On Friday, March 21st, 2025, we saw over 230 professionals in K12, higher and adult ed, nonprofit, workforce development, research/policy, philanthropy, and local government come together at Trinity Washington University and commit to improving early career outcomes for DC youth and residents. We are so grateful to all that attended, presented, tabled, and connected.
But this was just the beginning! Check out our Summit highlights below and find our challenges to keep the momentum going. Together, we can address our city’s persistent racial wealth and postsecondary outcomes gaps.
2025 Summit Highlights
“The networking was the most amazing and integral part of the Summit!”
"The presenters were absolutely great! Each presenter was fully engaged in their material and it was a great experience to learn new information and ideas.”
“The relationship building and thought partnerships were really helpful in navigating the work.”
Voices of Our Participants:
Our Summit’s Purpose & Goals
DC faces a stark divide in educational attainment and income between lifelong residents and those who relocate here. At the same time, professionals working across the postsecondary success ecosystem often feel disconnected from one another and from the high-quality resources that support learners across diverse postsecondary pathways. By coming together, we aimed to:
Build a shared understanding and language around multiple postsecondary pathways.
Be a catalyst for changing mindsets on how we define postsecondary success.
Strengthen our network of resources to better support DC youth and residents on their journeys to postsecondary success.
Challenge Our Thinking
Be open to new ideas, push past old assumptions, and ask yourself, “How can I think differently about success for young people and residents?” Our goal is to expand our understanding of the entire spectrum of postsecondary possibilities and to redefine how we think of success for DC learners.
Moving the Work Forward
Here are the three things each of us committed to following the Summit:
Commit to Action Every Day
Following the Summit, identify one practice, strategy, or policy that you can integrate into your work. How can what you learned show up in advising conversations with young people and residents? How can we push for systemic and policy changes that support residents, educators, and the workforce ecosystem?
Build & Nurture Relationships
Real change happens when we work together. Take time to reconnect with someone new you met at the Summit, start a conversation, and explore innovative ways to collaborate to better support young people and residents.
