EdRedesign

Huge thank you to everyone who joined us today for the virtual premiere of DREAM ON’s newest episode – spotlighting the transformation of Spartanburg, SC’s Northside neighborhood. 🎉

We’re especially grateful to our panelists for sharing their time, insights, and leadership during the live Q&A:

Jennifer Blatz, President & CEO, StriveTogether
Dr. Russell Booker, CEO, Spartanburg Academic Movement
Carol Naughton, CEO, Purpose Built Communities
David Summers, CEO, Spartanburg Northside Development Group
Moderated by Rob Watson, Executive Director, EdRedesign

👍 Like the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0oKsRcRTPQ&t=1s
💬 Comment with your reflections or key takeaways
🔁 Share with your network
▶️ Subscribe to the DREAM ON channel, to catch future stories of communities driving change

Thank you for being part of this work and helping us spread what’s possible when communities dream — and act — together. 💫

This Japanese Philosophy Saved an American Neighborhood Violent crime dropped 77% while 3rd-grade reading scores jumped 40 ...

One more day to go! 🎊

Join us tomorrow for the virtual premiere of DREAM ON’s newest episode – spotlighting the transformation of Spartanburg, SC’s Northside neighborhood.

This powerful story shows how a cross-sector coalition of residents, local government, school district leaders, a StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network member, and a Purpose Built Communities backbone organization helped:

🚓 Cut violent crime by 77%
📕 Raise 3rd-grade reading proficiency from 6% to 48%
🏘️ Build hundreds of units of new housing
🏫 Open a brand-new community center
🎒 Launch a state-of-the-art early learning center

📅 Tomorrow – Tuesday, June 2, 2026
🕛 10:00 – 11:00 AM ET
💻 Virtual | Zoom Webinar

You’ll be among the first to see the new episode and hear directly from leaders during a live Q&A moderated by Rob Watson (Executive Director, EdRedesign) with:

Jennifer Blatz, President & CEO, StriveTogether
Dr. Russell Booker, CEO, Spartanburg Academic Movement
Carol Naughton, CEO, Purpose Built Communities
David Summers, CEO, Spartanburg Northside Development Group

There’s still time to join — this event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

👉 Register now and log in at 10:00 AM ET: https://lnkd.in/dzEhBd57

youtube.com/shorts/D-eNc0w-pok?si=1_Pfp7c7dC15Sn0G

The dream on song of the week Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Honored to see our colleague Denisse Arias of EdRedesign join KConnect’s Accountability Partners Council (APC) 2026 as a panelist on Cradle-to-Career Success in Kent County.

On the “Centering Prenatal to Career” panel, Denisse lifted up what it really takes to ensure that every child—regardless of race, zip code, or circumstance—has a clear path to a thriving career, including:

📌 Building ecosystems that braid together education, health, housing, and economic opportunity
📌 Using data alongside community voice to design supports that reflect families’ real experiences
📌 Aligning local innovation with state and national learning, so promising models become sustainable, equitable systems at scale

The panel also discussed KConnect’s work in the context of broader economic mobility efforts like Billi by 35 (Billion by 2035)—an ambitious vision for a Kent County where entrepreneurship and wealth-building are accessible and navigable for all.

We’re inspired by how KConnect’s APC brings 200+ organizations together to learn, align, and refine shared priorities for 2026–2027, turning ideas into actionable plans with measurable outcomes for children and families.

Harvard Graduate School of Education
Harvard University

Photo credit: Two A’s and a Pod Productions

We are delighted to announce that Dr. Russell Booker, CEO of Spartanburg Academic Movement and former Superintendent, has been appointed a Joint Senior Fellow with EdRedesign and the Initiative on Superintendent as Civic Leader (ISCL) at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

From July 2026–June 2028, Dr. Booker will work with the Harvard community to deepen understanding of how superintendents can lead as civic leaders—aligning schools, community partners, and public systems to support children and families from cradle to career. Building on his experience in Spartanburg, where cross-sector collaboration has advanced educational outcomes and economic mobility, Dr. Booker’s fellowship will help inform practice, policy, and public understanding of superintendent civic leadership in communities nationwide.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Booker to this new role!

🔗 Read the press release: https://edredesign.org/news/dr-russell-booker-appointed-joint-senior-fellow-harvard-graduate-school-education-initiatives