The 2024 Cradle to Career Network Convening opened with an inspiring keynote from StriveTogether president and CEO Jennifer Blatz, who reminded us of the movement’s audacious vision: to put 4 million more young people on the path to economic mobility. Her message emphasized the dual power of our collective action and the individual stories of young people shaping their futures. Blatz celebrated local solutions and leadership as the heartbeat of the Network’s progress, while also highlighting the growing national and international recognition of the cradle-to-career approach.
As the convening progressed, we heard from an impressive lineup of thought leaders. Their powerful insights energized attendees and left us with key takeaways to guide our work in the years ahead. Here are the top six insights from this year’s Convening keynotes:
1. Advancing Economic Mobility as a Social Movement
Dr. Manuel Pastor set the stage with a clear call for framing economic mobility not just as a policy issue but as a social movement. He shared his research on demographic change, inequality and economic dislocations, emphasizing the need to reframe our narratives around “our economy” rather than “the economy.” His message of shared accountability and coalition-building resonated strongly, underscoring that building a movement is key to fostering sustainable growth.
“Movements teach you to be mutual,” he said. “They teach you to build bridges.” Pastor’s insights remind us that transformation happens when we collectively reimagine how economic systems can work for everyone.
2. Embracing the Role of Love in Leadership
Cheryl L. Dorsey, president of Echoing Green, powerfully framed love as a central element of leadership, particularly in the pursuit of social change. She emphasized that in the desire to professionalize the social sector, the concept of love has often been sidelined or diminished. However, Dorsey argued that love — defined as an unselfish, genuine concern for others — is the foundation of all human interactions and is essential for building strong, resilient communities.
Dorsey noted that success in leadership stems from love, particularly in how leaders support and invest in one another. She pointed to Echoing Green’s focus on creating spaces where leaders of color are seen, have safe spaces to fail and can engage with a strong community of peers. This collective support system, she explained, helps to foster the courage and innovation necessary for driving lasting systemic change.
3. Navigating Polarized Times
Dorsey also addressed the growing challenge of leading in today’s polarized world, as well as the necessity of fostering collaboration and bridging divides to drive impact. She highlighted the importance of building social capital, stressing that connecting with diverse groups is key to driving systemic transformation. She acknowledged that leadership in these times requires earned trust, humility and the courage to pivot when necessary.
Dr. Pastor additionally spoke to the power of movements and mutuality in navigating difference: “It is in these polarizing times we need to invite people into this movement of change and possibility for our future,” he stated. Cradle to Career Network members are well-positioned to lead in this work, using the power of shared goals to bring people together and work toward sustainable solutions.
4. Harnessing the Power of Storytelling to Shift Mindsets
Morgan Radford, NBC News correspondent, emphasized the profound role that storytelling plays in shifting mindsets and catalyzing change. Radford underscored the importance of telling authentic stories that don’t just highlight successes but also reveal the struggles and lessons learned in between. She noted that the most impactful stories are rooted in truth, vulnerability and connection — challenging people to reassess their values and inspiring action. Radford encouraged leaders to own their narratives, explaining how stories of resilience and survival can inspire others to find freedom and strength.
5. Using Stories and Metrics to Drive Progress
Both Dr. Manuel Pastor and Morgan Radford highlighted the power of combining stories with data to drive meaningful change. Pastor’s focus on using data to hold systems accountable complemented Radford’s call for emotional storytelling to shift perceptions and spur action. Radford shared how stories can expose underlying truths, urging leaders to lean into vulnerability to connect with their audiences, while Pastor emphasized that data provides the accountability needed to turn those stories into measurable outcomes. Together, they made it clear that the synergy of storytelling and data is essential for advancing equity and economic mobility.
6. Building Trust to Foster Long-Term Change in K-12 Education
A panel on K-12 education challenges highlighted the critical role trust plays in creating sustainable change in education systems. Kriste Dragon, of the Pahara Institute, highlighted that place-based partnerships are uniquely positioned to build the long-term trust needed for cross-sector collaboration and collective action. She emphasized that building trust across lines of difference takes time, but it is essential for aligning on an agenda that can improve outcomes for students and educators alike.
Middle school teacher Bri Slaughter reflected on how connecting with her students during the COVID-19 pandemic changed her perspective on teaching, showing the power of relationship-building in fostering student engagement. Additionally, Elisa Villanueva Beard, of Teach For America, reinforced the importance of collaboration, stressing that addressing the interconnected challenges in education requires partnerships built on trust, especially when aiming to achieve large-scale transformations like improving economic mobility for young people.
Panel moderator Rob Watson doubled down on this, recounting how his father, a former truancy officer, said his favorite part of his job was getting to knock on doors and get to know the families in the community. “We have to get back to that ground game, block by block, door by door, building trust,” he said.
The Journey Ahead
As Jennifer Blatz powerfully stated in her opening remarks, “4 million futures” is not just a number — it represents the dreams and potential of every young person in our communities. The insights from this year’s keynote speakers reaffirm the power of local leadership, collective action and storytelling in realizing this bold vision. From fostering economic mobility as a social movement to nurturing leadership amid limited resources, our path forward is one of deep collaboration, trust and unwavering commitment.
As we move into the next chapter of the cradle-to-career journey, these takeaways remind us that every local solution contributes to our national impact. By building trust, amplifying stories and holding ourselves accountable, we will continue to create opportunities for young people to thrive. Together, we are not only shaping 4 million futures — we are shaping the future of our communities, our country and our world.
