On April 25th, the Mount Madonna School (MMS) junior class, along with the Values in World Thought Program Leader, Shannon Kelly, and chaperones Greg Shirley, Chelsea Otterness, and Masina Hunnicutt, will travel to Washington, D.C. The week will be filled with tours and interviews with an array of individuals, such as Congressman Panetta, Mary Ford, VP of Root and Shoots, and Founder of Running Start, Susannah Wellford, a long-term supporter of the Values In World Thought program. You can find a full list of individuals we will be speaking with on our blog.
The Government in Action program was started in 1989 by Sadanand Ward Mailliard. Over the years, Mount Madonna School students have been fortunate to meet and interview some of our nation’s finest public servants. The Washington, D.C. learning journey is an integral part of the “Values in World Thought” program at Mount Madonna School. This unique trip to Washington, D.C. provides MMS juniors with a direct personal experience of those who devote their lives to public service.
“I am especially looking forward to meeting Susannah Wellford,” said student Victory Gulizia. “I admire that she empowers all women to get involved in politics, regardless of which party they represent.” David Monclus is eager to speak with California Congressman Jimmy Panetta, because “he represents our state and that feels really immediate to us.” Solomon Coleman feels fortunate to be able to experience what it’s like inside the Pentagon. “It’s not a place most people ever get access to, so I think Americans have kind of mythologized it a bit. I’m excited for the opportunity to see what it’s really like.” Mariska Goldstein is going into the trip with curiosity at the forefront, and is looking forward to “learning new perspectives from people with important voices.”
In a time of division, the Government in Action program provides our students the opportunity to actively listen with open minds and hearts. We believe that we can positively impact the world by engaging in conversations of meaning, being curious, and being open to learning from people with different perspectives and lived experiences.
Students will write and share their reflections on the blog. Please follow along here:
https://values.mountmadonnaschool.org/2026/04/24/2026-dc-learning-journey-begins/
