Our third annual one-day conference, taking place at Trinity Washington University, is open to any and all who work in postsecondary success. This could include professionals in K-12 education, nonprofits, workforce development, higher education, research and policy, government, philanthropy, and more. Our hope is that everyone can learn something new and share something important.

Upcoming Dates:

Call for Proposals Application is due 1/16 at 11:59pm!

Tickets are going on sale in January.

Snapshot of the Day

Our summit will feature two plenaries at the beginning and end of the day with theme-based breakout sessions in between. We will provide breakfast, lunch, and coffee! Look out for the full conference agenda in early February.

Ticket Details

Summit registration opens in early January. This year, to support the Collaborative with the cost of putting on the Summit, our tickets will be $50 plus a few dollars in fees. While the ticket fee helps make the Summit possible, we hope to ensure everyone who wishes to attend is able to join us. Ticket fees will be waived for up to three selected session presenters and resource fair tabling organizations. We also offer a group ticket discount.

If the ticket cost presents a barrier to your participation, please reach out to us.

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This year’s Summit will feature sessions focused on the following five themes.

1) Partnerships That Matter: From Competition to Collaboration
With policies in flux and a scarcity of resources, our instincts may lead us to function in silos, narrowing our lens and limiting our collective impact. How can we meet this challenging moment by driving innovation and creating shared success through collaboration? In practice, how can we nurture the goals of our individual programs, while also advancing our citywide mission of improving early career outcomes for DC youth? These sessions focus on practical strategies for partnership and coalition-building that support postsecondary success at the program- and systems-levels.

2) AI is Here… Are We Ready for It?
The rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the postsecondary and professional landscape - from reshaping jobs and skills, to reimagining how we learn, teach, and advise. How can we strategically and ethically integrate AI into our programs to support students and residents as they prepare for their futures? These sessions focus on best practices, tools, and program models for both teaching AI literacy for postsecondary preparedness and leveraging AI to enhance program efficiency and effectiveness in a world where AI continues to take hold.

3) Doing More with Less: Sustaining the Work in Lean Times
In a moment where many nonprofits, schools, and training providers are facing limited budgets and uncertainty around federal and local funding, this theme focuses on how we persist in delivering high-quality postsecondary advising, pathways, and preparation for DC’s young people. These sessions focus on creative, practical, and sustainable strategies for continuing and improving postsecondary success work - even when resources are tight.

4) Coordinating Data, Research, & Policy
We hear it time and time again: DC has no shortage of resources; what’s missing is a cohesive system of information sharing. This theme dives into initiatives from all levels of leadership - citywide, organizational/institutional, and programmatic - that exemplify best practices for measuring impact and postsecondary success across the District. Sessions focus on building stronger coordination across our postsecondary success ecosystem by amplifying the innovative data collection, research, and policy already in action in our city, empowering participants to contextualize their work within the broader city landscape.

5) Empowering Young People Today: Creating Safety in Challenging Times
As young people in DC today continue to face threats to their mental, physical, and emotional safety, we - as trusted adults in their lives - must build stronger systems of support as they navigate challenging postsecondary realities. These sessions focus on addressing some of our youth’s most pressing needs and explore how schools, programs, and community leaders can create spaces that promote holistic wellbeing so learners can realize their postsecondary dreams, especially young people from our most vulnerable communities.

We are so excited to announce that we will once again host the 2026 DC Postsecondary Success Summit at Trinity Washington University’s Main Hall (125 Michigan Ave NE). You can find information on parking, public transportation, and more on Trinity’s website here!

Sponsoring the Summit

Our hope is that everyone who could benefit from attending our conference is able to do so. We are looking for community partners to sponsor those individuals whose organizations cannot pay the cost of their ticket. Are you or your organization able to support? Reach out to us here to discuss becoming one of our sponsors and the benefits we offer!

Volunteering for the Summit

A summit of this size is only possible with the help of amazing volunteers. We’re looking for dedicated volunteers to join our Summit Planning Committee. Fill out this volunteer form to get started!