We at StriveTogether and the Cradle to Career Network know how deeply the places we live in shape the pathways available to young people. With this in mind, we invited Dr. Manuel Pastor — director of the Equity Research Institute at the University of Southern California and a leading voice on the power of place— to join us for a special webinar: “Building Equitable Communities in an Era of Change and Uncertainty.”
This conversation provided a timely perspective on how our communities can reimagine systems over the next four years — and beyond — to create more just, inclusive and prosperous futures for young people. Echoing themes from Dr. Pastor’s keynote at our recent convening, this new discussion dug deeper into the implications of shifting demographics, expanding income gaps and an increasingly divided political landscape.
Dr. Pastor reminded us that our work to increase economic mobility is about more than just policy changes; it’s about building a social movement grounded in mutuality and shared accountability. In particular, he highlighted how changing racial and economic dynamics require us to broaden our sense of interdependence. The future of tech jobs, for example, isn’t limited to software engineers, but also depends on the caregivers and essential workers who support our collective well-being. Meanwhile, he emphasized the importance of accountable follow-through on innovative ideas, as our country’s talent for experimentation must be matched by a commitment to equitable implementation that truly benefits young people.
These insights speak directly to the kind of learning opportunities available in the Training Hub Powered by StriveTogether, where you can deepen your understanding of place-based partnerships and explore courses that build capacity to transform systems from the ground up. Dr. Pastor’s reflections on the power of localism and coalition-building reinforce the value of tangible, community-level solutions.
We invite you to watch the full webinar above and then dive into the Training Hub to gain fresh tools and strategies that bring these ideas to life. Together, we can shape a future that moves from individual success stories toward a shared narrative of collective progress.
