Gathering Momentum: Alliance Leaders Reimagine the Postsecondary to Workforce Journey

Last month, 42 leaders from 21 member organizations came together in Washington, D.C. for our second annual Postsecondary to Workforce Pathways Convening. The convening served as a space to not only troubleshoot shared challenges, but also to collectively chart a course for supporting young people as they navigate the increasingly challenging path from high school to college and college to career. 

Thanks to generous support from the Carol & Gene Ludwig Family Foundation, over the course of two and a half days, participants advanced several collective action initiatives, surfaced ideas for new collaborations, and helped shape our 2025 State of Young People research agenda. 

Alliance leaders from 21 youth-serving member organizations gather for second annual Postsecondary to Workforce Pathways Convening.

Courageous Conversations

Day one opened with a Jeffersonian-style dinner — a guided conversation over a shared meal where every participant responds to the same central question, encouraging deep listening and equal participation — that prompted candid reflection on what leaders are navigating right now. From managing multigenerational teams and rising operational costs to defining what success looks like for young adults in today’s uncertain landscape, leaders shared wisdom and encouragement, enabling peer leaders to see outside the four walls of their own organizations. 

The convening came at a time when many, if not all nonprofits, are facing some of the biggest existential questions and threats they've ever faced, but also at a moment where we have a unique opportunity to strengthen our collective resolve. Leaders explored how to remain student-centered amid fiscal pressures and cultural shifts.

The throughline in nearly every conversation was clear: how can we do this better, together?

Collective Action 

Some of the biggest opportunities that exist in our issue areas are too big or too complex for any one organization to address on its own. But there are times when a strategic coalition of 20 or 30 organizations can unlock new possibilities for young people and the field. APA plays a central role in designing and executing these initiatives within our community, and our convening served as a brain trust for advancing some of the multi-org collaborations that are already underway while seeding ideas for new initiatives that our leaders and member orgs are uniquely positioned to take on.  

• The Nonprofit–Higher Education Innovation Alliance prototype took shape, with members refining what a shared partnership model between colleges and nonprofit organizations could look like—from data sharing protocols to equitable student benefits. 

• The Outcomes Transparency Initiative for Nondegree Pathways sparked important dialogue on how to track outcomes that reflect real value for students, moving beyond demographics to account for regional differences, credentials of value, and student belonging. 

• The Teacher Certification Pipeline Initiative explored a potential opportunity to create flexible, low-cost teacher certification pathways for alumni and staff across the Alliance—an idea that resonated as both a retention strategy and a broader contribution to the educator pipeline. 

Each initiative reflects the unique power of this community: to build practical, scalable, student-focused solutions rooted in shared insight and objectives. 

New Ideas, Urgent Needs, Bold Visions 

In addition to advancing current projects, the convening gave space for imagining what comes next. In response to rapidly shifting political, economic, and technological pressures, leaders explored opportunities for collaboration and articulated a collective vision for bringing new ideas to life. 

Looking Ahead 

We are grateful to the leaders who showed up with curiosity, vulnerability, and resolve. Together, we are building a field that doesn’t just react to change—but shapes it. 

We’re grateful to our members for being part of this critical work in the Alliance community. Stay tuned for updates as this work continues to grow.