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Last week, our Cradle to Career (C2C) team traveled to Salt Lake City for the annual StriveTogether convening, bringing with them two Leadership Table members to deepen their understanding of our impactful work.

C2C Program Director Amber Schlak’s Empowered Teaching initiative, developed in partnership with StriveTogether, has catapulted our community to the top-performing position nationwide. This groundbreaking work has caught the attention of both StriveTogether and United Way Worldwide, who now recognize it as a model for other communities striving to enhance their educational systems.

At the convening, Amber presented her innovative approach to a packed audience. Her breakout session drew nearly every national investor and executive director/CEO from outside the StriveTogether network to learn more about her transformative work.

Amber’s presentation highlighted the collaborative efforts behind the Empowered Teaching initiative. She was joined by two consultants who play crucial roles in helping C2C scale and expand support to teachers through her site-based, long-term professional development framework.

Back home, C2C continues to make strides in connecting education and industry. On October 1st, the partnership hosted a school site visit as part of the “Bridging the Path Ahead” series. This initiative brings together business leaders and educators to explore ways of creating a robust workforce pipeline from early childhood to career, tailored to meet the needs of Tucson businesses.

During the visit, small groups of district leadership and business representatives observed firsthand how workforce development skills are taught in classrooms. These observations provide valuable insights into how we can better align educational practices with industry needs. The next Bridging the Path Ahead session is scheduled for October 16th!

The success at the StriveTogether convening and the ongoing local initiatives underscore C2C’s commitment to innovative, collaborative approaches in education and workforce development. Stay tuned for more updates on how these efforts are shaping the future of our community!