Washington Week 2026: Students Prepare for Professional Learning and Networking
By Crown Family School
As Washington Week 2026 approaches, 26 students at the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice are preparing to spend their spring break in the nation's capital. They are thinking carefully about policy, leadership, and the role they hope to play in shaping social systems. Three of those students shared their personal perspectives about the upcoming experience.
Taking place March 16-18, Washington Week gives students structured access to policymakers, practitioners, alumni, and organizational leaders in Washington, D.C. Through site visits and direct conversations, the Crown Family School will take a total of 26 participants who are at various stages within their master's programs to explore how social policy is shaped, debated, and implemented at the federal level.
For Crown Family School students Estrellita Mondragon, Lucy Beauchamp, and Levi Jenkins, the experience is an opportunity to connect their academic training with their long-term goals.
Bridging Theory and Federal Education Policy
Estrellita Mondragon, an Advanced Standing student in the Social Work, Social Policy, and Social Administration program, is approaching Washington Week with intention.
“Being an Advanced Standing student, everything moves quickly,” Mondragon explains. “I’ve been really intentional about finding opportunities to connect what I’m learning in class with the realities that communities face every day. Washington Week feels like the perfect bridge between theory, practice, and the real work happening on the ground.”
As a first-generation college student, Mondragon does not enter policy spaces with established networks. She is building those relationships herself. Washington Week offers the opportunity to meet Crown alumni working in national education and mental health policy and to ask direct questions about their paths. She hopes to better understand how equity commitments are translated into federal education policy, particularly around mental health, Title I funding, and college affordability. She is also seeking clarity about how her lived experience and Crown training can inform her professional future.
“I hope to gain a deeper, firsthand understanding of how federal education policy is shaped in Washington and build meaningful connections that will help me advance equitable K–12 and higher education reform,” she says.”
Finding Direction in a Changing Profession
For Lucy Beauchamp, a first-year student in the Social Work, Social Policy, and Social Administration program, Washington Week is both professional and personal.
Lucy Beauchamp
“I am excited to grow my relationships with my classmates and expand my social work community,” Beauchamp shares. “The students at Crown all have such interesting and unique career paths, which really enriches my learning.”
As she considers her future, Beauchamp sees Washington Week as a grounding experience. The field of social work continues to evolve, and choosing a direction can feel overwhelming. Hearing directly from alumni who work at national and international levels offers perspective and reassurance.
She looks forward to discussing how politics influences social work, the range of career opportunities available, and how their education prepared them for leadership.
“As a participant in Washington Week 2026, I hope to make lifelong connections with my peers, University of Chicago faculty and staff, Crown alumni, and national social advocacy leaders,” she says.
Leadership and Collective Impact
Levi Jenkins, a student in the Social Sector Leadership and Non-Profit Management program, is focused on leadership and systems change.
“I’m most looking forward to exploring the collective impact of Crown alumni and connecting with other big thinkers around topics of leadership, social change, and systems thinking,” Jenkins says.
For Jenkins, Washington Week is a chance to better understand the relationships and professional networks available through the Crown community and how they can support his growth in the social sector. He plans to ask alumni how identity shapes their leadership practice and which skills they developed at the University of Chicago that continue to guide their work.
“At Washington Week, I hope to further develop my sense of clarity, confidence, and community as it relates to collective impact in the social sector,” he shares.
A Professional Learning Experience
Washington Week is designed as a professional learning experience that connects classroom preparation with policy and practice. Students engage with leaders from federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups, and research institutions to examine how evidence, values, and lived experience shape policy decisions.
Students prepare thoughtfully by researching participating organizations and reflecting on the questions they hope to explore. For students like Mondragon, Beauchamp, and Jenkins, the week offers space to learn, ask questions, and move forward with greater clarity and purpose.
To learn more about Washington Week 2026, explore the new Washington Week Digital Hub. The hub highlights the full 2026 student cohort, introduces this year’s alumni facilitators and industry partners, and provides an inside look at the organizations shaping the experience.
Visit the Washington Week Digital Hub to see how Crown students are engaging national leaders and preparing for meaningful work in policy and practice.