Georgia Southern University’s Annual National Youth Advocacy Announces 2024 Conference

February 1, 2024

March 3-6, 2024

Mark your calendars for the National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference (NYAR), taking place from March 3-6, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency hotel in beautiful downtown Savannah, Georgia. This event promises to be an inspiring and transformative experience for all attendees, providing valuable insights, networking opportunities and practical tools to better serve and empower our youth.

Founded by the College of Education (COE) of Georgia Southern University in 1990, NYAR trains adults who serve youth to create safe, healthy, caring and intellectually empowering educational environments that foster the well-being of all children and adolescents. To accomplish this mission, it offers over one hundred presentations by nationally and internationally recognized presenters to more than 1,400 national and international conference participants.

“This conference is about schools and much more,” said Alisa Leckie, Ph.D., NYAR Conference co-chair. “In order to really impact youth and the communities in which they live in, we have to look at all of the influences in a child’s life.”

NYAR has a rich history of bringing together educators, administrators, counselors, health and human service professionals, law enforcement personnel, community leaders, volunteers, therapists and social workers from around the world. By offering sessions in its five thoughtfully curated strands; Head: Academic Achievement and Leadership, Heart: Social and Emotional Skills, Hands: Safety and Violence Prevention, Health: Mental and Physical Health and Home: Family and Community Engagement, NYAR continues to be at the forefront of promoting the well-being of all children and adolescents. 

NYAR’s conference strands are designed to offer a comprehensive and diversified learning experience, catering to the varied interests and needs of conference participants. Each strand focuses on specific aspects of youth advocacy, resilience, and well-being, providing attendees with an opportunity to delve deep into their areas of expertise and interest. The keynote speakers at the 2024 NYAR conference includes Dr. Manny Scott an original Freedom Writer whose story is told in part in the hit movie, Freedom Writers. Dr. Manuel Scott has energized more than two million educators, students, and leaders worldwide in person with his authentic, inspiring messages of hope.

Dardi Hendershott is co-founder of Hope 4 The Wounded, LLC and co-author of Supporting the Wounded Educator: A Trauma-Sensitive Approach to Self-Care with husband, Joe. Dardi is a certified health and wellness coach, a trained and formerly licensed therapeutic foster/adoptive parent, and a huge advocate for professionals seeking to find balance in their lives. Lastly, Keith Brown, known nationally and globally as “Mr. I’M POSSIBLE,” Presidential Lifetime Achievement award Keith L. Brown overcame the systemic labels of “Special-Ed,” and “At-Risk”, to become one of the most sought-after speakers of our time. 

For more information or to register, visit the conference website at 

National Youth Advocacy and Resilience Conference

Questions about the conference from the Georgia Southern Division of Continuing Education, contact Sandra Lensch at 912-478-5555 or nyar@georgiasouthern.edu  

Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/Research institution founded in 1906, offers 142 degree programs serving more than 27,000 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Savannah, Statesboro, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship, and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders, and stewards in their communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.

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