The annual budgeting process: a necessary evil involving crunching numbers until you go cross-eyed to arrive at an estimated idea of how much money you will raise versus spend throughout the year — and, of course, which you hope your board will approve. For most organizations, developing a budget is a tedious and painstaking process…
Pima County, Arizona, is a vibrant, diverse region along the state’s southern border. It includes the city of Tucson, where most of its population lives. Surrounded by mountains and filled with sunshine, Tucson was named one of Time magazine’s World’s Greatest Places this year. Despite its draw as a global destination, 18.4% of young people…
When we talk about economic mobility, the conversation often ends up focused on income quintiles measured via longitudinal studies. But what does economic mobility really mean, and why does it matter? At the end of the day, communities in the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network are working to support kids to achieve their own definitions…
Racine, Wisconsin, sits on the shores of Lake Michigan just south of Milwaukee. A few decades ago, the region was a manufacturing powerhouse, creating auto parts and tractors. Since then, deindustrialization has taken a heavy toll. Meanwhile, the community has become more diverse, and racial economic and educational disparities are pronounced. To face these challenges,…
In Central Minnesota, collaboration, data and community voice are creating new opportunities for children and families. United Way Partner for Student Success is a partnership of school districts, businesses, educational institutions, community agencies, funders and government — all committed to building strong futures. The Cradle to Career Network member has now earned the designation of…
Welcome to Together for Together for Change, the podcast where we explore the transformative power of systems change and civic infrastructure. In this episode, we reflect on the Cradle to Career Network’s largest in-person gathering to date — the 2023 Cradle to Career Network Convening. We also look back at some of our favorite…
“Put young people in a position to lead, and they will make this world a better place,” Jerelyn Rodriguez shared on stage at the 2023 Cradle to Career Network Convening. Rodriguez, co-founder and CEO of The Knowledge House, joined Dr. Tim Lampkin for a conversation about activating youth leadership to help put more young people…
Rick Hess and Pedro Noguera often fall on opposing sides of the ideological aisle. Despite their differences, they regularly engage in important conversations about the toughest issues in K-12 education today. Rick Hess is a senior fellow and the director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, where he works on K-12 and…
Welcome to Together for Together for Change, the podcast where we explore the transformative power of systems change and civic infrastructure. Policy plays a critical role in the work of systems transformation. In this episode, we explore different approaches to policy work and show why it can be effective for achieving results at scale.…
Spartanburg, South Carolina, is one of the nation’s fastest growing communities, home to seven postsecondary institutions and committed employers. Collaboration abounds. The city and county governments work closely with nonprofit organizations, businesses and community partners, and the seven school districts regularly collaborate and launch initiatives together. While there is much to celebrate, Spartanburg acknowledges that…
Welcome to Together for Together for Change, the podcast where we explore the transformative power of systems change and civic infrastructure. Part of the work in transforming systems is understanding how different social systems intersect: education, housing, health, criminal justice, etc. On the flip side, there is a large cross section of social impact…
San Antonio, with a population of around 1.5 million residents, is the second most populous city in Texas and the seventh most populous in the United States. Its rich culture is heavily influenced by its diversity — particularly by its Latine and Indigenous populations. Alongside that diversity comes racial and ethnic disparities that affect young…