Cleft Con Phoenix 2026

Dates: July 17-19
Location: The Wigwam in Litchfield Park, AZ.

Cleft Con Information

Join the cleft community for Cleft Con Phoenix this July! Over the course of a jam-packed weekend, you’ll learn from leading experts, connect with others who share similar experiences, and engage in honest conversations about the emotional, medical, and logistical aspects of life with a cleft.

As the world’s largest cleft charity, Smile Train hosts Cleft Con to educate, build community, reduce stigma, and celebrate the inherent beauty and strength of every face.

We look forward to welcoming you and your loved ones to Phoenix. Register today and join us!

Opening Keynote
Speakers: David and Kimberly dela Concepcion
What does it mean to navigate the cleft journey not once, but three times — within the same family? In this powerful and deeply personal keynote, Kimberly and David dela Concepcion share their experiences as parents to three children with clefts. Their story offers a rare and honest look at how one extraordinary family has navigated diagnosis, surgeries, emotional highs and lows, and the evolving journey of raising multiple children with shared yet unique experiences. Going beyond the medical lens, the couple will explore resilience, partnership, advocacy, and the intention they’ve put into building a home rooted in confidence, love, and possibility. They will also touch on how their perspective has grown over time, what they’ve learned about supporting each child as an individual, and how their family continues to redefine what strength looks like. You will leave reminded that while every cleft journey is different, there is power in shared experience and profound beauty in the stories that shape us.

The Ones Who Built the Table: A CCAC Founders Celebration
Speakers: Chelsea Barrato, Alyson Ferguson, Jessi Williams, Jessi Fasse, Christina Errico
Moderator: Troy Reinhart
In this special session, we celebrate the founding members of the CCAC (Cleft Community Advisory Council) and reflect on the courage, commitment, and community-building that defined its first two years. Together, we will revisit the heart behind the work, explore what it means to build something that lasts, and reflect on legacy, leadership, and the “why” that keeps us showing up for one another every year.

Parenting Through Growth & Letting Go
Speakers: Patricia Woldtvedt, Alyson Ferguson, Frances Shook
Moderator: Laura Arroyo
As children grow, their voices grow, too. For parents in the cleft community, that transition can be both beautiful and complex. This session explores what it means when your child begins to control their own narrative socially, medically, and personally, and how to evolve from primary storyteller to trusted ally. Through thoughtful discussion and practical reflection, this session will give parents the tools to support independence, navigate boundaries, and foster confidence as their child steps more fully into their own identity.

Stories That Stick: Reclaiming and Reframing the Cleft Narrative
Speakers: Nicole Jones, Amanda Canary, Cole Dailey, Shenandoah Speers
Moderator: Iva Ballou
How we tell our stories shapes how the world understands clefts and how we understand ourselves. In this interactive storytelling session, we’ll explore how to share our experiences in ways that center dignity, agency, and impact rather than pity or limitation. Whether speaking in advocacy spaces, media interviews, or everyday conversations, participants will learn a clear and accessible framework for crafting stories that resonate, empower, and reflect the fullness of their lived experiences.

From Kitchen Table to Systems Change: Practical Advocacy in Action
Speakers: Rachel Altorfer, Matthew Lenius, Kylene Ramirez, Daley Quinn
Moderator: Tiffiny Tyler
Advocacy often begins around the family table in conversations about insurance, school support, or treatment decisions. This session breaks down how those everyday moments can grow into meaningful change. We’ll discuss practical strategies for navigating healthcare systems, communicating effectively with providers and educators, and stepping confidently into policy or community leadership spaces. Participants will leave equipped with the language, structure, and next steps they need to advocate with clarity and purpose.

Choice, Confidence, & Cosmetic Procedures: A Real Conversation
Speakers: Steph Heintz, Toni Wilkerson, Allie Potter, Miranda Strange
Moderator: Iva Ballou
Sometimes, conversations in our community are layered, personal, and even uncomfortable — and that’s exactly why they matter. This honest dialogue explores cosmetic procedures within the cleft journey, including questions of autonomy, identity, pressure, and empowerment. Together, we’ll create space for respectful conversation while offering thoughtful tools for making value-based decisions grounded in confidence rather than expectation.

Care for the Caregiver: Sustaining Yourself While Supporting Others
Speakers: Allison Fors, Carrie Alajoki, Lisa Wyzlic
Moderator: Brenda Berry
Caregiving is an act of love, but it can also be emotionally, physically, and financially taxing. This session centers on the ones who coordinate appointments, advocate fiercely, and carry so much behind the scenes. Through open discussion and guided reflection, we’ll explore sustainable self-care practices, boundary-setting, and ways to build support systems that make caregiving more balanced and less isolating.

More Than My Cleft: Teen Stories of Identity & Self-Discovery
Speakers: Kaitlyn Bartolutti, Dahlila Nixon, Riley Ordonez, Parker Frost
Moderator: Stephanie Strucaly
Adolescence is a journey of becoming. It’s about discovering your voice, your style, your confidence, and your unique place in the world. This interactive session is a safe and affirming space for teens to explore their identity beyond medical timelines or surgical histories. Through guided conversation and peer connection, we will reflect on self-expression, friendships, body image, and what it means to be more than any diagnosis. Our goal is simple: that everyone leaves feeling seen, heard, and empowered to define themselves on their own terms.

Discussion Groups: Block 1

Club Momma Bear
Led by: Liza Wyzlic
Club Momma Bear is a supportive, honest, and empowering space specifically for mothers navigating the cleft journey alongside their children. Led by Liza Wyzlic, this discussion invites moms to come together in community, share experiences, ask questions, and offer each other the kind of understanding that only comes from lived experience. From making medical decisions to managing school experiences and building confidence in your child, no topic is off limits. Whether you’re new to the journey or have been walking it for years, Club Momma Bear is a space to feel seen, supported, and strengthened by other moms who truly get it.

Cleft Community Resources
Led by: Iva Ballou
Navigating the cleft journey goes beyond medical treatment; it requires access to the right information, support systems, and tools. This session will introduce key resources Smile Train has developed for the cleft community, including the CCAC brochure, cleft language guide, and insurance guide. Participants will gain practical insights on how to use these tools to advocate for themselves and their families, better understand care pathways, and feel more empowered throughout their journeys.

Community Care Space
Led by: Johnathan Hornig, LCSW
Cleft Con can stir up a range of emotions, and you don’t have to sort through them alone. This session offers space to pause, check in with yourself, and be real about whatever is coming up for you. It is intentionally unstructured, with no pressure to share — just an open, supportive environment where you can talk things out, listen, or simply sit with others who understand. Facilitated by a member of the Cleft Community Support Council, this space is grounded in empathy, encouragement, and confidentiality. However you feel, you’re welcome here.

Discussion Groups: Block 2

When You Don’t Have a Village
Led by: Sally Hiraldo
We often hear the phrase “It takes a village,” but what happens when you feel like you don’t have one? This conversation creates space for those who have navigated the cleft journey feeling isolated, unsupported, or like they had to figure things out on their own. Whether you’ve experienced gaps in family support, struggled to find community, or are still searching for your people, you are not alone. Together, we’ll explore what it means to build connection when it doesn’t come easily, how to advocate for yourself, and ways to create or find support in unexpected places. This is a space for honesty, validation, and reflection, where your story is seen and your experience matters. However you show up, you are welcome here.

Community Care Space
Led by: Vickie Stolle
Cleft Con can stir up a range of emotions, and you don’t have to sort through them alone. This session offers space to pause, check in with yourself, and be real about whatever is coming up for you. It is intentionally unstructured, with no pressure to share — just an open, supportive environment where you can talk things out, listen, or simply sit with others who understand. Facilitated by a member of the Cleft Community Support Council, this space is grounded in empathy, encouragement, and confidentiality. However you feel, you’re welcome here.

When is Cleft Con Phoenix?
Cleft Con Phoenix is July 17-19 and will be held at The Wigwam in Litchfield Park, AZ.

The conference begins with a Welcome Reception on July 17. Sessions, community-building activities, a light breakfast, and lunch will all be hosted at the hotel from 8:00 AM - 5:30 PM on July 18. Closing Dinner will be at 7:00 PM that evening.

The Wigwam is located at 300 E. Wigwam Blvd, Litchfield Park, AZ 85340.

What if I can only attend part of the conference?
No problem! You can let us know which portions you will be joining in the registration form.

How much does it cost to attend the event?
There is a $35 registration fee to attend Cleft Con. This fee helps support event logistics and programming to ensure a meaningful experience for all attendees.

Who can attend the event?
Cleft-affected individuals and their close connections are invited to attend Cleft Con.

Can children attend the conference?
Children are welcome to attend Cleft Con. Please reach out to us at cleftcon@smiletrain.org if you are interested in learning more about childcare services.

Will there be food at the event?
Yes. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided at the conference.

I am traveling for Cleft Con. Where should I stay?
We recommend that non-local attendees stay at The Wigwam. Use this link to reserve a room in our block.

I’m coming in early or staying late and am interested in Phoenix tourist recommendations and advice about how to navigate the city.
Our favorite Phoenix tourist recommendations will be included in the Cleft Con Phoenix Welcome Packet that you will receive after registration. You are also welcome to reach out to us at cleftcon@smiletrain.org to discuss individual travel plans any time.

I am unable to attend Cleft Con Phoenix. Can I watch it virtually?
This event will not be live-streamed, but we invite you to join our 7th Annual Virtual Global Cleft Con in November.

Will there be a Cleft Con in my city?
We hope to host Cleft Con in cities across the country in the future. We also have our Virtual Cleft Con each November and encourage members of the cleft community to join, as there will be speakers and attendees from around the world.

Do I have to be a Smile Train supporter to attend Cleft Con?
Cleft Con is open to all members of the global cleft community, and you do not need to be a Smile Train supporter to participate.

I would like to serve as a volunteer during Cleft Con.
Great! We have a range of volunteer opportunities available. Please reach out to us at cleftcon@smiletrain.org to learn more.

There are cleft-related topic(s) that are important to me to address during the program, and I would like to share them with you.
Thank you! We are counting on people like you to help us make Cleft Con a success. Please reach out to us at cleftcon@smiletrain.org with any and all ideas.

Will you be able to accommodate my allergy or dietary need?
Smile Train will do our best to accommodate dietary restrictions, allergies, and disabilities. If you have additional questions, please contact us at cleftcon@smiletrain.org. Please also share this information when requested in the registration form.

Cleft Con Phoenix 2026

Cleft Con Information

Friday, July 17

Saturday, July 18

Sunday, July 19