We launched our first Theory of Action™ in 2013 to provide communities with a road map for changing systems to improve outcomes for all youth and families. This framework for change is rooted in how the work happens in communities across the Cradle to Career Network. The Theory of Action™ guides cradle-to-career partnerships through essential steps toward transforming systems so that every Black, Indigenous, Latine and Asian youth and family and those experiencing poverty have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential, cradle to career.
Getting clearer on what it takes to drive equitable outcomes is key as we support a network of communities committed to putting four million more young people on a path to economic mobility by 2030. To that end, StriveTogether works with network members to continually revise the Theory of Action™. Together, we use learnings from work on the ground to further refine this road map for change. Here are three insights behind the revisions to our newest iteration. 
Insight #1: Transforming systems requires an adaptive approach.
The dynamic nature of community challenges and changing local contexts highlighted the need for adaptive approaches to systems change work. Network members stressed that strategies that drive equitable outcomes must be flexible, able to pivot based on emerging needs and stakeholder feedback. The latest Theory of Action™ embraces this insight by focusing on results over the processes it takes to achieve them. This iterative approach allows partnerships to adjust strategies in real-time, enhancing responsiveness and agility in achieving their shared community vision for change.
Insight #2: Four core principles underscore all systems change work.
The Theory of Action™ now includes four core principles that are present within all of the progressive milestones that led to Systems Transformation. By clearly delineating these principles, we ensure that the collaborative action happening in Cradle to Career Network communities is guided by the values the Network has identified as crucial in advancing systems change work. These principles are: racial and economic equity, community engagement and local context, outcomes-focused systems approach, and public sector adoption. Here’s how we’ve defined them: 
- Racial and economic equity: When a community commits to creating more equitable systems, Black, Indigenous, Latine and Asian youth and families and those experiencing poverty have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential, cradle to career. Partnerships prioritize equity in every aspect of their work — including how they work — by identifying and addressing systemic inequities and opportunity gaps to achieve equitable outcomes.
- Community engagement and local context: Including those most impacted by inequitable systems and accounting for unique community strengths is essential for necessary changes to occur. Partnerships engage a broad array of community voices through building awareness and information sharing; involving and mobilizing the community toward improvement; and co-developing solutions and strategies with community members.
- Outcomes-focused systems approach: A systems approach seeks to change the community conditions that inhibit equitable cradle-to-career outcomes and economic mobility. By shifting policies, practices, resources and power structures, partnerships create the conditions where all children and youth can thrive.
- Public sector adoption: Public sector adoption emphasizes the active involvement and commitment of public entities in the planning, implementation and support of partnership efforts. It involves leveraging public resources and policies to address community challenges and acknowledges the unique capacity the public sector plays in transforming systems.
Insight #3: The main difference between Systems Change and Systems Transformation is scope.
One of the pivotal learnings since our last revision process was the need for additional clarity around the distinction between our Systems Change and Systems Transformation Gateways. Through engagement with network members, we arrived at a more precise understanding, basing our distinctions on outcomes and scope. Systems Change, as we now define it, is primarily focused on achieving scale and impact within institutions, such as a successful classroom pilot around early reading improvement that has been expanded to include multiple classrooms. Systems Transformation focuses on the spread and institutionalization of successful practices. In the previous example, that might look like an early reading pilot that expanded from one school to an entire school district or multiple districts and which has been embedded into district policy, resource, or practice improvements. This allowed us to simplify the benchmarks in the Systems Transformation Gateway, and more clearly define what it looks like when a community has reached this goal.
The Cradle to Career Network is poised to catalyze transformational change that paves the way for brighter futures. Their work on the ground will continue driving deep learning that leads to better, faster and more equitable outcomes for all. Learn more about our plan to put four million more young people on a path to economic mobility, here.
