
StriveTogether
Model & Strategy
StriveTogether works with communities to improve education outcomes by helping them aggregate, analyze and utilize data more effectively and by helping community actors operate in a collaborative way. Education in the U.S. is program rich, but system poor – despite the massive amount of resources spent on disjointed education efforts, communities have yet to achieve desired student outcomes, nor have we witnessed systemic, sustainable change within the education system. StriveTogether’s proven expertise, effective resources and nationally recognized collective impact approach enables communities to create local education ecosystems to support children and youth from cradle to career.
Built on lessons in 53 communities, StriveTogether’s Theory of Action helps local partnerships build and sustain civic infrastructure by engaging the community, eliminating disparities, focusing on continuous improvement and aligning existing resources. StriveTogether helps communities unite stakeholders around shared goals, measures and results in education. StriveTogether supports these communities through network activities, tools and strategic assistance aligned with a nationally-recognized Theory of Action. Network outcomes include kindergarten readiness, early grade reading, middle grade math, high school graduation, postsecondary enrollment and attainment.



Until 2017, Jeff Edmondson led StriveTogether and was the founding executive director of the StrivePartnership. Jeff now serves as Executive Director of Community Mobilization at Ballmer Group. Prior to founding StriveTogether, Edmondson was the founding executive director of the StrivePartnership in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, a partnership of postsecondary, K-12, business, philanthropic, non-profit, and civic organizations aimed at increasing education outcomes for students throughout the region. StrivePartnership is one of the most notable collective impact initiatives and Edmondson has drawn on the work of the Partnership to develop StriveTogether and the national Cradle to Career Network.
Jennifer Blatz serves as president and CEO for StriveTogether, where she oversees the organization’s operations and strategy for accelerating the progress of cradle-to-career partnerships to change systems and improve educational outcomes. Prior to her work with StriveTogether, Jennifer worked closely with StriveTogether Founder Jeff Edmondson to launch StrivePartnership, a cross-sector, cradle-to-career partnership serving Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky and one of the most notable collective impact initiatives in the country.
IMPACT
StriveTogether’s “Cradle to Career” Network includes nearly 70 cross-sector partnerships working to create more equitable systems and attain better outcomes for every child. The Network impacts more than 13 million children, including more than 9 million children of color across 30 states.
Each network community is progressing through a continuum of gateways as they build and sustain civic infrastructure, known as StriveTogether’s Theory of Action. Today, 11 Network members are in the “Emerging” gateway, 42 are in the “Sustaining” gateway and 15 are in the “Proof Point” gateway.
StriveTogether is entering into year one of a new strategic plan in which network members are working toward an ambitious five-year goal to accelerate the progress of at least 24 communities to reach a new, elevated Systems Transformation gateway in which they demonstrate evidence of outcomes improving, disparities closing, and a deeper level of engagement with adjacent sectors such as housing, health, transportation, and human services to transform systems.
StriveTogether News
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Great op-ed co-written by Cradle to Career Network member @BMoresPromise on sharing philanthropy power with grantee… https://t.co/G803RUDEaI
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We're excited to join @IndSector and connect with others working to accelerate equitable outcomes for kids. Learn m… https://t.co/tVADGiA9uo
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The Together for Students project with Cradle to Career Network member @ThriveChi counters the prevailing narrative… https://t.co/G8X2nTzsme
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Happy #TeacherAppreciationWeek to all the educators across the country making a difference in the lives of our chil… https://t.co/jZ7BLGPtj0
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Are you passionate about using data to supporting equitable outcomes for all youth? You might be interested in appl… https://t.co/rU7Pzw6HDd
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From @urbaninstitute’s Boosting Upward Mobility Initiative: How can policymakers and practitioners dismantle struct… https://t.co/NbwjHfn4Yy
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RT @edstrategygroup: A huge thank you to our friends at @chiefsforchange and @StriveTogether for co-hosting today's conversation. Make sure…
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RT @edstrategygroup: We are just about out of time for today; thank you all for an amazing conversation and for sharing your ideas! We st…
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RT @edstrategygroup: A6: We think @SonjaSantelises said it best when she says we need "to take engagement seriously" and hear from students…
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RT @edstrategygroup: Q6: How can educational leaders engage students and draw on their input when determining spending priorities for feder…
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Collective Impact models for place-based work also bring together government, education, and the nonprofit sector i… https://t.co/hPHae93dSI
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RT @NAFCareerAcads: A5: Support your local @NAFCareerAcads advisory boards! These boards consist of local employers, & business/community l…
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Outcomes Investing models like this recent effort with @seedingsuccess1 can produce results while minimizing risks… https://t.co/8UrsHZSVIt
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RT @edstrategygroup: Q5: What role can community and advocacy organizations play in encouraging districts and states to #InvestForward in p…
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RT @edstrategygroup: A4: State legislators can also play a role in supplementing these efforts with ARP dollars from the the State Fiscal R…
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RT @NAFCareerAcads: A4: States can support their districts’ efforts to #InvestForward by investing in high-quality career pathway programs…
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RT @ERStrategies: @edstrategygroup A4: States can support postsecondary innovation by sponsoring pilots w/ tools to monitor progress, facil…
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RT @CareerWiseUSA: @edstrategygroup States can provide funding to directly support career services + work-based learning courses for studen…
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RT @chiefsforchange: When kids have highly engaging, highly relevant learning experiences and content, they're better prepared and more lik…
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RT @edstrategygroup: Q4: How can states support districts’ efforts to #InvestForward in postsecondary pathways?