We are approaching a tipping point in our work to close disparity gaps and improve outcomes for young people. 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, success is dependent on bold decisions…
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…
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…
John F. Kennedy once said that “the time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.” We’ve known our roof has leaks — our systems have been designed to produce wicked disparities in American communities for hundreds of years. But now here we are, in the middle of a storm, with no other…
This is an excerpt of a piece published in the Cincinnati Enquirer. Read the full piece here. The COVID-19 crisis demands leadership at its best and women are answering the call in Cincinnati and Ohio. Women everywhere have the opportunity to step up and lead in their neighborhoods and communities. No act of empathy, kindness…
Dear Cradle to Career Network members and supporters, As we navigate uncharted territory, I’m writing to share my support and encouragement. During times of uncertainty, relationships are paramount. We will get through this and we will do it together. Like many of you, I’m adjusting to working remotely, my children are trying to figure out how…
It’s exciting to begin a new decade and a year that brings us closer to our goal to help 24 communities permanently transform how systems serve kids better by 2023. I am energized by the opportunities that exist in this new decade. To tackle these head on, I’m holding three things front and center to…
“When we’re willing to work — not with community, but in community — that’s when transformation is real.” — Stacey Abrams, activist, author and civil rights leader Reflecting on the recent 10th annual Cradle to Career Network Convening, I am more convinced than ever that we are truly unstoppable when we unite for kids and…