CHILDLESS COLLECTIVE
summit
A 4-day, virtual gathering to support you in navigating your unexpectedly childless life. Learn how to process grief, embrace joy, and find a community that gets it.
Brought to you by the Childless Collective Online Community
Press play to learn more about the Childless Collective Summit!
YOU DREAMT OF PARENTHOOD, BUT IT NEVER CAME – AND IT’S HARD TO ENVISION WHAT'S NEXT.
Because honestly? This isn’t the life you planned.
Maybe you’ve caught glimpses of a future you. One who is flourishing, vibrant and at peace with their circumstances.
You’d like to move toward that vision, but aren’t sure where to start.
You don’t have to go it alone.
- Get tools to recognize and embrace joy in your current life.
- Learn new skills for navigating grief.
- Feel confident in your next steps.
- Identify new avenues to meaning and joy.
- Feel seen and validated in your experience.
- Find community and connect with others who get it.
- Access continued support, even after the summit's over.
The summit will support you as you:
If you had to let go of your dream of parenthood, no matter the circumstances, this event is for you.
We’ve gathered thought leaders from around the world to share their collective wisdom on navigating grief, experiencing joy, finding community, and embracing an unexpectedly childless life.
Join us for four days of presentations, live social hours, and a private online community, just for attendees.
meet the speakers
We’re excited to introduce you to some of our favorite childless and childfree thought leaders, who are ready to share their experience and wisdom to help you navigate your life without kids.
keynote speaker
ruby warrington
she/her
Author and Editor
Ruby Warrington is a British-born author, editor, and publishing consultant. Perhaps best known as the creator of the term “Sober Curious,” her 2018 book and million-download podcast of the same title have helped to spearhead a global movement to reevaluate our relationship with alcohol. Ruby’s other works include Material Girl, Mystical World, The Sober Curious Reset, and her most recent book, Women Without Kids: The Revolutionary Rise of an Unsung Sisterhood, which seeks to valorize the path of non-motherhood as it examines the various factors behind the drop off in birth rates globally. Ruby’s work has been featured by countless media outlets, including the New York Times, The Guardian, and Good Morning America. She lives in Brooklyn.
Sharing Our Stories
december 2
Day one will focus on our individual stories, and who we are as a community.
she/her
Aimee Ruiz
Never Tried To Conceive: Letting Go Of The Dream And Healing Our Grief
she/her
Stephanie Joy Phillips
My Childless Identity Feels Under Threat
she/her
Lucy Meggeson
Happiness Comes from Within: Embracing A Single, Childfree Life
ella/her
BEATRIZ PASTELLS LOZANO
Asumir una no maternidad y una menopausia precoz
Childless Through Early Menopause
he/him
Tan (Tuck) Cornelius
Tuff Tuck: Yellin’ At A Flower Don’t Make It Bloom
she/her
stacey brown
Grieving Girlhood
she/her
Judy Graham
Single and Childless: Unpacking Themes of Disenfranchisement & Empowerment
she/her
Rebecca Bic Lui Chan
Single and Childless: Unpacking Themes Of Disenfranchisement & Empowerment
she/her
Carrie Brauninger
Single and Childless: the Value of Community Connections
she/her
Naomi Geidel
Single and Childless: the Value of Community Connections
she/her
Helen Gallagher
Redefining Identity Being A “Step Parent”
they/them
Helen Robertson
Deconstructing and Reconstructing Identity and Values
Finding Healing
december 3
Day two will offer support and tools to help you process and navigate your grief.
she/her
april boyd
Claiming Your Time, Worth & Sovereignty As A Childless Person In A World That Thinks You’re Always Available
she/her
Katy Seppi
Reimagining Holiday Traditions
ella/her
GLORIA LABAY RODRIGUEZ
Anatomía de un duelo
The Anatomy of Grief
she/her
bindi shah
Creating A Whole You: Reconnecting With The Old Connecting With The New
she/her
lana manikowski
Things People Say When You’re Childless
she/her
Saskia Fraser
Ceremonies of Hope: Healing the Grief of Childlessness
she/her
Emily Wesley
Ambiguous Loss and Disenfranchised Grief in Childlessness
ella/her
Ana Barrera
El arte como compañía en procesos de infertilidad
Art as Company During Infertility
she/her
sarah jane smith
Tend & Befriend: Grief Tending 101
ella/her
ADRIANA CASTRO
El Autocuidado en Tiempos de Infertilidad Social
Self-Care during times of Social Infertility
Looking Ahead
december 4
Day three will inspire you to envision new avenues to joy, meaning and love and fulfillment.
she/her
Jody Day
What Does Meaning Mean to You?
she/her
tiffany janzen
Purpose Beyond Parenthood
she/her
nisa darroux
Rewriting Your Narrative
she/her
jerra latrice mitchell
Legacy and Pregnancy Are Not Interrelated
he/they
stuart robson
Childfree After Infertility: A Male Perspective
she/her
Carrie Hauskens
Embracing Childfree: Goals for Living Your Best Life
ella/she
Graciela Elisabet Pardo
La vida sin hijos, una alternativa válida y potente en el siglo XXI
Life without Kids: A Valid and Strong Alternative
she/her
Yvonne John
Finding Acceptance Whilst Grieving the Loss of Motherhood
she/her
Sarah Roberts
Public Self, Private Self: Taking Up Space Without Burning Out
she/her
katie maynard
Public Self, Private Self: Taking Up Space Without Burning Out
she/her
Susie Imholt
Advocating To Be Seen (While Single and Childless)
Making Connections
december 5
Making new friends and connecting to community support.
she/her
ruby warrington
If Not Mother: Identity Outside of Motherhood
she/her
Kate Kaufmann
The Big Payoffs for Befriending Our Elders (those who are childless and childfree)
she/her
Tanya Hubbard
Discovering Unlikely Systems Of Support: Externally And Within Yourself
she/her
Katy seppi
Live Implementation Sessions
As you can see from this amazing lineup, this is an event you do not want to miss.
Here's what previous attendees said
You will feel relieved, positive and supported by these sessions. It's not a celebration of the struggle we have/are going through, but a celebration of who we are and the amazing new lives and adventures we're going to start.
The best collection of helpful and comforting support and advice I've had in my 15 year childless journey.
These sessions are truly life-changing. Hearing people speak about our shared experiences and share language and frameworks for how to talk about and process them will help me for years to come.
HI, I'm katy, your event host
a bit about me
My four-year infertility journey ended with a hysterectomy in 2017. At the time, I didn’t have a single person I could talk to who was also involuntarily childless.
I decided to use my background in community organizing to create gathering places for childless people to connect, access support, and talk about the common themes that weave through our experiences.
The Childless Collective Summit is the event I wish I’d had when I first realized I had to let go of my dream of parenthood. Now in its third year, the summit will build on the previous two, which brought 70 speakers and over 5,000 attendees together.
Join me and 38 childless and childfree thought leaders for this one-of-a-kind-event designed to support as you navigate grief, find joy, and embrace your unexpectedly childless life.
I can’t wait to see you there!
what to expect
at the childless collective summit
Each day will explore a different theme.
when & Where
Saturday, December 2 – Tuesday, December 5. The summit is virtual, so you can join the full event from the comfort of your own home.
sessions
Most speaker sessions are between 20-30 minutes long and focus on a range of topics related to living a full life without kids. Each day’s sessions are free to access for 24 hours, so you can watch them at your convenience.
upgrade
If you’d like more time to explore the sessions, you’ll have the option to upgrade to an extended access pass which gives you a full year of access to the sessions in video, audio, and transcript form as well as some other bonuses.
community
During the summit, you’ll have access to a private online group to connect with summit speakers and other attendees. We’ll also host a few social hours throughout the summit to give attendees a chance to meet and connect.
live community sessions
Watching sessions is great, but we know how powerful it is to connect with others who get it. That’s why we’ll have live, interactive events on Tuesday to help you make connections and apply what you’ve learned at the summit!
These sessions include:
- Next Steps Workshop – Identify your top takeaways from the summit and create your plan to implement what you’ve learned.
- Ask Me Anything with Katy Seppi – Join your summit host for a live Q&A. Bring any questions you have about living an unexpectedly childless life.
- Finding Community – Learn my top three ways to make new friends and connect to community. You’ll also hear more about the Childless Collective Online Community after the training.
These sessions are designed to help you implement what you’ve learned at the summit, while making community connections to support you long after the event wraps up.
Here's what previous attendees said
Hearing from those who have been on this path for decades and learning what is in store on this path was really helpful. I loved learning and unpacking the stereotypes and stigmas we hear about childless people and how to move beyond them into a more authentic story for yourself.
An exceptional collection full of rich, multi-layered insights and inspirations.
One of the best things I've done all year.
The Childless Collective did the hard part of finding the resources for navigating a childless life for me. It can feel so overwhelming to start an unexpected journey and this summit connected me with tools I need but don't always know how to get.
it's time to...
Share our stories.
Find acceptance and healing.
Envision your next steps.
Connect with community.
Join us for the childless collective summit.
common questions
Who is this for?
The Childless Collective Summit is primarily designed for those who are childless not by choice, regardless of the circumstances. It may also be helpful for those who are still pursuing parenthood but are considering a life without children as an option. We also welcome friends and family members who would like to learn more about supporting their childless loved one.
What if I’m not able to attend live?
Most of the summit sessions are pre-recorded, and available to watch for free for 24 hours. Live sessions are only available at the time they are hosted. We encourage you to attend live if you can!
We would love for you to set aside some time during the summit week to attend the live sessions, watch the pre-recorded presentations, and engage with other attendees.
However, if you’re not able to attend all of the sessions live, you have the option to purchase an extended access pass, which gives you access to all of the speaker presentations for a full year, so you can watch them at your own pace.
How long will the sessions be available to view?
Each session will be available to watch for free for 24 hours. However, you also have the option to purchase an extended access pass for a full year of access to the speaker sessions and special extras!
Are your videos captioned or transcribed?
Yes. All presentations have closed captioning, and transcripts are also available for each presentation with our upgrade options that you’ll see after registering for the event.
This year, we also have five speakers presenting in Spanish. These sessions will include subtitles in English.
Please reach out if there’s anything we can do to ensure you’re able to enjoy this event.
When is this event taking place?
The summit runs from Saturday, December 2 – Tuesday, December 5. The private online community will be available throughout the event.
How long will I have access to the sessions?
Your free ticket includes 24 hour access to each of the presentations. If you need more time, you can always upgrade with an extended access pass after registering, which gives you a full year of access to the speaker sessions, along with some extra bonuses!
Are the sessions live?
To avoid tech glitches, give you the best possible experience, and keep things easy for the speakers, the presentations are pre-recorded and will be released at a scheduled time during the summit.
However, the speakers will be hanging out in our private online community with dedicated threads where you can connect with them and ask your questions! There will also be opportunities to join us for bonus live events throughout the week.
Will all the speakers get my email address?
No. When you register, you’ll be added to the Childless Collective email list so we can send you updates for the event and links to each day’s sessions. After the summit is over, you’ll continue to hear from us, but you can unsubscribe at any time.
Each of the speakers will have free resources available that you can access by providing an email address, but the speakers will not get your email address unless you choose to give it to them specifically. That way, you only hear from the people you really love and don’t have to worry about getting added to email lists that you’re not interested in.
You can learn more in our Privacy Policy.
I still have questions!
If you still have questions, we encourage you to go ahead and sign up. Your questions will likely be answered during the event or in the private online community.
However, if you need to ask us a question before registering, feel free to send us an email at Katy@ChildlessCollective.com.
Join us for 4 days of support as you navigate grief, find joy, and embrace your unexpectedly childless life.