March is the month that our country has committed to celebrating and honoring women’s history. As a new month begins, I’m reflecting on the barriers and obstacles women face every single day, the sheer resilience and grit we muster to battle through them, and the that women comprise the greatest percentage of leaders at all…
I was recently reminded of a poem by Wendell Berry that resonated strongly because it describes the very nature of our work. Berry is one of my literary heroes, we’re both Kentucky natives and University of Kentucky graduates. As an English major, I read much of his poetry and fiction. And I find myself returning…
At StriveTogether, we aren’t just proving what is possible; we’re proving what is measurable. Today, I’m proud to be sharing a new framework and guide for measuring the impact of systems on getting better, more equitable results for youth and families. Systemic inequity creates opportunity gaps particularly for children, young people and families of color.…
We are approaching a tipping point in our work to close disparity gaps and improve outcomes for children of color and children living in poverty. The precipice of change is built on a mountain of efforts, and many have persisted in this important work to bring us to this point. And like all critical moments,…
Earlier this week I had the opportunity to be a part of an amazing all-female panel discussing the role of neighborhood organizations and the networks that support them in improving outcomes for youth and families. Moderated by the brilliant Angela Glover Blackwell, I joined Dreama Gentry and Sondra Samuels to share what we have learned…
Each new year encourages us to consider what’s possible. It’s like opening a book of blank pages, each page waiting for a story to unfold. What narrative will take shape in the coming weeks, months and year? Leftover angst from 2020 may cloud any optimism typical at the start of a new year. As Stacey…
In a year that no one could have predicted, it’s not surprising that we’re still sorting out results from the general election. This history-making election saw a record number of voters cast ballots across the country. It’s just as exciting to see such a great turnout and support for a number of ballot issues supported…
It’s great to see so many Americans voting early this election cycle. In the excitement of the presidential election, don’t overlook local and state candidates and issues that can directly impact the future of our children. While StriveTogether is nonpartisan, we have a clear view on the policies that support better and more equitable cradle-to-career…
Since the earliest days in the collective impact movement, there has been a commonly repeated refrain: “We have to shift narratives. We have to change mindsets.” In 2020, there has been a shift in narratives and in mindsets The country is waking up to systemic oppression and inequities. This summer, the top-selling books were focused…
Next month, leaders across the country will gather for our first-ever virtual Cradle to Career Network Convening. During this time, we will connect, learn and navigate changes happening across 70 communities. We will continue our efforts to break down barriers and transform systems for more than 12 million youth and counting — including more than…
We know racism is the root of many problems across our country, and COVID-19 is unmasking these long-standing inequities. Black, Indigenous, Latinx and Asian communities and communities facing extreme poverty are suffering the brunt of the pandemic due to structural and institutional racism, which leads to inequities in systems like education, employment, health care, housing…
The coronavirus has made inequities in America starkly visible. Virtual learning doesn’t help children without a laptop or wi-fi at home. Stay-at-home orders don’t help parents without housing or jobs that allow them to work remotely. Everyone is vulnerable to the public health threat posed by COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, but communities…