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StriveTogether is the nation’s largest network of place-based partnerships. Cradle to Career Network members change the way their communities work together by building connections, sharing resources and using data to put more young people on a path to economic mobility. We have spent decades building civic infrastructure to deliver transformative results across the country, reaching millions of young people.

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Director of Communications

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(513) 538-0907

The Future is Collective: Advancing Collective Social Innovation to Address Society’s Biggest Challenges

March 25, 2025

Power Couple Giving: The 10-Year Journey of Steve and Connie Ballmer

March 12, 2025

Introducing the Commission on Purposeful Pathways

March 5, 2025

How does high school math impact Texas students’ college and career preparedness?

February 24, 2025

StriveTogether Welcomes New Board Members

January 13, 2025

Courier names 2024 Women Who Mean Business winners

October 31, 2024

StriveTogether Leader Jennifer Blatz Wins 2024 C-Suite Award

October 11, 2024

StriveTogether honors leaders advancing equitable cradle-to-career outcomes at annual convening

September 26, 2024

Development interdependence: Locally driven, globally informed

September 24, 2024

Networking Organizations Can Help Local Nonprofits Succeed — My Experience Proves It

September 18, 2024

StriveTogether Invests $21.6 Million to Increase Economic Mobility for Youth in Six Communities

August 27, 2024

EdRedesign Launches Visiting Fellowship for Cradle-to-Career Partnership Leaders from Across the U.S.

April 3, 2024

StriveTogether Receives Global Award for Social Innovation

January 16, 2024

2024 Social Innovation Awards: 16 organizations improving the lives of millions

January 16, 2024

Cincinnati Leader to Participate in World Economic Forum

January 9, 2024

StriveTogether Nominated for Social Innovation Award at World Economic Forum

January 9, 2024

StriveTogether Appoints Chief Program Officer

December 6, 2023

Blue Meridian commits $150 million for place-based partnerships

November 30, 2023

From AI to peace, meet the finalists of the Schwab Foundation 2024 Social Innovation Awards

November 1, 2023

Local education leader Lasley recognized with top national award

September 22, 2023

StriveTogether recognizes cradle-to-career leaders at annual convening

September 20, 2023

StriveTogether Receives $175 Million from Ballmer Group to Put Millions More Young People on a Path to Economic Mobility

September 18, 2023

StriveTogether Appoints Chief Advancement Officer

September 5, 2023

Mission Economic Development Agency’s Richard Raya Joins StriveTogether Board of Directors

January 3, 2023

Promise Partnership of Salt Lake Receives ‘Systems Transformation’ Designation from StriveTogether

September 27, 2022

StriveTogether recognizes cradle-to-career leaders at annual convening

September 22, 2022

StriveTogether Selects Chief Operating Officer

April 11, 2022

StriveTogether Welcomes New Board Members

January 31, 2022

StriveTogether recognizes cradle-to-career leaders at annual convening

October 7, 2021

StriveTogether awards scholarships to 12 young San Antonio-area artists

October 7, 2021

Norwalk ACTS collaboration with StriveTogether’s prenatal to three initiative boosts kindergarten readiness by 7%

July 1, 2021

As student loan debt plagues Black grads, pleas for cancellation grow louder

June 30, 2021

Build back better by empowering communities

April 21, 2021

StoryCorps and Together For Students capture community conversations of families during the COVID-19 crisis

March 23, 2021

Blatz: Biden must make student loan forgiveness a priority — not just for graduates, but for the economy and for long-term fairness

February 22, 2021

‘Window into the soul of our community’: New database will show racial inequity

February 16, 2021

Companies unite to address education’s digital divide with $25 million investment

February 11, 2021

StriveTogether invests $32 million, fueling community-based equitable recovery efforts

February 9, 2021

To move from pandemic to progress, the U.S. should establish an institute for education improvement

February 9, 2021

Here’s why we need to cancel student loan debt. Period.

January 19, 2021

Prioritizing children’s education can bridge our divides

December 25, 2020

When do kids start kindergarten? Guidelines and readiness

December 18, 2020

Dealbook: How to fix America

December 4, 2020

Opinion: Time to rethink how we measure student progress in education

December 3, 2020

How districts are trading traditional test scores for real-time data that can truly help students improve

October 4, 2020

5 powerful actions for promoting equity at your child’s school

September 24, 2020

Jennifer Blatz: “Dismantling systemic racism”

September 24, 2020

National leaders advance racial and ethnic equity

September 17, 2020

Jennifer Blatz of StriveTogether: 5 Steps We Must Take To Truly Create An Inclusive, Representative, and Equitable Society

August 4, 2020

$26 million is an “Audacious” pledge

July 28, 2020

We must do better

June 1, 2020

StriveTogether supports local community leaders to get better results for kids

May 21, 2020

Women answer the call for leadership during COVID-19

May 21, 2020

Six StriveTogether communities join Early Learning Nation cohort

May 21, 2020

Meet the head who built a school for social justice

May 21, 2020

Pre-to-3: Coalitions in 6 states join growing ‘Early Learning Nation’

May 15, 2020

Sinclair re-enrolls 400 students who previously dropped out

February 7, 2020

Where education systems stumble, grassroots groups step in to raise success rates

January 30, 2020

StriveTogether awards Opportunity Fund grants to help communities get better results for kids

January 28, 2020

National education policy leader and Teach Plus President and CEO Roberto J. Rodríguez joins StriveTogether board of directors

January 22, 2020

Berea College helps to fight disparities in rural America

December 27, 2019

Researchers, nonprofit rethink discipline in schools

December 12, 2019

A public-private path toward better education: A truly remarkable tale

December 4, 2019

How SCOE, Stanislaus Community Foundation are teaming to make young kids ‘Ready!’

November 30, 2019

National partnership tackles disparities in rural America

November 26, 2019

Agencies aim to work better together to help rural children

November 26, 2019

Collective impact works

November 19, 2019

Equity Fellows initiative seeks to make enduring difference for students

October 28, 2019

Guest opinion: Doing whatever it takes for every child comes full circle

October 24, 2019

Three StriveTogether communities selected for community-led playground project to give local kids more opportunities to play

October 24, 2019

The evolving promise of pay for success

October 23, 2019

ROC the Future, Common Ground Health to build community playground

October 22, 2019

Modine Foundation commits $200K to Higher Expectations for Racine County

October 9, 2019

MCS makes progress on 1,000 ways to improve

September 26, 2019

Filling the gaps in collective impact

September 11, 2019

“Bridgeport for Babies Day” recognizes United Way initiative

September 6, 2019

The Children’s Movement keeps its focus on success for all children

August 27, 2019

Opinion: Partners needed to fight homelessness

August 21, 2019

Rural Accelerator Initiative launched in Cocke County

August 20, 2019

Succeeding together with Parvathi Santosh-Kumar

August 5, 2019

Many Voices, Many Visions – SELF program and ROC the Future

July 2, 2019

My View: Some good news on graduation rates

June 20, 2019

StriveTogether impacts lives of 13.7 million children and counting

June 17, 2019

Cradle-to-career movement welcomes Stacey Abrams, David Brooks, Cecilia Muñoz, Richard Reeves and Jim Shelton

June 13, 2019

Collective impact

May 1, 2019

Fisher: Relationships play an essential role in our lives and the lives of children

April 26, 2019

Helios Education Foundation grant helps Thriving Together aid Phoenix youth to succeed from birth to career

April 23, 2019

Work at Mary H. Wright shows classroom a lab of continuous improvement

April 20, 2019

The Huddle

April 20, 2019

Bridgeport Prospers/United Way highlighted by Pritzker’s Children’s Initiative

April 17, 2019

New transportation cooperative links residents and services, but needs a name

April 5, 2019

RCSD: What are leadership options for the troubled school district?

April 1, 2019

Education nonprofit UP Partnership touts $2 million in grants

March 27, 2019

Nearly $4 million investment will expand student-centered learning

March 19, 2019

United Way of Salt Lake receives national recognition for improving student outcomes in the Salt Lake City region

March 17, 2019

Ex-Microsoft CEO (no, not that one) giving big to K-12

March 4, 2019

The new practice of public problem solving

February 18, 2019

Investing in population-level change

February 17, 2019

RISE gets grant to support Latinx postsecondary education

February 15, 2019

CCSD’s plan to restructure district called ‘bold move’ by state education group

February 12, 2019

Ex-Microsoft CEO urges Dayton area to continue collaboration on education

February 5, 2019

Former Microsoft CEO talks education efforts in Dayton

February 5, 2019

National nonprofit StriveTogether awards $150,000 grant to TCCC

January 31, 2019

Boston Opportunity Agenda gets $150K to halt college ‘stop-outs’

January 31, 2019

United Way receives grant to advocate for Idaho preschooling

January 30, 2019

Bridgeport Prospers receives $150K grant from StriveTogether

January 30, 2019

Grant will fund ROC the Future’s reading and literacy initiative

January 29, 2019

United Way of Southeastern Idaho receives $150,000 grant

January 29, 2019

StriveTogether awards up to $7 million in grants for communities to improve results at major milestones in kids’ lives

January 29, 2019

James Bell and Tony Pipa join StriveTogether board of directors

January 17, 2019

Elevating community authority in collective impact

December 6, 2018

Graduate School of Education forum panel talks improving childhood education outcomes

November 30, 2018

Billionaires vs. poverty: Behind a push to use data to boost economic opportunity in cities

November 18, 2018

Philanthropist turned governor: What can J.B. Pritzker do to expand opportunity in Illinois?

November 10, 2018

Learn to Earn Dayton rolls out ‘Equity Fellows’ program in local schools

November 7, 2018

District 7′s Booker appointed to national StriveTogether board

October 25, 2018

Longtime education leader in Spartanburg County announced as board member for national nonprofit StriveTogether

October 25, 2018

A really good thing happening in America

October 8, 2018

Sustaining collaborative action

October 2, 2018

Newsom’s ‘cradle-to-career’ education pledge will require sweeping changes in California

September 23, 2018

Human resources executive joins leadership team at nonprofit StriveTogether

September 18, 2018

Looking to curb absenteeism, other chronic problems, Memphis invests in data specialists with Gates money

September 12, 2018

The bigger picture: Behind millions in grants to drive policy and systems change on education

September 4, 2018

Building Our Future to receive grant funds to improve student outcomes

August 31, 2018

Higher Expectations initiative to help unemployed single mothers, their children

August 29, 2018

Collective impact: Why a Cincinnati mom matters to Steve Ballmer

August 26, 2018

Wisconsin partnerships will be focusing on education

August 25, 2018

Group of education nonprofits awarded $1 million to improve outcomes

August 24, 2018

Spartanburg Academic Movement gets extra funding to help county’s poorest schools

August 24, 2018

DPS, Northmont schools get $500K to tackle achievement gap

August 23, 2018

Dayton Public Schools to benefit from $500,000 award

August 23, 2018

National nonprofit helping close the educational achievement gap in Montgomery Co.

August 23, 2018

StriveTogether awards more than $20 million in grants to help communities use data to improve results for kids

August 23, 2018

In all its forms: Ford’s VP of inclusive economies talks strategy

August 1, 2018

Meet Danae Davis, executive director of Milwaukee Succeeds

July 23, 2018

Central Texas nationally recognized by StriveTogether for creating systemic change to achieve more equitable outcomes for every child

July 9, 2018

Spartanburg County becomes eighth community recognized by StriveTogether for consistently improving results for students across seven school districts

June 28, 2018

Five students win art scholarship from national nonprofit StriveTogether

June 28, 2018

Shelby County becomes seventh community recognized by StriveTogether for raising student achievement using a data-driven approach

June 13, 2018

Six communities recognized by StriveTogether for raising student achievement after participation in leadership program to accelerate progress

June 13, 2018

Reville: 9 places where communities and families are working together in a new social compact for student success

June 11, 2018

Dr. Jill Biden to speak at StriveTogether’s 2018 Network Convening in October

June 7, 2018

New linkages: A closer look at a K-12 collaboration between two top funders

June 4, 2018

Together for Students Initiative recognizes community-wide education partnerships

May 30, 2018

Dayton and Montgomery County recognized for raised student achievement

May 25, 2018

Dayton groups earn two national honors for education efforts

May 25, 2018

Clippers owner encourages politicians to invest in education

May 23, 2018

The Ballmer Express: Where’s this anti-poverty funder heading now?

May 23, 2018

10 communities across the country awarded up to $1.5 million in funding to expand student-centered learning initiatives

May 23, 2018

Using a data-driven approach to raise student achievement, Dayton and Montgomery County receive highest national designation from StriveTogether

May 23, 2018

Dozens of localities join early education effort

April 26, 2018

Infants, toddlers focus of new investment from Pritzker Children’s Initiative

April 25, 2018

What’s next for an early childhood initiative with big plans, backed by big donors?

April 25, 2018

StriveTogether launches special initiative to improve kindergarten readiness with National Institute for Children’s Health Quality

April 24, 2018

Spartanburg chosen for national initiative on child development

April 24, 2018

Girl Effect and StriveTogether launch innovative community engagement project in Adams County, Colo.

April 23, 2018

The goal of school discipline should be keeping kids in the classroom

April 13, 2018

Sharing drives change, shapes futures in San Antonio

April 7, 2018

Expanding access to powerful learning in Tulsa

April 5, 2018

Civic Chat: Networking Our Neighborhoods — Parvathi Santhosh-Kumar, Senior Director of Impact at StriveTogether

April 5, 2018

‘Community driven’ model focus of Believe Greater Dalton talk on Monday

April 4, 2018

Longtime leader in health and education joins executive team at national nonprofit StriveTogether

April 3, 2018

Recognized leaders in education, advocacy and philanthropy announced as new board members for national nonprofit StriveTogether

March 29, 2018

Save the Children expands resources in Cocke County

March 29, 2018

Commentary: At SXSW EDU, we’re focused on helping every child succeed

March 6, 2018

Region recognized for progress in strengthening local education pipeline through StriveTogether

March 6, 2018

StriveTogether unveils data proving student achievement can be raised for every child

February 22, 2018

Graduate Tacoma receives highest StriveTogether national designation for increasing student achievement

February 22, 2018

Paul Pepper: Crystal Kroner, Cradle to Career Alliance

February 16, 2018

Cincinnati nonprofit names new CEO

December 15, 2017

StriveTogether names Jennifer Blatz president and CEO

December 14, 2017

Multnomah County receives highest designation for student success

December 14, 2017

Racine County recognized for raising student achievement across region

December 14, 2017

Will pre-K put the city of Memphis back in the education business?

December 4, 2017

The StriveTogether Network

November 30, 2017

Antares Capital invests in Norwalk ACTS’ collective impact work

November 30, 2017

A new national collaboration on early childhood, backed by Pritzker wealth

November 27, 2017

Cities, counties join new initiative to focus on kindergarten readiness

November 17, 2017

National organizations form joint effort to improve kindergarten readiness for children from birth to 3

November 17, 2017

Why it’s time for mayors to take the lead to improve public schools

November 7, 2017

Steve Ballmer isn’t trying to re-engineer education, but to support local projects that are already working

November 2, 2017

What’s interesting about the latest K-12 move by Chan Zuckerberg

November 1, 2017

Cradle to Career Alliance releases community report card

October 30, 2017

College costs trend up as financial aid lags

October 25, 2017

State of flux: Five things to know about K-12 education philanthropy right now

October 25, 2017

10 communities will receive up to $150,000 each to improve outcomes for kids

October 23, 2017

Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and Ford Foundation to support ‘student-centered’ learning systems

October 23, 2017

Former Microsoft CEO says creating economic mobility for all will take local focus, unified effort and hard work

October 17, 2017

Ballmer Group pledges $60 million to StriveTogether

October 10, 2017

Former Microsoft CEO and wife pledge $60 million to fight social inequality

October 5, 2017

Spartanburg County leader wins national Cradle to Career Champion Award

October 5, 2017

StriveTogether deepens focus on improving outcomes and closing disparities in communities

October 4, 2017

StriveTogether recognizes Dallas County for raising student achievement

October 4, 2017

National education-based nonprofit opens HQ in downtown Cincinnati

August 15, 2017

StriveTogether moves office headquarters to propel growth

July 7, 2017

StriveTogether Executive Director Jeff Edmondson to lead philanthropy for organization led by Steve and Connie Ballmer

April 27, 2017

Cradle to Career summit says communities should define outcomes

April 22, 2017

StriveTogether receives $7 million as it transitions to independent status to better serve communities across the country

April 4, 2017

StriveTogether receives $2.5 million grant through Ford Foundation initiative

March 31, 2017

San Antonio districts combat chronic absenteeism to improve third-grade reading

March 24, 2017

It’s about results at scale, not collective impact

March 20, 2017

Unified commits to Building Our Futures

March 1, 2017

A rising force: Where is the Ballmer Group’s grant money starting to flow?

February 28, 2017

Students show progress in annual ImpactTulsa report, but racial and socioeconomic gaps persist

February 24, 2017

Record $60 million in grants issued from Greater Milwaukee Foundation in 2016

January 30, 2017

Five communities to accelerate education impact through learning network

January 12, 2017

17 communities from across the nation chosen for data analytics fellowship

November 21, 2016

Ohio communities expand early education through historic ballot initiatives

November 10, 2016

Red Wing, Minnesota’s Scott and Anne Jones win StriveTogether national award for collective impact

September 22, 2016

Greater Cincinnati recognized for improving outcomes for students across region

September 20, 2016

Creating educational impact by rising up for every student

September 19, 2016

Data analytics fellowship to help 15 communities use data to close achievement gaps

October 20, 2015

Cincinnati’s Greg Landsman wins StriveTogether national award for collective impact

October 9, 2015

National conference focuses on improving outcomes for students

October 6, 2015

Visualizing data to help improve outcomes for students

September 30, 2015

Fund to invest in six communities to accelerate education impact

June 2, 2015

StriveTogether launches fund to accelerate education impact

April 21, 2015

StriveTogether welcomes eight new network members

March 23, 2015

‘To Hell with Good Intentions Part 1: Measuring Social Impact’

March 11, 2015

Local communities influence policy to impact academic outcomes for students

February 24, 2015

New resources help communities share and protect student data to improve education outcomes

February 5, 2015

StriveTogether partners with Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation

January 7, 2015

Channeling change: Making collective impact work

November 26, 2012