The annual budgeting process: a necessary evil involving crunching numbers until you go cross-eyed to arrive at an estimated idea of how much money you will raise versus spend throughout the year — and, of course, which you hope your board will approve. For most organizations, developing a budget is a tedious and painstaking process…
At StriveTogether, we’re building civic infrastructure to support every child from cradle to career. That sounds great, but what does it really mean? Infrastructure holds communities together: roads, bridges, an electricity grid. But there are some connections we can’t see. Relationships, collaboration, goal setting and data sharing are part of infrastructure, too. These pieces are…
Ray Charles’ “Hit the Road Jack” begins to play as the StriveTogether Leadership Program seminar concludes. Several participants chuckle as they pack their materials to head home, having discovered that the music over the previous two days was themed given the activity or time of day. For decades, researchers have studied how music affects people’s productivity,…
Lasting community change starts when the voices of the community are heard and community members are at the forefront, developing solutions and making decisions. Across the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network, efforts are growing to work alongside the community. Here are six insights from work in Baltimore, Md.; Redmond, Ore.; and San Antonio, Texas: First,…
The community of Summit County, Ohio, is committed to supporting youth and families to thrive. This commitment is led by Summit Education Initiative (SEI), a member of the Cradle to Career Network that recently reached a new milestone. SEI earned StriveTogether’s Proof Point designation, an advanced stage of progress measured along our guiding framework, the…
John F. Kennedy once said that “the time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining.” We’ve known our roof has leaks — our systems have been designed to produce wicked disparities in American communities for hundreds of years. But now here we are, in the middle of a storm, with no other…
This is an excerpt of a piece published in the Cincinnati Enquirer. Read the full piece here. The COVID-19 crisis demands leadership at its best and women are answering the call in Cincinnati and Ohio. Women everywhere have the opportunity to step up and lead in their neighborhoods and communities. No act of empathy, kindness…
Dear Cradle to Career Network members and supporters, As we navigate uncharted territory, I’m writing to share my support and encouragement. During times of uncertainty, relationships are paramount. We will get through this and we will do it together. Like many of you, I’m adjusting to working remotely, my children are trying to figure out how…
Good ideas start in local communities. Good networks spread those ideas. We’ve seen both happen countless times in StriveTogether communities through our Cradle to Career Network. We call it the Network Effect. In 2014, one member of the Network, Promise Partnership of Salt Lake in Salt Lake City, Utah, successfully made a case to state…
It’s exciting to begin a new decade and a year that brings us closer to our goal to help 24 communities permanently transform how systems serve kids better by 2023. I am energized by the opportunities that exist in this new decade. To tackle these head on, I’m holding three things front and center to…
As a member of StriveTogether’s national network, Thrive Chicago creates collaborative networks of people and data that accelerate program innovation and improve outcomes for youth. By aligning partners around a shared vision, using data to make decisions and coordinating resources, Thrive Chicago is changing systems in the city. Now, this work is being recognized with…
“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…