Last week, the entire KConnect team traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, for the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Convening. This annual gathering is one of the largest national convenings of leaders dedicated to systemic change by transforming education, economic mobility, and community well-being. For KConnect, it was an opportunity not only to share our work on the national stage but also to listen, learn, and connect with peers from across the country who are equally committed to creating a future where every child and family can thrive.
Sharing Our Voice on a National Platform
KConnect was honored to present three distinct sessions that highlighted both our organizational expertise and our collective approach to change.
- “Say It So They Hear It: Communications for Cross-Sector Systems Change” was led by Katie Adrianse and Salvador López, who shared strategies for tailoring communications so that diverse audiences, including policymakers, community members, funders, and private sector partners, can hear and act on the same message.
- “Reimagining Governance and Leadership for Systems Change” was co-presented by Lauren Conrad and Mark Woltman, alongside our partners from Baltimore’s Promise. Together, they introduced tools to shift mindsets from traditional nonprofit governance to the adaptive challenges of collective impact while identifying “superpowers” to influence and reimagine systems.
- “People, Policy, Progress: Activating Communities for Lasting Change” was presented by Dr. Shayla Young and Maegan Frierson. This session spotlighted how KConnect integrates lived experience into policy advocacy and system design, centering people as decision-makers rather than beneficiaries.
Each presentation reflected KConnect’s commitment to equipping partners with practical tools and frameworks that can move systems from intention to measurable impact. You can find all of the slide decks and worksheets for these three sessions by clicking the button below:
Learning From System Leaders Across the Nation
Beyond the sessions we led, the convening was an invaluable space for networking and learning. The KConnect team met with system leaders from rural, suburban, and urban communities across the United States. We returned to Kent County with a collection of tools and best practices that will inform our local work. These lessons reinforce that while each community is unique, we are part of a national movement working toward shared outcomes.
Back in Kent County, our team is already discussing how to adapt the strategies we encountered in Atlanta into our own initiatives. From strengthening our policy and advocacy work to refining how we communicate progress, each takeaway will be tested and applied in ways that align with our mission and vision.
Looking Ahead
Attending the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Convening is more than a professional milestone for KConnect; it is a reaffirmation of why we do this work. Systems change is complex, often slow, and sometimes messy. However, when we gather with others who are equally committed to bold, transformative solutions, we are reminded that systemic change is possible.
The KConnect team left Atlanta energized, connected, and equipped with new tools to help advance equity and opportunity here at home. We are grateful for the chance to share our story, to learn from others, and to carry forward a vision where every child and family has the opportunity and support to thrive, no matter their starting point.
