Before You Go
Youth Waiver
We must have a waiver on file for EVERY youth who attends the Youth Summit. All youth should be pre-registered and bring a waiver signed by their parent/legal guardian in order to be granted access to the Youth Summit venue. Youth will not be permitted to attend without submitting a waiver!
Arrival, Check-In & Logistics
The 2025 DFCS Youth Summit will be held at Anderson Conference Center (5171 Eisenhower Pkwy, Macon, GA 31206) from 10 am – 3 pm. Doors open at 8:45 am, and all participants should arrive no later than 9:45 am in order to get checked in prior to our start.
Schedule
9:15 - 9:45 am Check In
10 - 11 am Opening Session
11:15 am - 12:15 pm Workshop Session 1
12:15 - 12:50 pm Lunch
1 - 2 pm Workshop Session 2
2:10 - 3 pm Closing Session
We are pleased to announce the following lineup of fantastic presenters for our workshops:
Keynote: Dennard Mitchell
Dennard Mitchell is a student retention specialist, national best-selling author, and international educational speaker. His mission is to help schools, colleges, and student organizations to increase the engagement, retention, and success of their students and staff.
Although faced with many challenges growing up, Dennard went on to earn degrees in Business Administration and Mortuary Science. He’s the best-selling author of Next Level Student Success which is published in English and Spanish and has authored five additional books. He is an experienced Leadership Facilitator and has a gift for connecting with any audience, relating to them on a personal level, and inspiring them to bring out the best in themselves and the people around them. When he is not speaking, Dennard enjoys traveling with his wife and kids and going to the movies.
Learn more by visiting his website at dennardmitchell.com.
Keynote: Yvonne Harvey Williams
Yvonne Harvey Williams is one of the country’s most sought after motivational speakers for youth and young adults. With a powerful testimony of overcoming the odds, and a passion to see young people do the same, Yvonne shares with listeners advice based on her own personal story of victory and triumph.
Yvonne has been featured in magazines, newspapers, featured news stories and talk shows across the country sharing her passion and her purpose to reach youth and young adults introducing and leading them to better choices. More than a dynamic speaker, she is an author, CEO, mentor and TV personality.
Connect with Yvonne at instagram.com/yvonneinspires.