StriveTogether Invests $21.6 Million to Increase Economic Mobility for Youth in Six Communities
Investment Will Fuel Plans to Put 140,000 More Young People on a Path to Economic Mobility
August 27, 2024
CINCINNATI – StriveTogether is investing $21.6 million in six communities’ ability to put more than 140,000 young people on a path to economic mobility by 2030.
These communities are part of the Cradle to Career Network, a national movement led by StriveTogether to help every child succeed in school and in life, regardless of race, ethnicity, zip code or circumstance. These Transform Impact investments support communities to launch bold plans to get better, more equitable outcomes for youth and families.
Economic mobility in the United States is declining. According to Opportunity Insights, only half of children grow up to earn more than their parents — and for young people experiencing poverty and young people of color, these outcomes are often worse.
StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network members are improving the critical outcomes that lead to economic mobility: kindergarten readiness, early grade reading, middle grade math, high school graduation, postsecondary enrollment, postsecondary completion and employment.
These seven cradle-to-career milestones are critical steps on the path to future success. For instance, when students have what they need to be proficient in reading by the end of third grade, they’re four times more likely to complete high school. Individuals supported to complete high school earn about 23% more than individuals who don’t graduate. And for each level of education reached after high school, earning potential increases.
Together, the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network is working to put 4 million more young people on a path to economic mobility by 2030.
The following communities will each receive a $3.6 million investment over four years to support work in these focus areas:
Appalachian Cradle to Career in Eastern Kentucky: Increasing kindergarten readiness, early grade reading and postsecondary enrollment
Baltimore’s Promise in Baltimore, Maryland: Increasing high school graduation, postsecondary completion and employment
E3 Alliance in Austin, Texas: Improving kindergarten readiness, middle grade math and postsecondary completion
ImpactTulsa in Tulsa, Oklahoma: Increasing kindergarten readiness, early grade reading and high school graduation
Learn to Earn Dayton in Dayton, Ohio: Increasing early grade reading, middle grade math and postsecondary enrollment
Promise Partnership Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah: Increasing kindergarten readiness, early grade reading and middle grade math
In addition to the Transform Impact investments, earlier this year StriveTogether invested in additional communities to build their capability to improve outcomes for young people. The eight communities receiving Accelerate Impact investments of $600,000 over three years are:
Boston Opportunity Agenda in Boston, Massachusetts
Cradle to Career Fresno County in Fresno County, California
Cradle to Career Partnership in Tucson, Arizona
KConnect in Kent County, Michigan
ROC the Future Alliance in Rochester, New York
Stanislaus Cradle to Career Partnership in Stanislaus County, California
Summit Education Initiative in Summit County, Ohio
Waterbury Bridge to Success Partnership in Waterbury, Connecticut
About StriveTogether
StriveTogether is a national movement with a clear purpose: to help every child succeed in school and in life from cradle to career, regardless of race, ethnicity, zip code or circumstance. The Cradle to Career Network impacts the lives of 14 million youth – including more than 8 million children of color and 5 million children experiencing poverty. Learn more at StriveTogether.org.
CONTACT
Elizabeth Male