Resilient Communities of East Georgia (RCEG) will host the 2026 Resilient Teens Summit on Saturday, August 29, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Columbia County Exhibition Center in Grovetown.

Designed for middle and high school students and the parents, caregivers, educators and other adults who support them, the Summit takes on some of the most pressing issues teens and families are navigating today—from social media and online safety to healthy relationships, sleep, mental health, communication, decision-making and financial literacy.

“What makes this Summit different is that we aren’t just talking about teens—we’re creating space to talk with them,” said Rebecca Best, Executive Director of Resilient Communities of East Georgia. “Young people need practical tools to navigate the decisions and challenges they face every day, but the adults in their lives also need tools to listen, communicate and support them. We wanted to create a day that does both.”

The Summit will feature a combination of shared experiences and separate learning tracks for teens and their adult allies.

Sessions include:

• Behind the Screen: Understanding Today’s Digital Platforms and the Risks Every Family Should Know, led by Major Trey Burgamy of the Washington County Sheriff’s Office
• Beyond the Filter, focused on healthy relationships, self-esteem and a positive digital life, presented by D’Lareg Lee and LeKara Simmons of GCAPP
• Safer Screens, offering practical device settings and digital safety strategies for families, presented by James VanMeter, CIO of the Columbia County School System
• Walk in My Shoes, an interactive role-reversal experience led by Dr. April Hartman of the Medical College of Georgia
• Real Talk, a peer-led teen session facilitated by RCEG’s Resilient Teens Ambassadors
• How to Be an Askable Adult, led by Dr. Shreeti Kapoor of the Medical College of Georgia
• Money Moves, a practical financial literacy session for teens, led by the CSRA Home Education Association
• Recharge: Sleep, Screens & Teen Mental Health, featuring a panel of experts from the Medical College of Georgia

 Community organizations and resource providers will also be on-site throughout the day, giving families an opportunity to connect with services available throughout the region. The event will conclude with the presentation of RCEG’s Resilience Awards, and a Silent Disco hosted by The Family Y.

Registration is $15 per person and includes snacks, drinks, lunch, promotional items and an event T-shirt. Financial and transportation assistance is available for families who need it.

The Summit will be held at the Columbia County Exhibition Center, 212 Partnership Drive, Grovetown, GA 30813.

For additional information or to register, visit rceg.org/rts26. Individuals needing financial or transportation assistance may contact [email protected].