Innovation in Motion

Too often in life, we think we need to wait until we’ve got a final product—polished, proven, and perfect. Sure, a polished, finished product is great. But there’s value in the story as it unfolds, too. And yet, fearing that our early drafts, unfinished ideas, or low-fi prototypes aren’t ready can hold us back from our own growth as well as limit opportunities for others.

At Healthy Teen Network, we believe the “messy middle”—the prototyping, the pivoting, and the raw learning—is exactly where the most vital connections and growth happen.

At Healthy Teen Network, we believe the “messy middle”—the prototyping, the pivoting, and the raw learning—is exactly where the most vital connections and growth happen. This year, our conference theme is all about belonging, and that includes the unconventional, the in-process, and the innovative.

If you’re in this “messy middle,” you don’t have to wait to reach the finish line to share what you’ve learned, make valuable connections, spark new ideas, and gain essential feedback to help you continue your journey. Particularly for the dreamers, doers, and changemakers out there pushing the boundaries of imagination in adolescent health, our national conference is an ideal space for you to continue your innovation journey!

We invite you to consider five ways your work in progress belongs in the #HealthyTeen26 space:

1. Exhibit: Gather Insights & Make Connections

Innovation shouldn’t happen in a vacuum. When you exhibit at our conference, you invite the wider adolescent sexual and reproductive health community into your development process. Your exhibit becomes a space where:

• Your solution belongs: Let practitioners and peers get hands-on with what you’ve built so far.
• Voices are heard: Gather real-time feedback from the people who work with young people every day. Their insights can ensure your solution is made for the real world and will make a difference.
• Partnerships begin: Connect with the organizations and individuals who see the potential in your vision and want to help you bring it to life.

2. Present a Workshop: Share and Humanize the Process

Our attendees—your peers in adolescent health—don’t just want to see a finished product; they want to see themselves in your journey and imagine how they could do the same. Presenting a workshop allows you to show that even the challenges belong in our collective story.

• Normalize the hurdles: Share how you met your latest challenge. When we talk about our struggles, we make it safe for others to do the same.
• Honor the pivot: Discuss what you learned that changed your direction.
• Build the narrative: Sharing your story “as you go” humanizes the innovation process, showing that the path to progress is one we walk together, with stops and starts, detours and backtracking.

3. Facilitate a Roundtable: Explore and Learn Together

If you have a complex question, a roundtable session invites others to join you in exploring and learning together.

• Spark conversation: Facilitate deep dives into the nuances of your innovation.
• Crowdsource the future: Use the collective brainpower of adolescent sexual and reproductive health experts to solve problems in real time.
• Foster peer exchange: Position your team as part of a larger ecosystem of changemakers, where every perspective is valued and essential for creating practical solutions.

4. Raise Your Voice: Advertising and Call to Action

You belong in the conversation, and that means making sure people know you’re there! In addition to exhibiting, we also have several advertising opportunities.

• Drive engagement: Use the conference app to promote your work and encourage folks to visit your exhibit or attend your breakout session.
• Call to action: Whether you’re looking for pilot sites, research partners, or simply more followers, the conference is the perfect place to make those connections.

5. Fuel Your Growth: Belonging as a Learner

And finally, when you come to #HealthyTeen26, you aren’t just a presenter—you are an active participant in a premier professional development experience.

• Expand your expertise: Attend incredible general and breakout sessions that can spark the next “Aha!” moment for your project.
• Find inspiration: Surrounding yourself with the latest research and field-tested strategies is the best way to spur further innovation.
• Connect and network: Beyond the formal sessions, you’ll make deep connections with attendees who share your passion and can become long-term collaborators.

Embrace “Share as We Go” and Step into the Spotlight

Let go of the stress of waiting for and building up to a “big reveal” and move toward a culture of transparency and shared growth. Innovation is iterative; by sharing your story before it’s “finished,” you aren’t just presenting—you’re contributing to a richer, more collaborative ecosystem of innovation where every stage of development belongs and we all belong.

Don’t wait for “perfect” to join the national conversation. Whether you are gathering feedback, sharing your lessons learned, or exploring new ideas, you’re sure to learn something new, be inspired, and make new connections. Your voice and your journey are essential to creating the future of adolescent health.

Join us for Made to Belong, October 5-7, 2026, in San Diego.

• The Call for Proposals is open now through May 7 for you to submit your roundtable or workshop proposal.
• Early bird registration opens next month—register early and save! Be sure you’re on our email list to get the latest updates.