On Thursday, May 16, 2026, KConnect welcomed Network members and community, state, and national partners for our annual Accountability Partners Council (APC) Convening.
Throughout the day, participants explored progress across KConnect’s cradle-to-career continuum and engaged in meaningful dialogue around emerging priorities. They helped shape the future of initiatives aimed at improving outcomes for children, families, and communities in Kent County.
Success Requires Looking Beyond the Single System
KConnect’s work is grounded in the understanding that outcomes do not exist in isolation. For example, while schools play a critical role in a child’s development, they represent only a fraction of the factors that influence long-term success.
From early childhood and K-12 education to postsecondary completion, career success, and family stability, it became clear that a complex ecosystem shapes outcomes. Only 20% of a child’s day is spent at school, meaning the other 80% of their development, experiences, and challenges happen elsewhere, which is where KConnect’s work meets them. Food insecurity, housing stability, healthcare access, mental health, community safety, and economic opportunity all influence a child’s ability to thrive.
This reality reinforces the importance of collective action. No single organization, sector, or institution can solve these challenges alone. Progress depends on the ability of partners across systems to work together toward shared goals.
Centering Community Voice and Equity
One of the strongest messages throughout the day was the importance of designing systems with, not for, the people they serve.
Both Cradle-to-Career Panelists (Bridget Jancarz, Vice President of Network Impact at StriveTogether, and Denisse Arias, inaugural Director for Cradle-to-Career Leadership and Learning from the EdRedesign Lab at Harvard Graduate School of Education) emphasized that race, income, and geography should not determine a child’s opportunities or future trajectory. Success means creating conditions where all children can pursue their goals and dreams, regardless of background.
They also highlighted the importance of lived experience. Whether discussing education, workforce development, or public policy, Bridget and Denisse repeatedly pointed to the value of including those closest to the experience in decision-making processes.
Policy Matters Because Systems Matter
KConnect’s Policy and Advocacy efforts continue to focus on raising awareness, strengthening partnerships, and advancing solutions aligned with the Network’s shared goals. This year’s priority areas include K-12 education, quality and affordable housing, and the health and safety of children and families.
Policy and Advocacy Workgroup members Dan Behm (Executive Director, Education Advocates of West Michigan) and Jayme Vosovic (Community Engagement Director, Michigan League for Public Policy) shared recent updates to KConnect’s Shared Policy Agenda, including a high priority for education funding.
Math Readiness is Workforce Readiness
The connection between math achievement and economic opportunity was another priority topic highlighted during APC. As employers across West Michigan continue to face workforce shortages in high-demand industries, strong math skills have become increasingly important. Beyond technical knowledge, mathematics helps students develop critical thinking, problem-solving, data analysis, and decision-making skills that are essential across sectors.
The discussion challenged participants to think about math not simply as an education issue, but as a workforce and economic development issue.
Advocating for Out-of-School Time
The convening also highlighted the critical role out-of-school time programs play for children, families, and communities. Through a partnership with the Michigan Health Endowment Fund and the Detroit Urban Research Center, KConnect has been working to strengthen its advocacy capacity around out-of-school time funding.
Attendees heard from Parent Engagement Consultant Shanequa Mosley, who illustrated the impact these programs can have on young people and families. Beyond providing safe and engaging environments, after-school and summer programs support working parents, strengthen academic and social development, and create opportunities that many children would otherwise miss.
As advocacy efforts continue, partners remain focused on protecting and expanding investments that ensure more young people can access high-quality out-of-school learning opportunities. More about KConnect’s OST efforts can be found here.
Advancing Economic Mobility Through Billi by 35
The convening concluded with the introduction of Billi by 35, an initiative to generate $1 billion in new revenue for historically underrepresented businesses in Kent County by 2035.
Rooted in KConnect’s Thriving Family Income Success Measure and developed by the Business Ownership Align & Design team, Billi by 35 recognizes that economic mobility and business ownership are critical components of community well-being. By making entrepreneurship more accessible, easier to navigate, and more achievable, the initiative aims to support wealth creation, job growth, and a stronger local economy.
Through KConnect’s Voting Protocol, participants engaged in discussions and provided feedback on the initiative’s direction and implementation. The process is designed to ensure transparency, encourage honest dialogue, and build shared ownership of community solutions.
Following discussion and voting, participants affirmed the strategy and supported moving forward with continued refinements, a priority that will continue to be adjusted and facilitated by the Business Ownership Align & Design team.
Moving Forward Together
APC reinforced a principle that has guided KConnect’s work for years: lasting change happens when communities align around shared goals and collective action.
Whether the conversation focused on early childhood, educational achievement, workforce readiness, postsecondary success, or economic opportunity, the message remained consistent. Progress depends on collaboration across sectors, informed by data, shaped by community voice, and sustained through shared accountability.
Thank you to every partner who joined us, shared insights, asked challenging questions, and contributed to the conversation. Together, we are building a stronger future for children, families, and communities across Kent County.
The APC slide deck and resources are available here. View the recap video below.