After you check-in at the registration tables in the front of Main Hall, enjoy a light breakfast in O'Connor Hall.

Join us for an opening plenary that grounds us as we start our day of learning. A panel of postsecondary experts will guide us through the Summit’s four themes, emphasizing the importance of collaboration, embracing multiple pathways, and being innovative in the face of a changing world of work.

Panelists:

• Patrick Wu, Director of College & Career Counseling at KIPP DC: College Prep

• Abiodun Durojaye, Ed.D., CEO of Urban Alliance

• Dr. Alicia Waldon, Principal, Ward 8 Campus of Academy of Hope Public Charter School

• Monica Dodge, Executive Director of the Office of Education Through Employment Pathways at the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education

• Maegan Godoy, Student Moderator

Building an Inclusive Postsecondary Culture

• Theme 1: Charting Multiple Pathways

• Presenter: Kristen DeSanti, Manager of Career Preparation

• Organization: DC Public Schools

• In this session, we will explore the six postsecondary pathways used by DCPS to enhance access, awareness, and engagement for students, families, and staff. The session will highlight strategies for creating an inclusive postsecondary culture at your school/organization such as effective facilitation of content, data-driven decision-making, and the use of a shared language.

In Search of Financial Aid

• Theme 1: Charting Multiple Pathways

• Presenters: Education Counselors Shelly Aboagye | Brian Smith | Soney Wright

• Organization: College Board - Educational Opportunity Center

• How do you pay for college? Who is eligible to apply for financial aid? Where can I go to get assistance? What forms are required for Federal, DC, university, and private sources of financial aid? Get the answers to your questions on financial aid resources for postsecondary education.

Job Readiness Expectations from Industry Leaders

• Theme 2: Trending Industries & Essential Skills

• Presenters: Erin Ward Bibo, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at CityWorks DC | Tanya Borachi, Senior Associate of Ed & Workforce Initiatives at Federal City Council | Jasmine Brooks, SourceBlue Project Manager at Turner Construction | Valarie Lin, Director of Human Resources at Levy Restaurants | Rustin Moore, Senior Director of Human Resources at Donohue Hospitality

• Organizations: CityWorks DC | Federal City Council | Turner Construction | Levy Restaurants | Donohue Hospitality

• Hear from leaders from the Hire Local DC Sector Partnerships about what they are looking for in entry-level candidates, as well as the resources they've created to help candidates prepare for interviews. We will carve out time for Q&A and for participants to consider how they can apply takeaways to their student-facing practice.

Managing Academic Achievement for All Adult Learners: Understanding the Interconnectivity of Support Systems for Returning Citizens/Youth

• Theme 3: Targeted Supports for Postsecondary Success

• Presenter: Alicia N. Waldon, EdD, Principal, Ward 8 Campus

• Organization: Academy of Hope Adult Public Charter School

• This workshop delves into the need for a seamless integration process for student achievement support for returning citizens/youth emphasizing the interconnected nature of various agencies. Join us to explore strategies that foster a cohesive and supportive student experience through cross-functional collaboration.

ECI Blueprint for Learning: Leveraging Equity, Creativity and Innovation to Prepare Students for the Evolving Workforce

• Theme 4: Research & Policy

• Presenters: Dr. Jocelyn Logan-Friend, CEO | Callie Hyder, Research Consultant

• Organization: Logan & Friends

• Amidst the rapid evolution of national education policies and priorities, the ECI Blueprint for Learning offers a forward-thinking, evidence-based model to support student success through equity, creativity, and innovation. This presentation will explore how the ECI Blueprint for Learning aligns with foundational theories of development and learning while addressing practical strategies for navigating local and national shifts in education. Attendees will gain actionable insights on fostering equitable environments, nurturing creativity, and embracing innovation to enhance postsecondary success.

Equity in Action: Building Bridges to Career & Higher Ed Success

• Theme 1: Charting Multiple Pathways

• Presenters: Brandon White, Ph.D., Executive Director of Spark the Journey | Phoebe Williams, Regional Director, Program at Year Up United | Selvon Waldron, Ed.D., Executive Director of Genesys Works | Sherrod Williams, Ph.D., CEO of New Futures | Robin Nadeau, Senior Vice President, South for Per Scholas

• Organization: Talent for Tomorrow Alliance

• This workshop will explore postsecondary success pathways including certifications, technical training, and entrepreneurship, highlighting how these pathways complement traditional college education. Participants will gain actionable strategies to guide students toward best-fit opportunities using resources like Talent for Tomorrow Alliance. The session aims to improve postsecondary outcomes for youth and residents in the DC region while promoting equity and inclusion in career advancement.

Developing Entrepreneurial Mindsets

• Theme 2: Trending Industries & Essential Skills

• Presenters: Tiffany Searles, Lead Partner of Community Engagement | Alicia Woolf, Co-Founder | Shira Woolf Cohen, Co-Founder

• Organization: Innovageous

• Fostering entrepreneurial mindsets can empower young people to embody a growth mindset, tap into their creativity, and build cross-sector skills that will support postsecondary success. In this session, participants will learn about key terms in entrepreneurship, envision a future where students tap into entrepreneurial mindsets, and explore classroom strategies that can be used with middle and high school students to prepare them for their future.

Connections that Count: Building Social Capital for the Present and Future

• Theme 2: Trending Industries & Essential Skills

• Presenter: Jazmin Muhammad, Director of Equity and Inclusion

• Organization: Lifting as We Climb Educational Consulting Firm

• This session explores the need for awareness of social capital in supporting students' transition beyond high school. This workshop will provide an opportunity for participants to engage with what social capital is, how it can be utilized, and reflecting on strengths and areas of improvement to enhance young people's postsecondary plans.

Preparing Undocumented Students for Success

• Theme 3: Targeted Supports for Postsecondary Success

• Presenters: Sarah Kim, Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships at First Gen Empower | Avdeep Dhillon, Co-Founder and Executive Director at First Gen Empower

• Organizations: Edu Light, Inc. | First Gen Empower

• This session will explore innovative strategies for fostering career readiness for undocumented young people through inclusive advising models that emphasize entrepreneurship and independent contracting, and building partnerships to expose students to alternative career pathways. Participants will also receive training on protecting immigrant students, covering policy updates, campus interactions with immigration agencies, and best practices for support and advising.

Examining Early Career Outcomes in DC: Insights from Youth & Alumni on Postsecondary Success

• Theme 4: Research & Policy

• Presenters: Chelsea Coffin, Director of Education Policy Initiative, DC Policy Center | Hannah Mason, Senior Education Research Analyst, DC Policy Center | Jade Chandler, Policy and Engagement Specialist, Office of Education Through Employment Pathways

• Organizations: Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education | DC Policy Center

• This session will focus on the perspectives of youth and alumni from DC's public high schools on how the college and career-oriented opportunities they participated in have impacted their education, employment, and sense of well-being. Through sharing these findings, we will highlight opportunities to leverage insights toward informing impactful strategies that will prepare youth to thrive in future family-sustaining careers.

Lunch will be provided in O’Connor Hall, where you can also get to know 20+ local and national organizations during our Resource Fair! Build your referral network while learning more about these providers and the essential resources they provide to our young people and residents.

Tabling Organizations:

• ASU Local DC

• City Year

• CityWorks DC

• College Board Educational Opportunity Center

• Community College Preparatory Academy

• DC Advanced Technical Center

• DC Center for Independent Living

• DC Central Kitchen

• DC Department of Energy & Environment

• DOES Office of Apprenticeship / DCIA

• Generation Hope

• House of Ruth

• Jubilee Jobs

• LAYCCA

• Level All

• National College Attainment Network

• Next Step PCS

• Office of the State Superintendent of Education

• Potomac Job Corps

• So Others May Eat

• study snacks

• The Abramson Scholarship Foundation

• The Knowledge House

• UDC

• Urban Alliance

Serving Our Students with Unreasonable Hospitality

• Theme 1: Charting Multiple Pathways

• Presenters: Pat Wu, Director of College & Career Counseling | Meredith Hoffman-Brown, 9th Grade Counselor

• Organization: KIPP DC College Preparatory

• While senior year is typically when the postsecondary preparation process is the busiest, to really set our students up for success, they need to start as early as 9th grade. Thinking of a student’s high school progression like a tasting menu, we oftentimes focus too much on the main course without the proper lead up to senior year by exposing our students to other items on the menu first. In this session, we will explore ways to engage students and families in the 9th-11th grade through sharing many resources and opportunities, most of which are free for students to attend.

Building Pathways to Opportunity

• Theme 2: Trending Industries & Essential Skills

• Presenters: Tyran Omary, Chief Program Officer | Amber Hurt, Director of College & Career Services, Baltimore | Laura Montgomery, Director of External Partnerships, DC

• Organization: Urban Alliance

• Pairing technical industry training with employability skills and hands-on experience is vital to building opportunity for young people. We will be discussing the key elements to building an industry pathway program from identifying high growth industries, targeted student recruitment, career exposure, technical training, and post-program support.

Skill Changes in the Workforce: Every Job in the US is Changing...Are You?

• Theme 2: Trending Industries & Essential Skills

• Presenter: Jeffrey Palacios, Workforce Development Coordinator

• Organization: The Next Step Public Charter School

• The job market is evolving—are we preparing students to keep up? This session dives into the trending industries shaping the economy, the skills that are becoming essential across fields, and the shifting landscape of career pathways. Explore key labor market trends, discover emerging opportunities, and discuss how we can equip young people with the future-ready skills they need to stay competitive in an ever-changing workforce.

Bridging Systems for Equitable Transitions: Ensuring Success for Students with Disabilities

• Theme 3: Targeted Supports for Postsecondary Success

• Presenters: Julie Holt, Educational Consultant | Chelsea Kovacs, Strategy & Programming Director

• Organizations: School Talk | Three Points Education, LLC

• Join us for an engaging session on the power of collaboration in special education secondary transition, exploring best practices for culturally sustaining interagency partnerships. Learn how community mapping connects students with disabilities to vital resources at every level, ensuring smoother, more inclusive transitions into adulthood.

An Avalanche of Federal Changes: Let's Game Out How They'll Affect Your Program

• Theme 4: Research & Policy

• Presenter: Thomas Showalter, Consultant

• Organization: Showalter Strategies

• In this session, you'll receive an insider update on the latest federal policy developments, including in the executive branch, the courts, and Congress. After an introduction to scenario planning, you'll have supported time to game out how federal changes may affect your program (loss of funding, immigration concerns, changes to DC self-rule, and anything else are on the table!).

Creating Multiple Pathways: Unlocking Career Success through Youth Apprenticeship

• Theme 1: Charting Multiple Pathways

• Presenters: Noemi Almodovar Venkatraj, Director, Program & Partnerships | Jerelle Jenkins, Senior Manager, Program & Partnerships

• Organization: CityWorks DC

• In this session, attendees will learn more about the opportunity of youth apprenticeship as an options multiplier for young people – whether their postsecondary pathway leads them directly into the workforce and/or leads them to pursue higher education. Join us to learn more about the impact of CareerWise DC apprenticeship and how your influence as educators, counselors, and mentors can help more young people access apprenticeship.

What to Say When a Young Person Asks You, “How Do I Get a Job in IT?”

• Theme 2: Trending Industries & Essential Skills

• Presenter: Sam Meisenberg, Chief Product Officer

• Organization: study snacks

• This session will be a breakdown of the IT field and the different pathways young people can take to break into the space. The interactive session will cover the latest hiring trends, rapid innovations that are creating new in-demand skills, and tangible next steps for young people who are interested in IT. So... the next time a young person asks you, “how do I get a job in IT?” you will have a solid answer.

Building Futures: Transforming Graduation Outcomes for Inner-City Youth Through Career Academies

• Theme 3: Targeted Supports for Postsecondary Success

• Presenters: Dr. Zakiya Edens, Founding Director, Multimedia Career Academy at Coolidge High School | Brittany Anderson, Program Manager, American Experience Foundation

• Organizations: DC Public Schools | Destination DC

• Dr. Zakiya Edens presents her research alongside industry member Brittany Anderson on the structure of career academies and the challenges faced by African American and Latino inner-city students post-high school graduation. Her analysis explores the impact on curriculum design, counseling, microaggression, and student support, offering insights into fostering equitable postsecondary opportunities for African American and Latino inner-city students post-high school graduation.

Empowering Black Male Youth

• Theme 3: Targeted Supports for Postsecondary Success

• Presenter: Marcus Wilson, Founder & CEO

• Organization: The Village Network

• This session is an engaging workshop that provides actionable strategies to foster inclusivity and empowerment for Black male youth in your programming. Participants will explore ways to create equitable opportunities, dismantle barriers, and cultivate success for Black male youth.

DC Pathways Blueprint: Charting the Future of Postsecondary Success

• Theme 4: Research & Policy

• Presenters: Clara Botstein, Senior Director of Policy, DME | Kalecia Baity, Senior Policy Analyst, DME | Sophia Roy, Harvard Fellow

• Organization: Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education

• This session introduces the DC Pathways Blueprint, a comprehensive strategy to prepare DC public school graduates for successful careers and fulfilling lives. Participants will explore the Blueprint’s goals, core pillars, and implementation strategies, while having the opportunity to provide feedback and discuss how various stakeholders can engage with and benefit from this initiative.

Join us for an energizing closing plenary where the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Education and the DC Policy Center will share city-wide data on alumni perspectives on postsecondary success. Then, hear directly from DC alumni as they share their experiences, needs, and aspirations for the future. How do young people feel about their postsecondary journeys? What support do they need to thrive? Come ready to listen, reflect, and be inspired by DC’s next generation of leaders.

Alumni Perspectives Data:

• Chelsea Coffin, Director of Education Policy Initiative at DC Policy Center

• Hannah Mason, Senior Education Research Analyst at DC Policy Center

• Jade Chandler, Policy and Engagement Specialist, ETEP

• Jennie Niles, President & CEO at CityWorks DC

Alumni Panelists

• Jubei Brown-Weaver

• Donte Brooks

• Agnes Signou

• Kenya Henry