Knowledge Networks

Facilitated professional learning fellowship for DC practitioners working directly with learners across the postsecondary journey.

DC is full of people working toward postsecondary success and, too often, working alone.

Knowledge Networks bring practitioners together to learn from one another, strengthen their day-to-day practice, build relationships across organizations and sectors, and connect their direct service experience to broader efforts to strengthen systems for DC learners.

Each Knowledge Network brings together a cohort of practitioners around a shared area of practice or challenge. Through facilitated sessions, peer learning, and ongoing connection, fellows have space to reflect on their work, exchange practical tools and ideas, and build relationships they can draw on long after the fellowship ends.

Practitioners get better together.

A Knowledge Network is a role-alike community of practice for practitioners working directly with learners on postsecondary success. Fellows may work in different settings—from K12 schools and nonprofits to workforce development organizations, colleges, government agencies, and other parts of the postsecondary ecosystem—but share a commitment to helping DC learners navigate their postsecondary journeys.

Knowledge Networks create structured space to:

Strengthen day-to-day practice
Bring real questions, challenges, tools, and approaches to the table and learn from practitioners doing similar work in different contexts.

Connect practice to systems
Understand the broader trends, initiatives, and priorities shaping postsecondary advising across DC—and consider what they mean for day-to-day work with learners.

Build relationships across the field
Develop a network of peers to turn to for advice, resources, collaboration, referrals, and thought partnership.

Contribute to a stronger field
Bring direct service experience and practitioner insight into broader conversations about how advising and postsecondary support can evolve across DC.

The Fall 2026 Knowledge Network

Advising Practices in a Changing Landscape

The inaugural Knowledge Network launched in fall 2026 with 16 practitioners working across DC's postsecondary ecosystem.

The cohort includes practitioners from middle schools, high schools, nonprofits, workforce development, government, and disability-support settings. Fellows bring a range of experience and perspectives while sharing a common focus on helping DC learners navigate postsecondary success.

Over four facilitated sessions, the 2026 fellows are strengthening their practice, building cross-sector relationships, and connecting what they see every day in their work to broader efforts to strengthen advising across the city.