Freedom & Progress 2026 is FREOPP’s flagship annual gathering of leaders committed to expanding opportunity through free enterprise, innovation, pluralism, and individual liberty. On November 18, policymakers, journalists, philanthropists, entrepreneurs, scholars, and civic leaders from across the country will convene in Washington, D.C., to explore the ideas and solutions shaping America’s future.
Conference Agenda
November 18, 2026
8:00- 9:00 AM Breakfast
9:15- 10:00 AM Breakout Sessions
Beyond the Traditional Classroom: Building the Future of K–12 Education
Reimagining the Safety Net: From Temporary Assistance to Lasting Mobility
Working Group: Restoring a Sustainable Federal Budget
10:15 AM- 12:15 PM
Alexander de Tocqueville Award
Frederick Douglass Awards: The Frederick Douglass Award is the organization’s highest honor. The award recognizes exceptional leadership in advancing freedom, opportunity, and upward mobility for all Americans.
Mainstage: The Architecture of Opportunity: Culture, Community, and the Institutions That Help People Flourish
12:15- 1:00 PM Networking Lunch
1:15- 2:15 PM Breakout Sessions
Removing the Barriers to Housing Opportunity
Working Group: Building a Better Health Care System
The Administrative State: Friend or Foe of the Forgotten American?
2:30- 3:30 Breakout Sessions
Working Group: Freedom Conservatism
Trust by Design: Strengthening Integrity in the Safety Net
The Next Era of Child Welfare Reform: Rebuilding the Federal Architecture
Working Group: Preparing America for the Future of Work
Lost in Translation: Rethinking the Architecture for Implementing Social Policy
3:30- 4:30 Networking Reception