Highlights from the 2024 Cradle to Career Network Convening
4 MILLION FUTURES
local solutions fueling national impact
More than 600 changemakers gathered for StriveTogether’s annual convening in Salt Lake City, Utah, in September. Together, we’re embarking on a bold new vision: to put 4 million more young people on a path to economic mobility by 2030. The StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network shows us what’s possible, one community at a time. We learn from local success to strengthen civic infrastructure, advance racial and economic equity, and expand opportunity, neighborhood to national.
The 2025 Cradle to Career Network Convening will take place September 16-18 in Atlanta, Georgia. Registration will open in the summer.
PLENARY INSIGHTS
voices of inspiration from StriveTogether plenary speakers
“Let’s move from celebratory stories of beating the odds to celebrating our movements that change the odds for all of us.” – Dr. Manuel Pastor, director of the Equity Research Institute at the University of Southern California
“If we’re going to truly include everyone in a community, then we’re going to work across lots of lines of difference. Backbone organizations are uniquely positioned to building the trust needed to do that.” – Kriste Dragon, CEO of Pahara Institute
“We know schools need to be reinvented. They were never designed for all kids to thrive.” – Elisa Villanueva Beard, CEO of Teach for America
“New, innovative leaders disrupt the equilibrium and help society get to a tipping point […] where you create a fundamentally new way forward.” – Cheryl Dorsey, president of Echoing Green
“Data can shock. But stories have the power to change the narrative. Stories have the power to move the needle.” – Morgan Radford, NBC News
INSIGHTS
session reflections
CLOSING SPOKEN WORD
original piece performed by Natalie Daley
The 2024 Cradle to Career Network Convening closed with a spoken word performance from Natalie Daley, a senior at Skyridge High School in Lehi, Utah.
SNAPSHOTS OF CHANGEMAKERS
explore the albums below to view and download photos from the convening
KEY MOMENTS
join the conversation on social media with #ConveneC2C
AWARD WINNERS
presenting our annual awards at the convening
StriveTogether honored three exceptional community leaders at the 2024 Cradle to Career Network Convening, celebrating their dedication to driving better and more equitable outcomes for youth and families.
- Bill Crim, president and CEO of Utah’s Promise, won the Bill Henningsgaard Cradle to Career Champion Award.
- The Cleveland Academy of Leadership team won the Cheryl Broadnax Award for Innovation and Results, presented by Cheryl’s husband and son.
- KConnect received the Nancy Zimpher Courage in Leadership Award.
fueling leaders. igniting change.
StriveTogether provides training to help community leaders strengthen their ability to work across sectors, change systems and achieve equitable outcomes. Grounded in proven approaches and tools used by nearly 70 communities in the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network, the courses and workshops have been tested by national partners.
save the date for Atlanta
The 2025 Cradle to Career Network Convening will be held Tuesday to Thursday, September 16-18, 2025.
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