When policies center on young people and families, we pave the way for greater, more equitable economic mobility in our communities. The 2024 StriveTogether Policy Summit, held in Washington, D.C., brought together more than 150 members of the Cradle to Career Network to learn from experts and from each other. The energy was palpable, as…
When we shift policies to center young people, we work toward greater economic mobility for our communities. More than 125 members of the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network gathered in Washington, D.C., for the 2023 Policy Summit to share how policy change is making a positive impact on the lives of young people. As a…
We are at a pivotal moment in our country and in our work. Thanks to funding available through the American Rescue Plan and more, we have access to resources and the will to not just meet the present moment, but to make significant progress toward addressing racial equity and economic mobility for children and families.…
The StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network is uniquely positioned to leverage the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) given our decade-long experience building civic infrastructure in nearly 70 communities across 29 states. We have the knowledge, skills, tools and relationships to support districts and municipalities with the direction of American Rescue Plan Act funds. Our aim…
This blog originally appeared on Independent Sector’s website. A community is more than the sum of its roads, bridges and electricity grid — what we traditionally think of as infrastructure. It is also the connection among its residents, connections that remain even as the skyline changes. It is the involvement with local elections, the inspiring…
We can learn a great deal from Cradle to Career Fresno County’s approach to securing $10 million to support their local response to COVID-19. This is was the first time Fresno C2C leveraged federal funding, tapping into the more than $2 trillion set aside by Congress as part of the CARES Act that provides direct…
Good ideas start in local communities. Good networks spread those ideas. We’ve seen both happen countless times in StriveTogether communities through our Cradle to Career Network. We call it the Network Effect. In 2014, one member of the Network, Promise Partnership of Salt Lake in Salt Lake City, Utah, successfully made a case to state…
Earlier this month, I moderated a panel discussion, “Promise Neighborhoods at 10 Years Old,” at the Yale School of Management’s 2019 Education Leadership Conference. Promise Neighborhoods communities share our belief that every child should have the opportunity to succeed in school and in life, regardless of race, zip code or circumstance. The purpose of Promise…
StriveTogether tracks and uses educational indicators as predictors for pathways to economic mobility, so it might surprise people to see that we’re advocating for a specific federal housing policy. But for us, the connection is clear: To dramatically improve outcomes and reduce racial and socioeconomic disparities for children in communities across the country, we must…
StriveTogether is proud to share that President and CEO Jennifer Blatz has been selected to participate in the Ambassadors for Health Equity Fellowship — a joint venture led by PolicyLink and FSG, with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Jennifer will join 23 other leaders in the public, private and social sector to participate…
Last week, I had the opportunity to join changemakers from across the country at the inaugural Upswell, Independent Sector’s forum for turning ideas into action. At the event, I facilitated two conversations focused on shifting power to communities. During those discussions and throughout the event, I heard examples of the importance of connections and community…