The 2026 Next Steps Conference & Resource Fair will be held at Atlee High School (9414 Atlee Station Rd, Mechanicsville, VA 23116 ) on Saturday, March 21, 2026. 

Doors for the Resource Fair will open at 8:30am. Visit the page below to learn more about the community agencies and resources who will be represented at the Resource Fair.

Our keynote speaker, Kenzie Carroll, will kick off the conference at 9:00am. The keynote will be followed by three 50-minute workshop sessions between 9:30am and 12:30pm. Multiple workshop choices will be offered during each session. Be sure to visit the page below to learn more. 

Pre-register for the Next Steps Conference & Resource Fair and attend on the day of the conference, and you will be entered to win a door prize! 

Door prizes will be treats from Alex and the Baker's Dozen! Be sure to stop by their table at the Resource Fair to learn more about self-employment and entrepreneurship! 

Visit the registration page here: https://bit.ly/Register_NextSteps2026 

I’m Kenzie Carroll, a 15-year-old freshman at Atlee High School in Mechanicsville. I’m at an exciting point in my life, filled with new experiences and high school adventures. I am known for my passion and kindness, I like to tackle challenges head-on, especially those requiring problem-solving.

At school, I’m part of the colorguard, expressing my creativity and team spirit. Outside of school, I enjoy reading, fishing, and taking care of all my siblings and family. I’m currently looking for a job to gain experience and independence.

In the future, I dream of helping others, either as a nurse or by serving in the military, driven by my compassionate nature and strong sense of duty. Also being part of the IMD team for years to come as I realized at a recent conference called ASELA that this is where I belonged! 

If you need a little pick-me-up during the resource fair and conference sessions, be sure to stop by the Raise Coffee booth! Raise Coffee supports many of our school-based enterprises and coffee carts, and you might see some familiar faces serving as baristas! For more information about Raise Coffee, visit https://www.thearcofhanover.org/raisecoffee. 

March 21st is World Down Syndrome Awareness Day, and we are going to Rock our Socks this year at the Next Steps Conference! Wear your best conversation-starting socks, and plan to take a picture in the photo booth. If anyone asks you about your socks, tell them you are raising awareness for Down Syndrome. For more information about Down Syndrome and  this year's theme, "Together Against Loneliness," visit the World Down Syndrome Awareness Day website: https://www.worlddownsyndromeday.org/ . Read more about Together Against Loneliness here: https://www.worlddownsyndromeday.org/about-the-2026-theme. You can also visit the Virginia Down Syndrome Association website: https://virginiadsa.org/. 

Students in grades 5 and up are invited to join the Student Learning Track at the Next Steps Conference! Students will be focused on the theme of Job Exploration and will work with HCPS staff and volunteers to complete job interest surveys and career inventories and to create a goal related to their future employment! Visit the Student Conference Track page here.