THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2026

9:00am - 3:30pm

New York City Bar Association

42 W 44th Street

New York, NY 10036

Members & NYC-based nonprofits: $35*

Other organizations: $50

Register

*Some members may qualify for a complimentary ticket.

Check your eligibility when completing registration.

The Student Success Network Expo is a unique opportunity to bring our community together in a full-day gathering to learn from one another, gain tangible tools and approaches to improve our work, and deepen the relationships that power our progress. The day includes your pick of three peer-led breakout sessions, a panel conversation, and plenty of time to connect with folks doing similar work.

This year’s tagline — Collective Brilliance: Tap the Network, Fuel the Work. — is a reminder that the knowledge, creativity, and solutions we need are already within our Network.

Bring yours to the table. We want to hear from you.

Submit a proposal to lead your own breakout session!

Learn more about our breakout sessions below ⬇️

The best ideas in this network live inside the people doing the work every day.

This year's Expo is built on a simple but powerful idea: the answer to your hardest problem might already be in the room. Every organization in our Network is sitting on hard-won knowledge, and the Expo is where that collective brilliance gets put to work.

We encourage anyone at NYC-youth serving organizations to submit proposals that reflect the depth and creativity of your practice. In the past, facilitators have spanned from youth participants to program staff to directors and more. Breakout sessions are designed to spark peer-to-peer learning, honest conversation, and connection that lasts beyond the day.

Applications are open on a rolling basis, with priority consideration for submissions before Wednesday, August 12, 2026.

Tap the Network. Fuel the Work. Submit a proposal that aligns with one or more of the following themes:

    • What are students able to do as a result of your program, and how do you define, build and measure competencies?

    • What tools, structures, or experiences are you using to help students plan for their futures?

    • How are you ensuring those plans feel relevant and achievable for the young people you serve?

    • How are young people informing, shaping, or leading the work in your program?

    • What have you learned or changed as a result of listening to youth?

    • How do you create space for youth voice to influence decisions?

    • How are you intentionally building and sustaining meaningful relationships?

    • What does trust look like between the students, adults, and community members you work with, and how do you cultivate it?

    • How have strong relationships shaped outcomes for the young people you serve?

    • What are you measuring, and how does that data inform the decisions you make?

    • Have you had any "a-ha" moments with your data that might resonate with the Network?

    • How are you making data accessible and meaningful to the people - staff, students, families - who need it most?

    • Who are you partnering with, and what has that made possible that you couldn't have done alone?

    • How are you navigating the challenges that come with working across organizations or sectors?

    • What have you learned about what makes collaboration actually work?

Showcase your work at the Expo!

Revisit 2025 Expo materials here for fun, reference or inspiration.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Great question! With frequent staff transitions and large teams, it’s common for folks to be unsure of their organization’s current membership status.

    SSN membership is free and open to all NYC-based, youth-serving organizations. To confirm your membership or join our network, please complete this brief survey: https://form.jotform.com/260673779613165

    If you’re unsure whether someone from your organization may have already completed it, go ahead and fill it out. We’d rather hear from you than miss the chance to connect.

  • This Expo is designed for everyone in the youth-serving ecosystem, from frontline staff and program managers to organization leaders. Our primary audience is programs that work directly with young people.

  • Yes! Young people are welcome and valued. While most sessions are tailored toward practitioners and program designers, youth voices are essential and may be part of team presentations or panels.

  • Lunch will be provided. You’ll be able to share any dietary needs in the registration form. While a full breakfast will not be served, coffee, assorted teas, and light food bites will be available in the morning.

  • Yes. The venue is physically accessible. If you have any specific access needs (e.g., seating, dietary restrictions), please include them in your registration, so we can best support you.

  • We’re here to help! Reach out to us at events@ssn-nyc.org for any questions.