated,” which launched with a viral TikTok campaign that saw over 45 million views and led to his late-night TV debut performance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Following his performance, the single became a Top 20 radio hit and broke into Billboard’s Hot 100 chart in Canada. The album also includes “if you only knew,” taken from the independent Toronto-born singer-songwriter’s last EP, which Alexander debuted an emotional performance of on Late Night With Seth Meyers and was named one of Rolling Stone’s “Songs You Need To Know.” Alexander has previously toured with other artists including Charlie Puth, Benson Boone, and Eric Nam, and he’s currently on his international headlining “bleeding hearts tour,” performing in front of his rapidly growing fan base that has expanded to over 500 million global streams, 325 million views on YouTube and 138 million likes on TikTok.

Manteo Mitchell

Manteo Mitchell

Olympic Bobsledder & Sprinter; Ambassador, Athletes for Hope

Lexi Hidalgo

Click to Read Bio

Lexi Hidalgo

Host, The Moments Podcast

Lexi Hidalgo

Lexi Hidalgo

Host, The Moments Podcast

You may already be familiar with Lexi from The Moments Podcast, where she radiates positivity and shares real-life experiences. Whether it’s through her inside look at her home renovation videos on TikTok or her captivating travel vlogs, Lexi has earned the endearing title of “human sunshine” for her unwavering commitment to spreading joy and authenticity.

Upon launch in late 2021, The Moments Podcast quickly rose to the top of the charts, debuting at an impressive number 4 on Spotify and maintaining a spot in the top 10 for consecutive weeks. Listeners can’t help but feel like they’re chatting with a close friend as Lexi delves into the ups and downs of young adult life, covering everything from therapy to self-care. Every Monday, her loyal listeners gather to feel understood and empowered.

And now, get ready to dive even deeper into Lexi’s world with her eagerly awaited debut guided journal, The Moments Journal. Filled with insightful prompts and gentle reminders to stay grounded and embrace what truly matters, this journal is a must-have for anyone seeking to elevate their everyday experiences. With Lexi’s guidance, you’ll discover that you have the power to shape the life you’ve always dreamed of.

But Lexi’s impact extends far beyond the digital realm. She’s a passionate advocate for pet adoption, dedicating her time to volunteering at local dog shelters and spreading awareness about the importance of giving animals a loving home. And let’s not forget her collaborations with Kulani Kinis and Dizzy with Excitement Wallpaper in addition to her work with Free People, Skims, Hollister, Amazon, Starbucks and more.

GenZ Panel: Being a Work in Progress & a Work of Progress

GenZ Panel: Being a Work in Progress & a Work of Progress

Moderated by Jiggy Yoon

GenZ Panel: Being a Work in Progress & a Work of Progress

GenZ Panel: Being a Work in Progress & a Work of Progress

Moderated by Jiggy Yoon

Trace Terrell, Adia Fadaei, and Lauryn are our GenZ Panelists, moderated by Jiggy Yoon.

You can find bios for our panelists on the full list of Conference Presenters.

Na Eun “Jiggy” Yoon

Click to Read Bio

Na Eun “Jiggy” Yoon

Active Minds Speaker

Na Eun “Jiggy” Yoon

Na Eun “Jiggy” Yoon

Active Minds Speaker

Na Eun “Jiggy” Yoon is a Mental Health Motivational Speaker teaching students, athletes, and young professionals how to perform at their most optimal level WHILE ALSO inspiring them to prioritize their mental health, so that they can continue building their legacy AND enjoy their quality of life — during and after graduating. She is also a Mindset & Performance Coach helping competitive athletes and World Champions build strategies to obtain sustainable, successful, and healthy careers. Additionally, Jiggy is the Founder of Vulnerability Is Dope, an apparel collection with a meaningful message.

Jiggy was born in South Korea, built in Queens, and has proudly graduated from THE Pennsylvania State University — a time when she was also diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.

With a deep dedication to empowering those who are committed to the pursuit of becoming extraordinary, Jiggy is also right there with you — as she navigates through the callings of her own life while simultaneously grieving the passing of both of her parents, defying odds by living with a chronic illness alongside training combat sports, and being a Queer Asian woman.

Through resilience and the power of hope, Jiggy was able to persevere through many different challenges, losses, and traumas in life, in hopes that one day she’ll be able to impact and inspire others who may see a little bit of themselves in her story. Good thing she does this for a living now.

Conference Schedule*

(All times EST)

Friday, August 2nd

8:00am-9:00am Registration + Breakfast
9:00am-10:00am Welcome + Opening Keynote Presentation
10:15am-11:00am Growth Sessions
11:15am-12:00pm Growth Sessions
12:00pm-12:30pm Visit the Exhibitors + Networking
12:30pm-1:15pm Lunch
1:30pm-2:30pm Keynote Presentation
2:45pm-3:30pm Growth Sessions
3:30pm-4:00pm Visit the Exhibitors + Networking
4:00pm-4:45pm Growth Sessions
5:00pm-6:30pm Social Hour

Saturday, August 3rd

7:30am-8:15am Sunrise Self-Care
8:30am-9:15am Breakfast
9:15am-9:30am Opening Remarks
9:30am-10:30am Keynote Presentation
10:45am-11:30am Growth Sessions
11:30am-12:00pm Visit the Exhibitors + Networking
12:00pm-12:30pm Lunch
12:30pm-1:00pm Awards Presentation
1:15pm-2:30pm Innovation Expo
2:45pm-3:30pm Growth Sessions
3:30pm-4:30pm Closing Session

* – schedule subject to change

hotel and travel information

hotel and travel information

Capital Hilton Hotel

1001 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20036

Join us at the Capital Hilton where we’ll gather for all Conference sessions. Combining style, historical character, and an enviable location, the Capital Hilton is located just blocks from the capital’s best attractions including The White House, the National Mall, and a multitude of museums. With comfortable rooms and suites and a great restaurant, the hotel offers all you need for an unforgettable trip to DC.

Book your room at the Capital Hilton to receive our special conference rate, only available until our conference block is booked.

Book now

 

how to get to the Capital Hilton

Capital Hilton is located two blocks north of the White House on 16th Street and K Street, in Northwest Washington, DC. The hotel is easily accessible to three different Metro Stations: Farragut North (Red Line), Farragut West (Blue and Orange Lines), and McPherson Square (Blue and Orange Lines).

parking

The hotel offers valet parking only but there are self-park garages nearby, which are not operated by the hotel.

nearby airports

  • Reagan National Airport
  • Washington Dulles International Airport
  • Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport

View map and directions from local airports