As I sit down to reflect on my sabbatical, I marvel at the journey. Time has flown by, and yet it also feels like a lifetime’s worth of experiences and revelations were condensed into the past 58 days. My world of deadlines, emails and meetings for the past 20-plus years was put on hold as…
When we shift policies to center young people, we work toward greater economic mobility for our communities. More than 125 members of the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network gathered in Washington, D.C., for the 2023 Policy Summit to share how policy change is making a positive impact on the lives of young people. As a…
Located less than 40 miles south of Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Northfield, Minnesota is a town of about 21,000 residents. In 2017, fewer than half of Northfield’s kids were ready for kindergarten, and kindergarten readiness was at just 10% for Hispanic/Latine children. Disparities like these are what prompted the launch of Northfield Promise, a community movement dedicated…
At StriveTogether, we’re building civic infrastructure to support every child from cradle to career. That sounds great, but what does it really mean? Infrastructure holds communities together: roads, bridges, an electricity grid. But there are some connections we can’t see. Relationships, collaboration, goal setting and data sharing are part of infrastructure, too. These pieces are…
Systems change can be a daunting challenge, requiring cross-sector coordination across organizations. But even the most complex systems are made up of people. When we support people to take up their roles and use their individual power, we can create lasting change. StriveTogether’s coaching program, Coaching for Collaborative Action, supports leaders in stewarding their work…
In Dayton, Ohio, transformative change is creating more opportunities for young people. StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network member Learn to Earn Dayton is using data, collaborating across the community, and shifting power and resources to get better, more equitable outcomes. Learn to Earn Dayton has developed the region’s civic infrastructure — the connections between…
After more than 20 years working in the nonprofit sector, the majority of which have been dedicated to the work of StriveTogether and its predecessor organizations, I’m taking a sabbatical this summer. I never dreamed I’d be in a position to take an extended break from this work. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to…
In Central Texas, Cradle to Career Network member E3 Alliance is transforming education systems through data and collaboration. Since 2006, E3 Alliance has worked with school districts, higher education institutions, businesses, nonprofits and policy leaders across the region. Now, their work has earned the Systems Transformation designation along the StriveTogether Theory of Action™. E3…
Systems change can be a daunting challenge, requiring cross-sector coordination across organizations. But even the most complex systems are made up of people. When we support people to take up their roles and use their individual power, we can create lasting change. StriveTogether’s coaching program, Coaching for Collaborative Action, supports leaders in stewarding their work…
Across the country, members of the Cradle to Career Network are working to reduce barriers to postsecondary success for students in their communities. Here are three insights into how they’re getting results: Make data accessible and actionable. Using data to make informed decisions and improve strategies is critical to getting better outcomes for students. Cradle…
In Fresno County, California, effective collaboration, community engagement and data use are leading to better outcomes for kids and families, with racial and ethnic equity at the center. Cradle to Career Fresno County has reached a new milestone in its work to build equitable systems and inclusive economic mobility. The Cradle to Career Network member…
The StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network has a clear vision – every child and young person should have a pathway to economic mobility. The seven outcomes we pursue are the milestones that make up that pathway. A growing body of research supports the notion that outcome improvements in postsecondary enrollment, postsecondary completion and employment are…