San Antonio, with a population of around 1.5 million residents, is the second most populous city in Texas and the seventh most populous in the United States. Its rich culture is heavily influenced by its diversity — particularly by its Latine and Indigenous populations. Alongside that diversity comes racial and ethnic disparities that affect young…
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…
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…
As I sit down to reflect on my sabbatical, I marvel at the journey. Time has flown by, and yet it also feels like a lifetime’s worth of experiences and revelations were condensed into the past 58 days. My world of deadlines, emails and meetings for the past 20-plus years was put on hold 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…
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…
At StriveTogether, we’re building civic infrastructure to support every child from cradle to career. That sounds great, but what does it really mean? Infrastructure holds communities together: roads, bridges, an electricity grid. But there are some connections we can’t see. Relationships, collaboration, goal setting and data sharing are part of infrastructure, too. These pieces are…
Systems change can be a daunting challenge, requiring cross-sector coordination across organizations. But even the most complex systems are made up of people. When we support people to take up their roles and use their individual power, we can create lasting change. StriveTogether’s coaching program, Coaching for Collaborative Action, supports leaders in stewarding their work…
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…
After more than 20 years working in the nonprofit sector, the majority of which have been dedicated to the work of StriveTogether and its predecessor organizations, I’m taking a sabbatical this summer. I never dreamed I’d be in a position to take an extended break from this work. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to…
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…
Systems change can be a daunting challenge, requiring cross-sector coordination across organizations. But even the most complex systems are made up of people. When we support people to take up their roles and use their individual power, we can create lasting change. StriveTogether’s coaching program, Coaching for Collaborative Action, supports leaders in stewarding their work…