On paper, Dr. Robert George and Dr. Cornel West make an unlikely pair. “I’m an old-school, traditional conservative. Cornel is honorary chairman of the Democratic Socialists of America. That’s pretty far apart,” said Dr. George. But despite having opposing views on topics from politics to philosophy, the two share a long, close friendship that can…
When Liz Dozier arrived at Fenger High School, it felt like someone had dimmed the lights. At the time, it was known as one of most violent and underperforming schools in Chicago. During Dozier’s first year as principal, 300 arrests happened in the building. The school’s drop-out rate was 20%, and the graduation rate was…
StriveTogether President and CEO Jennifer Blatz opened the 2022 Cradle to Career Convening with a bold vision to place 100 million young people on a path to mobility in the United States. The Cradle to Career Network already reaches one in seven young people ages 0-24. Its work to change lives by changing systems is…
In an ideal community, resources would flow to support kids. Public and private funders would invest in what’s working to get better and more equitable outcomes. Instead of competing for dollars, organizations could work together to make sure that each has what they need to fulfill their mission and contribute to the community’s shared vision.…
Just as building materials are the core of physical infrastructure, trusting relationships are at the heart of civic infrastructure. Like the roads and bridges of physical infrastructure, civic infrastructure holds a community together and allows it to grow and thrive. Unlike physical infrastructure, though, civic infrastructure is the connections and structures that we can’t see…
What’s possible when a community comes together around a shared vision, uses data to make decisions and invests in creating lasting change? In Milwaukee, more kids are getting the early care and education they need, students are getting funding for opportunities after high school, voices from across the community are reflected in decisions and more.…
“So, what do you do?” We’ve all heard this question. Sometimes, our answers are met with nods of recognition; other times, helping someone understand our role requires more explanation. People working to develop their community’s civic infrastructure might need to share a lot of extra explanation. Civic infrastructure isn’t something we can see or touch.…
Meditation is old and honorable, so why should I not sit, every morning of my life, on the hillside, looking into the shining world? Because, properly attended to, delight, as well as havoc, is suggestion. Can one be passionate about the just, the ideal, the sublime, and the holy, and yet commit to no labor…
Collaboration happens every day. From playgrounds and classrooms to workplaces and boardrooms, collaboration enables people to achieve shared goals. But collaboration alone won’t transform the systems that are failing youth and families of color and youth and families experiencing poverty. To create lasting change so that communities can thrive, we need to move beyond collaboration…
Communities across the country are grappling with the widening educational equity gap exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Black students, Latine students and students experiencing poverty have been most impacted by inequities in access to the internet and devices needed to continue learning. Research shows that middle and high school students with high-speed internet access at…
Policy is a powerful lever of change. We know that systems were not designed to support the success of Black, Indigenous, Latine and Asian youth and families or youth and families experiencing poverty. When we change policies, we change systems. When we change systems, we open pathways for communities to thrive. Having the right civic…
Partners for Rural Impact earned the Systems Change designation this month for advancing equitable outcomes. Serving the Appalachian counties of Eastern Kentucky where 127,650 children and young people experience poverty, this cradle-to-career network member shows what systems change looks like in a community. Systems Change communities are shifting policies, practices, resources and power structures that…