In the early morning of July 28, 2022, Eastern Kentucky woke to rising water. A historic flood was devastating the region. Families climbed to rooftops with pets and items they managed to save. Some waded in deep, murky waters or swam in places where the water was over neck high. Many describe the event as…
Located less than 40 miles south of Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Northfield, Minnesota is a town of about 21,000 residents. In 2017, fewer than half of Northfield’s kids were ready for kindergarten, and kindergarten readiness was at just 10% for Hispanic/Latine children. Disparities like these are what prompted the launch of Northfield Promise, a community movement dedicated…
In Dayton, Ohio, transformative change is creating more opportunities for young people. StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network member Learn to Earn Dayton is using data, collaborating across the community, and shifting power and resources to get better, more equitable outcomes. Learn to Earn Dayton has developed the region’s civic infrastructure — the connections between…
In Central Texas, Cradle to Career Network member E3 Alliance is transforming education systems through data and collaboration. Since 2006, E3 Alliance has worked with school districts, higher education institutions, businesses, nonprofits and policy leaders across the region. Now, their work has earned the Systems Transformation designation along the StriveTogether Theory of Action™. E3…
In Fresno County, California, effective collaboration, community engagement and data use are leading to better outcomes for kids and families, with racial and ethnic equity at the center. Cradle to Career Fresno County has reached a new milestone in its work to build equitable systems and inclusive economic mobility. The Cradle to Career Network member…
Communities across the country are building civic infrastructure to get better, more equitable results for kids. Like physical infrastructure, civic infrastructure connects key elements of a community, including people, ideas and resources. It focuses on outcomes rather than programs and uses data to improve. At StriveTogether, we’ve learned a lot about building effective civic infrastructure…
In Marin County, California, more than 100 community, organizational, philanthropic and governmental leaders are changing systems to ensure every child in the county achieves their full potential. This work is facilitated by StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network member Marin Promise Partnership. In a recent assessment, Marin Promise Partnership earned the Systems Change designation along…
The StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network reaches nearly one in seven young people aged 0–24 in this country. To put those young people on a path to economic mobility, network member communities are building what’s called civic infrastructure. Like physical infrastructure — roads, bridges, electrical grids — civic infrastructure creates the connections a community needs…
At the 2022 Cradle to Career Network Convening last month, we gathered with changemakers, community leaders, youth, experts, government leaders and more to explore how we can unite around our shared vision and get to transformational change for kids across the country. The StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network already reaches one in seven young people…
When we transform systems, we open pathways for youth to thrive. Systems transform when changes are embedded in a community and its institutions, creating permanent shifts to policies, practices, resources and power structures. The way a community works together leads to better outcomes for kids, especially for Black, Indigenous, Latine and Asian youth and…
On paper, Dr. Robert George and Dr. Cornel West make an unlikely pair. “I’m an old-school, traditional conservative. Cornel is honorary chairman of the Democratic Socialists of America. That’s pretty far apart,” said Dr. George. But despite having opposing views on topics from politics to philosophy, the two share a long, close friendship that can…
When Liz Dozier arrived at Fenger High School, it felt like someone had dimmed the lights. At the time, it was known as one of most violent and underperforming schools in Chicago. During Dozier’s first year as principal, 300 arrests happened in the building. The school’s drop-out rate was 20%, and the graduation rate was…