This guest blog was written by Rebecca Parshall, Ph.D., director of strategy at Learn4Life. In it, Parshall shares research she did during her dissertation, focused on how collective impact can improve education outcomes. Hard questions As we are inundated with study after study describing the pandemic’s devastating impact on learning, it is important to ground…
We are at a pivotal moment in our country and in our work. Thanks to funding available through the American Rescue Plan and more, we have access to resources and the will to not just meet the present moment, but to make significant progress toward addressing racial equity and economic mobility for children and families.…
For hundreds of years, sailors have used the North Star to help navigate. The North Star is the only bright star whose position relative to a rotating Earth does not change. In many ways, the North Star was more instrumental for navigation than their individual daily tasks of washing the deck, measuring water depth and…
It’s great to see so many Americans voting early this election cycle. In the excitement of the presidential election, don’t overlook local and state candidates and issues that can directly impact the future of our children. While StriveTogether is nonpartisan, we have a clear view on the policies that support better and more equitable cradle-to-career…
we work together StriveTogether connects communities across the country, converting local change into national impact. WHERE WE WORK join the movement The Cradle to Career Network unites people who want every child to grow up in an equitable world. People who value collaboration and have the perseverance to pursue change. People who gain wisdom from…
“Boston Opportunity Agenda brings a place to have the conversation. We would not come together as group without them. They are a convener of the possibilities that are out there. They bring us together to look forward, to look beyond where we are, and what we need to do next year. They push us to stretch.” Boston Opportunity…
Equal Measure validates StriveTogether community change framework CINCINNATI, OH — While collective impact is widely regarded as the best approach for large-scale social change, evidence of its effect in communities has been scant until now. StriveTogether, a national network of nearly 70 communities, asked independent evaluator Equal Measure to follow the progress of its network to…
How do you define success? If you’ve been following #SuccessTogether, you’ve heard from young people all over the country sharing their definitions of success. A loving family, a nice home, supporting myself and others. These are some of the goals we’ve heard from the 13.7 million children, 8.6 million of whom are children of color,…
StriveTogether is excited to congratulate Cradle to Career Network member UP Partnership in San Antonio, Texas, for reaching proof point, an important milestone of progress along the StriveTogether Theory of ActionTM. Reaching proof point recognizes communitywide efforts to change systems and improve outcomes for children. UP Partnership has been a leader for systems change in…
Engaging the community is essential to our work at StriveTogether to ensure every child succeeds in school and in life. That’s why community engagement has been a core principle of our approach since the beginning. Cradle to Career Network members have also identified the need to strengthen communication and engagement, which led to this being…
Economic mobility is a term that’s starting to sweep the social sector. I hear it when I attend meetings across the country; I see it in newsletters, RFPs and research briefs. So many smart people are collecting and analyzing data and writing deeply about indicators and strategies for achieving greater upward mobility. I have learned…
Last week, I had the opportunity to join changemakers from across the country at the inaugural Upswell, Independent Sector’s forum for turning ideas into action. At the event, I facilitated two conversations focused on shifting power to communities. During those discussions and throughout the event, I heard examples of the importance of connections and community…