Together for Change

Welcome to Together for Together for Change, the podcast where we explore the transformative power of systems change and civic infrastructure. In this episode, we interview Cradle to Career Network members who won the Nancy Zimpher Courage in Leadership Award at our 2024 Cradle to Career Network Convening and learn more about the work that won them this award. Learn more at StriveTogether.org.

Welcome to Together for Together for Change, the podcast where we explore the transformative power of systems change and civic infrastructure.In this episode, we reflect on the Cradle to Career Network's largest in-person gathering to date — the 2023 Cradle to Career Network Convening. We also look back at some of our favorite moments from recent episodes as we close out this season of the podcast.Learn more at StriveTogether.org.

Policy plays a critical role in the work of systems transformation. In this episode, we explore different approaches to policy work and show why it can be effective for achieving results at scale.Featured guests include: Ryan Lugalia-Hollon, Chief Executive Officer of Up Partnership in San Antonio, Texas. Haley Simmons, Chief Public Policy Officer at Seeding Success in Memphis, Tennessee, and Stacy Schweickart, Chief Executive Officer at Learn to Earn Dayton in Dayton, Ohio. Learn more: www.strivetogether.org

Part of the work in transforming systems is understanding how different social systems intersect: education, housing, health, criminal justice, etc. On the flip side, there is a large cross section of social impact organizations who have different but overlapping approaches. In this episode, we'll talk about the role civic infrastructure plays in building collaborative relationships where organizations can work toward a common vision. And, we'll discuss how this approach can transcend international borders to get results. Featured guest is Danya Pastuszek, Co-CEO of Tamarack Institute for Community Engagement.Learn more: www.strivetogether.org

When it comes to solving large problems and creating population-level results, the idea of treating urgent symptoms often seems in conflict with developing a cure. In this episode, we talk about a both/and approach in addressing issues to get “population level results.” And, we finally get consensus on what “population level results” means. Featuring Marian Urquilla, co-founder at the Center for Community Investment. Learn more: www.strivetogether.org

To achieve economic mobility for every child, we must organize systems around youth, not institutions. This is the fundamental shift network communities make as they change the way they work together. To achieve economic mobility for every child, we must organize systems around youth, not institutions. This isn't just a talking point, it's really taking a very different approach to the work of policy and developing relationships within a community.  This episode features Richard Raya, chief strategy officer of Mission Economic Development Agency, the anchor entity of Mission Promise Neighborhood. Richard is also the newest member serving on the board of directors at StriveTogether. Learn more: www.strivetogether.org

When people talk about evidence-based decision making, they're really talking about data. Data can support good decision making about policies, the allocation of resources, and provide a real-time look at how solutions are faring. But how do we make decisions on what to measure? Why does StriveTogether love data so much? And, does the data love us back? This episode features Sarah Rosen Wartell, president of the Urban Institute, and Ashwina Kirpalani-Vasanjee, vice president of insights and analytics at StriveTogether.Learn more: www.strivetogether.org

From schools to systems, we often talk about transformation as if it we were resetting or rebuilding things. But what if we instead approached this work as a rethink? What would this mean for our work in education, in policy, and elsewhere? This episode features Frederick Hess, senior fellow and the Director of Education Policy Studies at the American Enterprise Institute, and one of the keynote speakers at this year's Cradle to Career Network Convening.For more information on the Great School Rethink by Rick Hess, visit this page.Learn more: www.strivetogether.org

Zig Ziglar once said, “If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.” To achieve results, it is necessary to have a clear, measurable, and defined targets. Even though different social impact organizations might have different approaches to the work, it is important to be aligned in vision. For example, how does one define systems transformation and economic mobility? How can it be defined in a way that is scalable and sustainable but also meaningful for those at the center of that work?This episode features Bill Crim, President and CEO of the Promise Partnership/United Way of Salt Lake, and Susan Dawson, President and Executive Director of the E3 Alliance.

The North Star is the only bright star whose position relative to a rotating Earth does not change. For StriveTogether, that North Star is economic mobility and creating equitable pathways for every child to have the best possible opportunity. This involves both transforming systems and delivering outcomes. And, it involves placed-based communities. So what does it mean to get better results?This episode features Jennifer Blatz, President and CEO of Strive Together and Lisandra Gonzales, CEO of Rocky Mountain Partnership.

In our field, we often talk about the importance civic infrastructure, the connection between people, institutions, and systems in a community. We also love to engage in discussions power. But have you ever stopped for a moment to really break down what those words mean or thought about how people outside the Cradle to Career movement engage with those ideas? In this episode, we dive into this deep world of power, civics, and democracy with founder of Citizen University, Eric Liu. Eric is one of the keynote speakers at the 2022 Cradle to Career Network Convening.  

Many organizations are hindered by the very funding mechanisms that make their work possible because they aren't able to move upstream...but there is another way. Outcomes Financing is an innovative way for governments to invest in better results for their communities and only pay for what works. These projects start with a critical community need and local leadership. This episode features Andi Phillips, co-founder and managing partner at Maycomb Capital, and Mark Sturgis, founder and CEO of Seeding Success.  

When we think about the audacious vision of a more equitable world and what it takes to get there, those of us in this sector can often lose sight of an important component of what it means to build something that lasts. Specifically, I'm talking about ourselves. Burnout is something that is all too common in helping roles so today, we're going to focus on the role of resilient leadership in unleashing large-scale social change.  Our guest is Becky Margiotta principal and owner of Billions Institute. Becky is also author of the new forthcoming book,  Impact with Integrity: Repair the World Without Breaking Yourself.  Download the first chapter for free here.

In recent years, attacks against Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in the United States of skyrocketed. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, there have been over 10,300 documented incidents of hate. Today, we're joined by Manjusha P. Kulkarni, Executive Director of AAPI Equity and co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, to learn more about how data is being collected and shared in the movement to stop Asian hate. 

This week, we're speaking with Christian Rhodes, Chief of Staff for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education at the Department of Education, to not only hear about his own personal journey, but to get a better understanding how the government can fulfill its role with nonprofits and intermediaries doing this work. We'll also be talking through some recent developments and what the Cradle to Career field can expect in upcoming years. 

Many of us in this field have used the phrase “holding equity at the center” but what does it mean? What does it look like in practice? Some of you might be imagining a solar system with planets in orbit around the sun. In this case, the sun itself has a gravitational pull that keeps everything on track. Others might be thinking of what it's like to be at the center of things – maybe the main street of a town, or to be the life of the party. In that case, it has more to do with proximity and to be closely involved with what's happening.   Over the next two episodes, we're going to be looking at different sides of what it means to place equity in the center of our framework for change. This week, we're speaking with Denise Forte of Education Trust and Jeff Moore of Independent Sector to hear more about what is happening directly on the ground, on the main street of change so to speak. In the next episode, we'll be hearing from Christian Rhodes, Chief of Staff for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education at the Department of Education.

We often talk about youth in future terms. You've probably heard or use terms like “the next generation” or “future leaders” but the reality is that if we really want to build to last, we need to have those who are inheriting the future involved right now. This isn't just more equitable – it's more effective. True youth engagement is an untapped potential for shifting power and transforming systems  Today, we're going to be speaking with two Lisa Marie Gomez, Senior Director of Collaborative Action at UP Partnership and Olivia Allen, Strategy Director at Children's Funding Project, about what youth engagement can really look like and how it can lead to better use of public resources.  

Today, we're going to speak with a couple that has traveled over 100,000 miles into the heart of America over discover what those stories would be. Jim and Deb Fallows are the writers and researchers behind the Our Towns book, documentary, and series for The Atlantic. We'll also be joined by Bridget Jancarz, chief of staff at StriveTogether.   Together, we'll unpack some of those stories and the lessons that can be learned for changemakers across the country. 

We often hear about the divide between rural and metropolitan areas but today we're going to explore what that really means, the challenges that we face, and why, to really reach systems transformation, we need to face them together. This episode features Tony Pipa, a Senior Fellow of Center for Sustainable Development at the Brookings Institution, and Dream Gentry, the executive director of Partners for Education at Berea College. 

Have you ever noticed that behind every superhero is a good origin story? It's the tale of they got their superpowers and how they made the decision to fight for the good of others. But whether you are talking about one extraordinary person or a team of uncanny strength, the real superpower is the movement that they create. By planting the seeds of justice and hope, they can create real lasting change. Today, we going to explore the origin story of the Cradle to Career national movement and how that is now transforming the lives of millions of families. We'll learn more about how the environment in which this movement was born parallels what we're experiencing today and what lessons we can apply for those seeking to change. We'll hear about some fail forward moments. Most importantly, we'll talk about why this is a moment to truly feel a sense of hope. Today's episode will feature a discussion with Jeff Edmondson, the Executive Director of Community Mobilization at Ballmer Group and the founding executive director of the flagship Strive Partnership whose work became a national model for the concept of “collective impact” in 2010. And, we'll also be joined by Jennifer Blatz, the current president and CEO of StriveTogether.

As we get ready for Season 2, our host Christian Motley  takes a few moments to look back at some of the most impactful conversations from Season 1 while sharing some stories from his own journey as well. Highlights include wisdom shared from Angela Glover Blackwell, Colin Groth, Geoffrey Canada, Jennifer Blatz, Dan Heath, Bernadette Merikle, Toyin Anderson and more.Season 2 is going to be even more exciting as we talk with change makers across the country about building to last.  Subscribe now!

In this final episode of the first season of Together for Change, StriveTogether Executive Vice President talks with Enterprise Community Partners about housing and education. StriveTogether communities are working across housing and education to improve outcomes for young people and families. Hear examples from Memphis, Tennessee and Racine, Wiconsin.

In episode 11, Harlem Children's Zone President Geoffrey Canada joins StriveTogether President and CEO Jennifer Blatz to discuss their life's work, improving outcomes for young people. This work is rooted in place. Canada explains, "You can't think about dealing with problems without understanding place."

In episode 11 of Together for Change, our host Christian Motley talks with community leaders from Rochester, New York, and StriveTogether President and CEO Jennifer Blatz on how parents can lead change in their communities.Jackie Campbell, director of ROC the Future, describes how the Parent Engagement Collaborative Action Network is leading efforts to address inequities for children of color and children living in poverty. One parent leader, Toyin Anderson, explains how parents advocated for the removal of police officers from schools and are ensuring the educational needs of every child are understood and addressed."(Rochester) is really an example of co-development. Parents and young people have to be part of creating the solution," Blatz says. "And that takes time. It takes capacity and it takes intentionality."

In episode nine, we invite PolicyLink President and CEO Michael McAffee and the Equity Research Institute Director Manuel Pastor to share how the new Racial Equity Index arms activists and community members with data to support equitable policies.They explore with host Christian Motley why we need to look at the data to reimagine institutions designed to serve a multiracial society.

In episode eight, host Christian Motley asks community leaders how they're tapping into the knowledge and expertise within their communities to share an equitable recovery. He's joined by StriveTogether Vice President of Equitable Results Parv Santosh-Kumar, Baltimore Promise Senior Director of Data Initiatives Bridget Blount and Community Center for Education Results Executive Director Bernadette Merikle. They touch on timely topics such as the role of youth and parents in advocating for police reforms in schools. They argue that leadership tables need to engage authentically with community members because they have answers to the issues that plague them.

In episode seven of Together for Change, host Christian Motely talks with StriveTogether Vice President Josh Davis, Harlem Children Zone CEO Kwame Owusu-Kessee and Thrive Chicago Interim President Sonya Anderson about a national initiative called Stay Covered Together why public health during the pandemic is critically important in the Black community.

In episode six of Together for Change, StriveTogether's Christian Motley explores how one community applied the Theory of Action to pivot quickly to meet urgent needs of their community at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rocky Mountain Partnership, formerly known as the Rocky Mountain Cradle to Career Partnership, is one of nearly 70 communities that make up the Cradle to Career Network. Together, this network impacted the lives of more than 12 million youth last year including six million children of color.

In episode five of Together for Change, StriveTogether Senior Manager of Policy and Partnership Christian Motley goes "upstream" with StriveTogether President and CEO Jennifer Blatz and Dan Heath. Dan, the author of Upstream: The Quest to Solve Problems Before They Happen, explains why too often we're trapped in a cycle of reaction."If you want the outcome to change, you have to change the system," says Dan. He and Jennifer detail examples of how communities are changing systems by using continuous improvement.Black people are often disproportionately harmed by systems -- often fatally -- which means we cannot shy away from address the roots of systemic racism.

In episode four, author of Courageous Conversations about Race joins host Christian Motely and StriveTogether Executive Vice President Colin Groth. Change starts at home, by learning how to be uncomfortable in conversations about race. Colin shares a personal experience of "cancelling" a family member and receives helpful encouragement from Glenn on the need to engage in conversation. Glenn explains that the only way we can heal as a community is to have courageous conversations with those closest to us and allow people to have the time and space to grow.

In the third episode of Together for Change, Christian Motley hosts a conversation with StriveTogether President and CEO Jennifer Blatz and Opportunity Insights Director of Policy Outreach David Williams. Together they talk about data, race and mobility,specifically how data can help us hold each other accountable as work towards an equitable recovery.David shares data that Opportunity Insights is tracking. Jennifer describes why quantitative and qualitative data is necessary for systems transformation, shifting policies, practices, power and resources.

As the United States grapples with dual pandemics, COVID-19 and racism, StriveTogether explores what we can learn from prior movements and what it will take to forge an equitable recovery for every family. Guests: Conway Collis, president and CEO of GRACE and End Child Poverty California; Angela Glover Blackwell, founder in residence of PolicyLink; and Dolores Huerta, activist and president of the Dolores Huerta Foundation.

In a world where everything has changed, schools, nonprofits, governments need to change the way they do everything to create an equitable recovery for children and their families. We will explore the deep impact of COVID-19 and racial injustice is having on communities of color and the role of courage in creating systems that work for everyone.Guests: Rey Saldaña, president and CEO, Communities in Schools, and Jennifer Blatz, president and CEO, StriveTogether.

Learn about Together for Change from host Christian Motley, senior manager for policy and partnerships at StriveTogether. Christian leads a series of conversations with national and local leaders committed to equitable recovery so communities and families emerge stronger from COVID-19 and the systemic racism that endangers lives and livelihoods for so many in the United States.StriveTogether is a national movement with a clear purpose to help every child succeed in school and in life, cradle to career, regardless of race, ethnicity, zip code or circumstance. Partnering with 70 communities across the country, StriveTogether works to break down barriers, change systems and strengthen what works best in each community with each community.