Join us for the 2026 MyT Summit
October 15-16, 2026 | McGrath Pond, Oakland, ME
ALIGN: A Return to Connection, Community, and Care
ALIGN is an invitation to return to what matters most: connection, community, and care.
At a time when many young people and adults are feeling isolated, overwhelmed, and disconnected, ALIGN inspires us to intentionally help people feel seen, heard, valued, and vital.
Grounded in the science of the positive, this year’s Summit will explore how connection, belonging, and mattering can be woven into our schools, workplaces, organizations, and communities. Together, we will learn, connect, and take action to build a future where every young person has the relationships, experiences, and environments they need to thrive.
Because when we align our actions with what matters most, we don’t just change individual lives, we strengthen entire communities.
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The Lodge on McGrath Pond
The Lodge on McGrath Pond
Nationally-recognized Keynote | Youth Panel | Changemaker Awards | Nature Activities | Strategy Workshops
Meet our keynote speaker
Dr. Sarah Bennison
Faculty, New York University • Co-Founder & CEO, Mattering Movement
Keynote Speaker • Author • Activist
Dr. Sarah Bennison is an educator, scholar and activist. She works with educational institutions to transform cultures through service. Dr. Bennison is on the faculty of New York University where she was nominated for the 2024-2025 Steinhardt Teaching Excellence Award. She teaches a new course called Achievement Culture & the American Dream: Who Matters? She is the founder of Trinity School’s (NYC) groundbreaking K–12 Office of Public Service and co-founder and CEO of The Mattering Movement.
The focus of Dr. Bennison’s teaching and activism is on the intersection of curriculum, educational institutions, and social impact. She began her teaching career in NYC public schools in the South Bronx and has taught in schools and universities for thirty years. Dr. Bennison is the creator of the Mattering Movement Curriculum and is a published author who speaks to school communities throughout the United States. She founded the Trinity School (NYC) Office of Public Service, a thought-leading social impact and service learning initiative, and she is the founder of children’s sleepwear company for social good BennisonGives which supports maternal and infant health locally and globally.
Dr. Bennison holds a Ph.D. from NYU; an M.A. from Columbia University; an M.A. from Columbia Teachers College; and a B.A. from Smith College.
Plan Your Participation
October 15th, 2026 1pm-6pm
Summit Circle – Opening Celebration
You are invited to register early for the SUMMIT CIRCLE – an opening celebration to kick off the MyT 2026 Summit: ALIGN open to the first 80 registrants. This more intimate gathering of leaders and champions of youth mental health makes full use of the retreat-like setting and natural beauty of McGrath Pond. Designed to center you in community and in this year’s theme, make the most of what the Summit has to offer by connecting to people and to place and enjoying the following offerings available only at the Summit Circle:
- Arrive with a Nature-based Ceremony to ground you in place and purpose.
- Be the First to See the Newest Research and Pioneering Work in Mattering-Centered Education from the national Mattering Movement.
- Preview and Provide Your Perspective on The Maine Mattering Road Map.
- Dive in with a MyT-led Interactive Workshop
- Take a Lakeside Stroll at Sunset with a Friend
- Kick back for a Celebratory Kick Ball game at Camp Tracy’s Fenway Park
- Leave Tailored Love Notes to Inspire and Uplift Other Caregivers and Caregiving Professionals Attending the Summit
- Feast on a Fireside Charcuterie and Conversation with MyT’s network of Youth-Serving Professionals.
October 16th, 2026 8am-5pm
ALIGN: A Return to Connection, Community, and Care
ALIGN Summit Day Experience
Set against the natural beauty of McGrath Pond, this immersive Summit experience invites you to step away from the demands of daily life and reconnect with what matters most. Together, we will explore how connection, belonging, and mattering can be intentionally woven into our schools, organizations, workplaces, and communities to help all young people thrive.
Throughout the day, choose from a variety of experiences designed to nourish both personal wellbeing and professional growth:
- Relax with lakeside yoga and mindfulness practices.
- Experience the restorative power of nature through kayaking, guided hikes, and outdoor recreation.
- Discover new perspectives through creative expression and art therapy.
- Challenge yourself with archery and remind yourself of the importance of play, curiosity, and joy.
- Learn from inspiring leaders, practitioners, educators, researchers, and community champions who are advancing innovative approaches to youth thriving across Maine.
- Explore evidence-informed strategies that promote resilience, belonging, Positive Childhood Experiences, and mattering.
- Connect with colleagues and new friends through meaningful conversations, shared experiences, and opportunities to build lasting partnerships.
- Celebrate the incredible work happening across our state to strengthen communities and create the conditions where young people feel seen, heard, valued, and needed.
Whether you come to learn, connect, recharge, or be inspired, you’ll leave with new ideas, renewed energy, and practical tools to help create environments where connection, community, and care are at the center.
Together, we’ll ALIGN our actions with what matters most and continue building a future where every young person can flourish.
Thank you to our Summit Sponsors!
To join our sponsors in supporting youth mattering in Maine, email MyT for a Summit Sponsorship packet!