In an ever-evolving landscape, KConnect has brought together diverse stakeholders, fostering collaboration to achieve the common goal of assuring economic prosperity for all in Kent County. When we were launched in 2013, we had a strategic document referred to as the Common Agenda and Roadmap. This document served as a shared vision and path forward; however, after more than a decade, we decided to update it as we laid out our vision for the next five years.
A Common Agenda and Roadmap is a specific phrase used by Collective Impact organizations that refers to a written guide laying out frameworks for collaborative efforts to address complex social issues. It is crucial for aligning cross-sector partners towards a shared vision and common goals. It provides a coordinated approach to creating meaningful change in our community, guiding the collaborative efforts of diverse stakeholders to a more equitable future.
Common Agenda 2.0 signifies a new, shared understanding among Network members about the disparities at hand, the desired outcomes, and strategies to achieve them. It will guide KConnect through the next five years as it leads to a significant and sustainable impact in Kent County.
Within Common Agenda 2.0, you will find six high-leverage activities. High-leverage activities are strategic actions that create significant positive outcomes and drive meaningful change in addressing complex social challenges. These activities focus on maximizing impact by leveraging the collective efforts and resources of KConnect’s cross-sector stakeholders. They were created with community input based on surveys and listening sessions led by Deanna Rolffs (L3 Consulting). We believe these six activities will change the landscape of Kent
County and create a just community.
ONE: Launch innovative system-level strategies that eliminate racialized disparities from prenatal to career.
KConnect started its work ten years ago with Core Workgroups (Prenatal to Third Grade, 4th-12th Grade, and High School to Career) that laid the foundation of the KConnect Workplan and launched the Network’s first strategies. KConnect will now move the Core Workgroups into an advisory position while resources are turned toward Align and Design Teams in order to move the work from Design to Action.
KConnect has committed to having 20 Align and Design Teams launched in 2024 and 100 strategies to address disparities across the prenatal to career continuum by 2030.
Learn more about our Align and Design Teams
TWO: Develop a shared policy agenda, and operationalize advocacy that dissolves inequities in our community.
Policies are foundational to our society; they determine resource allocation, access, and, ultimately, where the power lies. Crafting policies prioritizing equity and justice is required for dismantling systemic barriers that uphold (perpetuate) disparities and division.
This has been at the core of our work since the beginning. The original KConnect steering committee members wrote, “The goal of the policy and advocacy workgroups is to educate and advocate for policies, resources, and practices that can strengthen the political will to pass, implement, and sustain effective long-term solutions that are aligned to the goals of the Initiative.”
Explore our Shared Policy Agenda
THREE: Ensure that community voice is embedded throughout KConnect’s structure.
Elevating community voice is essential to creating inclusive, system-level strategies that address disparities for historically marginalized populations in Kent County. The key to successfully incorporating community voices is not just representation but purposefully creating a culture of collaboration, mutual respect, and shared decision-making that crosses all organizational processes and operations.
Explore our Compensation Framework for Youth and Adults
FOUR: Empower the Backbone to have decision-making authority.
KConnect will empower the Backbone Team to make tactical decisions and execute the day-to-day operations in alignment with the strategic framework affirmed by the APC. This division of responsibilities allows the Backbone to utilize their specialized skills and deep understanding of community needs to drive the organization’s strategies forward.
FIVE: Ensure sustainability by diversifying funding.
KConnect plans to engage with national funders, seeking their support to enable the growth and implementation of strategies from the Align and Design Teams. This approach allows for greater financial sustainability and opens the doors to wider audiences, enabling the organization to extend its reach to a larger scale.
KConnect aims to bring in $5 million dollars of national funding to support Align and Design Team strategies by 2030.
SIX: Increase and better leverage private sector partnerships.
KConnect is working to increase private sector engagement by emphasizing the value and benefits of collaboration between the sectors. The KConnect Network will comprise 10% of private sector partners by 2030.
