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 outcomes for every child.
The public health and economic crises that have gripped our nation — impacting the lives of millions and resulting in the disproportionate death of Black and Latinx youth and families — magnifies the underlying fundamental inequities that have plagued people of color and people living in poverty for centuries. The horrific police killings of Black men and women further highlight the racial injustice that is part of the fabric of our country.
Gaping racial and income divides across education, child care, health care, housing and justice systems result in dramatic gaps among racial and ethnic groups in educational attainment, personal income, life expectancy and other wellbeing measures. These longstanding, structural problems can be addressed only in a systemic, holistic, place-based way.
I encourage you to support candidates and ballot initiatives that invest in systemic, place-based work designed to eliminate disparities and improve outcomes for every child, every family. This includes shifting public resources to support local community partnerships and intermediaries that are leading efforts to improve equitable outcomes for young people across the cradle-to-career continuum. We also advocate for investment in federal, state and local capacity to use data to drive improvement in student support and to advance racial equity and economic mobility.
As we vote this year, take a close look at the issues and candidates that will have the greatest impact on youth and families. Consider how ballot initiatives and candidates address equity. Vote like our children’s future depends on it, because it does.
