Danbury, Connecticut (October 28, 2024) —The Danbury Collective is proud to announce its new membership in the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network, a national initiative dedicated to ensuring the success of every child from cradle to career, regardless of race, ethnicity, zip code, or circumstance. Danbury is now one of 70 communities across the country partnering with StriveTogether to put more young people on a path to economic mobility. Launched in 2023, the Danbury Collective now stands alongside Connecticut’s leading cradle to career partnerships, including Bridgeport Prospers, Norwalk ACTS, Stamford Cradle to Career, and Waterbury Bridge to Success, as a part of a movement committed to using data and community leadership to drive impactful outcomes for young people.
Melissa Hannequin, Executive Director of Danbury Collective, expressed her excitement about joining the network: “I am thrilled to join the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network. Being part of this community widens our opportunity to learn from similar organizations across the country and allows us to amplify the work we are doing in Danbury to a national audience. I am excited to partner with our peers in the network, all in support of creating brighter futures for our young people in Danbury and across the country.”
Danbury Collective started last year when community members came together with a shared mission: to support the success of every child, cradle to career. Over 50 cross-sector partners now collaborate in this work, including Danbury parents and community members, local nonprofits, school district leaders, early childhood educators, and government officials.
“We are excited to welcome Danbury Collective into the StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network,” said Bridget Jancarz, StriveTogether’s vice president of network impact. “They can join a movement of communities that are proving that we can get transformative results when we unite around a common vision and use data effectively. Danbury’s commitment to collective work and community leadership are key elements to creating more opportunity for young people.”
The Danbury Collective’s entrance into the network marks a significant milestone in its early growth, providing the partnership with access to a national community of practice focused on improving educational opportunities for all children. The network emphasizes collaboration, data-driven strategies, and shared learning among its members to address systemic barriers and achieve equitable outcomes.
To join the Network, Danbury Collective met a rigorous set of benchmarks along the StriveTogether Theory of Action™. The Theory of Action is a proven, nationally recognized framework that guides communities in creating lasting change for kids and families. The process builds on more than a decade of experience from organizations across the country. Danbury Collective will tap into the connections, insights, and resources of this national movement to power its work in Danbury and contribute to nationwide impact.
Over the past year, the Danbury Collective has convened dozens of community stakeholders through community events, Working Groups, and parent and youth focus groups to identify solutions to challenges related to chronic absenteeism and learner engagement, early childhood education, and youth mental health. The group is doing a communication campaign around the importance of regular school attendance, recently publishing a community trainer toolkit and family brochure to share resources with families. Last month, Danbury Collective alongside partner members in the Connecticut Cradle to Career Coalition co-hosted a youth panel with CT Secretary of the State Stephanie Thomas on the importance of youth voice, which featured a Danbury High School student. The Collective will host its next community-wide convening on December 4th, at 5:30-7:30 pm. For more information about the Danbury Collective and its collaborative efforts to improve educational outcomes, visit https://www.unitedwaycwc.org/danburycollective.