To build a future where we prevent family separation and eliminate systemic harms, we must imagine what’s possible, create bold solutions, and activate together to make our ideas real.
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Scout
Throughout the year we look for innovative ideas, people, and organizations that are focused on preventing family separation or eliminating systemic harms. We identify themes that we turn into design challenges, which are the focus of the design labs at Untethered.
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Imagine
Every year at Untethered we turn our design challenges into facilitated design labs. We work together in the labs to envision what the future can look like and how we can launch or grow bright spot opportunists for innovation.
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Create
After Untethered we identify the most promising idea and develop an 18-month Creative Cluster project to launch or scale the innovation. We develop a plan and raise funds to run the project.
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Activate
With a project plan and team in place, we launch the Creative Cluster project. Each project is unique to the design challenge and bright spot innovation. The first project we launched is an affordable housing innovation to prevent entries into foster care.
An experience unlike anything you’ve experienced before.
Join us in Washington, DC, May 6 - 8, 2026 for three days of community building, personal growth, and catalyzing impact for the next 362 days. Untethered 2026 will feature curated topics that represent opportunities to launch or scale innovations that create a more just future for families. These topics are the spark for the Design Challenges, Ignite Talks from people working on these issues, and Design Labs to identify bright spots that are ripe for acceleration. There will also be sessions focused on personal growth and time to reconnect with those you know in the community and to meet new people. Early registration opens January 21, and tickets are discounted until January 31!!
Event Details
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Wednesday night’s kickoff party will be at the iconic Busboys and Poets at 2021 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20009.
Thursday and Friday will be held at the historic Union National Building at 918 F St NW, Washington, DC 20004.
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We recommend flying into Reagan National Airport. It is the closest airport to DC. The hotel and venue locations can be easily reached by the DC Metro or Uber/Lyft.
It is possible that flying into Dulles International Airport or BWI Airport may be cheaper. They are significantly further from DC than Regan (about 30 miles).
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We will have a room block available soon. Please check back for details. This information will also be included in future emails.
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We are in the process of developing the program for Untethered 2026. We anticipate some of the most popular sessions and experiences returning as well as some new exciting sessions. Please check back for details. We will also include this information in future emails.
