Daisy Nguyen, Colin Groth, Richard Raya and Kim Johnson sit on stage at the 2023 Cradle to Career Network Convening

How a place-based community is wrapping its arms around every child and transforming how a city approaches economic mobility for all

Twenty-five years ago, Kim Johnson turned to the Women, Infants and Children program — WIC — for help as a new mom. Now as director of the California Department of Social Services, she is responsible for deploying billions of dollars to support children and families in poverty with dignity, in a way that puts them…

Jennifer Blatz, president and CEO of StriveTogether, speaks at the 2023 Cradle to Career Network Convening.

Jennifer Blatz shares StriveTogether’s bold vision for 2030 at the 2023 Cradle to Career Network Convening

The StriveTogether 2023 Cradle to Career Network Convening officially commenced as president and CEO Jennifer Blatz shared a bold new goal to put 4 million more young people on a path to economic mobility. The journey of this cradle-to-career movement has always had a North Star — to ensure every young person has every opportunity…

Jen Tolentino speaks at the 2023 StriveTogether Policy Summit

Partnering with government for an equitable recovery and stronger civic infrastructure

This guest blog was written by Jen Tolentino, director of local practice at Results for America.  Communities across the country — particularly communities of color who have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic — have committed to an equitable recovery that will not only address the impacts of the pandemic, but decades of racially motivated…

A young girl sits on the ground, reading a book she's holding in her lap.

In dark times, focus on the bright spots

Recently, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the gold standard of federal standardized testing, released data indicating that 13-year-olds have hit the lowest math and reading performance scores in decades. Unsurprisingly, this correlated with data about learning loss from the pandemic, especially for children of color. As I read this newest report, I reflected…

Two students present in front of their peers, reading off of a paper that says "Table 6: Graduation Rates" at the top

Creating lasting change: Transforming systems in Northfield, Minnesota 

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…