A shared commitment to economic mobility and local leadership brought StriveTogether and The BlackRock Foundation together and resulted in $10 million in investments that are transforming communities across the country. At StriveTogether, we have learned that transforming systems takes more than the right program or policy. It takes people working together over time, building trust, staying aligned and committing to a shared vision. For almost 15 years, our Cradle to Career Network has worked across communities to build civic infrastructure, transform systems and improve outcomes. I know what it takes to create lasting change: clear goals, shared accountability, aligned resources and a commitment to results.
From Shared Priorities to Strategic Partnership
This shared focus laid the foundation for a deeper connection. Last spring, through an introduction to The BlackRock Foundation from Dr. Russell Booker, board chair of StriveTogether and CEO of Spartanburg Academic Movement, I met with The BlackRock team to better understand their goals. We quickly identified some shared priorities and shared geographic focus areas. We began with a detailed analysis using data from our Civic Infrastructure Assessment to identify areas of geographic overlap and network members prioritizing work in postsecondary pathways. This assessment, building on our understanding of local leadership, data capacity, and cross-sector alignment, allowed me to identify network members who were well-positioned to scale their efforts. Our team synthesized information on cradle-to-career outcomes, highlighted relevant strategies and shared insights on emerging innovations across our network.
Rooted in a strong analytical foundation, StriveTogether’s partnership with the BlackRock Foundation took shape to advance a shared vision for economic mobility through place-based partnerships. Through connections with leaders across the Cradle to Career Network, BlackRock invested more than $10 million to strengthen postsecondary success, workforce readiness, and financial stability in communities nationwide. This investment has also bolstered StriveTogether’s national infrastructure, providing the tools and support needed to scale what works. Across the network, communities are building and expanding pathways that support upward mobility—ranging from career-connected learning and postsecondary advising to industry-aligned credentialing and wraparound supports—helping more young people and families access meaningful opportunities for long-term success.
For example, in Dayton, Ohio, I’ve seen Learn to Earn Dayton expand its PACCE program, connecting students to pathways that align with their interests and the region’s fastest-growing industries. In Dallas County, Texas, I’ve watched The Commit Partnership increase access to financial literacy and college advising for more than 31,000 students. In Spartanburg County, South Carolina, Spartanburg Academic Movement is extending its cradle-to-career work into neighboring Union County, reaching 5,500 families.
Aligning National Strategy with Local Leadership
Each of these efforts represents the power of place-based innovation. They are designed to improve long-term outcomes and ensure more individuals are on track to earn a living wage and achieve economic mobility. They are rooted in local priorities, supported by data, and led by cross-sector teams focused on results.
While investments in individual communities were critical, an equally important piece of this partnership was the support for national infrastructure. The $500,000 grant to StriveTogether provided resources to scale technical assistance, deepen data and policy capacity and strengthen collaborations with other national organizations.
This partnership shows what is possible when investment aligns with strategy, when national foundations support local leadership, and when data guide decision-making. Across the country, StriveTogether communities are demonstrating what works to improve lives and open doors. With continued collaboration, I believe we can scale that progress and bring it to more places.
This shared commitment with The BlackRock Foundation is part of a broader strategy to align national resources with local systems change. It reflects our commitment to building the conditions for cradle-to-career success and advancing economic mobility at scale.
Throughout this collaboration, I’ve worked to ensure StriveTogether has served as a bridge between national vision and local expertise. We helped translate The BlackRock Foundation’s goals into targeted investments, illuminated the strategies already making a difference, and worked alongside network members and partners to ensure implementation was grounded in local context. It’s this kind of alignment, between national scale and local leadership, that creates lasting change.
