The StriveTogether 2024 Cradle to Career Network Convening began with an inspiring address by president and CEO Jennifer Blatz, who reaffirmed StriveTogether’s ambitious vision: to put 4 million more young people on the path to economic mobility. Speaking to a room of hundreds of dedicated community leaders and partners, Blatz celebrated both the power of collective action and the individual stories of young people shaping the future.
Blatz’s message centered on the profound impact of the Cradle to Career Network’s work: “4 million futures” isn’t just a bold number — it represents the dreams and potential of every child and young adult striving toward economic mobility. She highlighted the dual nature of the work ahead: from a national movement, transforming systems on a broad scale, to the deeply personal stories of individual children ready to take on their futures.
Building Toward a Shared Vision of Opportunity
Blatz celebrated the power of naming specific goals — or “knowing your number” — for each community as a step toward achieving the collective vision. Communities like Denver, Tulsa and San Antonio have already taken action:
- Rocky Mountain Partnership in Adams County, Colorado, has committed to putting 71,000 more young people on the path to success, galvanizing local partners to hold shared accountability for this goal.
- ImpactTulsa is working to create 100,000 opportunities for youth, driven by their Child Equity Index, a tool guiding decisions using data at the neighborhood level.
- UP Partnership in San Antonio set a target of 100,000, focusing on personalized student support through their Future Ready Plan, connecting students to a broad network of partners and services.
The ripple effect of these local actions is critical to the Network’s larger vision. Blatz reminded attendees that their work fuels StriveTogether’s mission, not only transforming individual lives but entire communities. As she put it, “When [young people] succeed, our communities succeed.”
National Impact Begins With Local Leadership
Blatz stressed the importance of local solutions in a time of national uncertainty. StriveTogether’s strength lies in the communities that form the Cradle to Career Network — communities modeling the power of adaptive leadership to navigate through complexity. The Network’s ability to innovate in response to crises, like the pandemic, has demonstrated its resilience and commitment to driving impact, no matter the challenges ahead.
Blatz also highlighted how StriveTogether’s efforts are gaining national and international attention. In January, Blatz accepted a prestigious social innovation award on behalf of the Cradle to Career Network at the World Economic Forum. Over the summer, StriveTogether leaders participated in a White House summit on place-based economic development. This recognition signals that the cradle-to-career approach is becoming a model for transformative change on a global scale.
Strengthening the Cradle to Career Network for the Future
As Blatz looked ahead, she emphasized that the achievements of the past year will continue to drive StriveTogether’s work forward. One of the most powerful forces behind this progress is the ”Network Effect” — the way communities across the country share their learnings and best practices to accelerate outcomes for young people. This spirit of collaboration has already sparked major innovations, like the expansion of Civic Influencers, a youth-led strategy that began in Colorado and is now being adopted in communities across the Network, amplifying the voices of young people in decision making.
Blatz also highlighted new policy partnerships that are shaping the future of this work. StriveTogether’s collaboration with The EdRedesign Lab at Harvard Graduate School of Education has launched a Policy Implementation Community of Practice, where public system leaders from six states come together to share strategies for effective policy execution. This kind of knowledge-sharing is essential for unlocking lasting change at all levels of government.
Perhaps one of the most promising signs of success is the growing public sector adoption of civic infrastructure. Blatz pointed to the recent passage of the ENOUGH Act in Maryland as a monumental win. The legislation, modeled after similar work in other StriveTogether communities, secured $20 million in its first year to strengthen civic infrastructure and improve outcomes for young people.
These accomplishments are not only a testament to the work being done in communities across the country but also a sign that the cradle-to-career movement is gaining momentum on a larger stage. As Blatz closed her remarks, she left attendees with a powerful reminder: “Your local solutions are the fuel for our national impact.” By knowing their number and aligning their efforts, the Cradle to Career Network is strengthening the foundation they’ve built over the last 15 years. The vision of 4 million more young people on the path to economic mobility is not only achievable but within reach.
The next chapter of this journey will continue to be one of audacious ambition, deep collaboration and unwavering commitment to a shared future where every young person has the opportunity to succeed. Together, we will make it possible.
