Hey, Y’all!
As someone who has called Georgia home for a decade now, it’s a true pleasure to invite GEAR UP teams from across the country to join Xcalibur in Savannah next spring for our biennial conference. In May 2026, we hope you’ll step beneath the canopy of Spanish moss-draped oaks and take part in a hands-on, minds-on working retreat built around reflection, realignment, and results. This isn’t a typical conference—it’s a chance to step back, get grounded, and reconnect with the deeper “why” that drives our work in GEAR UP.
Savannah is a city where time slows down just enough for you to catch your breath—and maybe even find some clarity. Known as the “Hostess City of the South,” it welcomes you with gracious hospitality, wraparound porches, and a rich history woven into every square, steeple, and sidewalk. This is a place where the past and present walk hand in hand. No wonder the city proudly claims the slogan “Just South of Ordinary”—and together, we hope to create extraordinary moments.
At Rooted in Results: Align, Adjust, Achieve, we’ll spend two purposeful days digging into the work that drives GEAR UP forward. Participants will:
- Review and refine their logic models, aligning inputs and activities with real-time service
- Analyze student participation data to evaluate reach and relevance
- Deconstruct logic models through the lens of the five GEAR UP GPRA Indicators
- Reflect on outcome data from across the GEAR UP community
- Hear from a panel of GEAR UP leaders who’ve shaped strong performance stories
- Identify services to improve intentionally—and develop a tailored action plan
Let Savannah’s live oaks shelter your thoughts, let its cobblestones guide your steps, and let this city remind you that strong roots don’t grow overnight, but with care, reflection, and a little warmth, they thrive.
For more information, visit the Xcalibur booth at the NCCEP conference. You can also complete the interest form to receive conference updates!
See you soon!
