StriveTogether

June has been an exciting month for pathways work — and we want to make sure you have the tools to take it further than this moment.

The Training Hub Powered by StriveTogether now has a learning journey to support you in the work — Purposeful Pathways: From Vision to Action.

Whether you're an intermediary, educator, employer or community leader, this learning journey was made for you. Work through five self-paced courses to explore the Commission on Purposeful Pathways report and supporting action guides:

✅ The vision behind purposeful pathways
✅ High-impact practices for implementation
✅ How to scale, sustain, and measure your work

Plus, join an optional live virtual session to connect with peers and go even deeper.

Ready to turn vision into action? Enroll today and build the knowledge your community needs to help every student find their path.

Link to register is in the comments.

What does it take to close the gap between a high school diploma and a career that pays a living wage?

In Dayton, Ohio, Learn to Earn Dayton — a StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network member and inaugural Pathways Impact Fund grantee — is answering that question with a connected, data-driven system built around every student.

The results speak for themselves. Valley View Local Schools hit a 98.6% graduation rate in 2025. College and career readiness scores have climbed steadily year over year. And students are entering postsecondary education with college credit already earned and a career plan already in hand.

None of that happens by accident. It happens when school districts, employers, postsecondary institutions and community organizations work together around shared data and a shared goal — and when young people have the advising, accelerated coursework and real-world experience to move forward with confidence.

This is what purposeful pathways looks like in practice. Read the full story to learn how Learn to Earn Dayton is building them. https://hubs.li/Q04lq1240

Have you ever left a meeting where great ideas were shared — but nothing actually moved forward? You're not alone.

The Training Hub Powered by StriveTogether's mini course, Building Facilitation Skills for Collaborative Action, is designed to give you those skills. You'll dive into the foundations of Results Based Facilitation — a proven approach to helping groups make collaborative decisions that drive real progress.

Led by facilitator Nicole Johnson, this course walks you through the foundational skills of Results Based Facilitation — so you can lead conversations that actually produce results.

Registration closes June 24. Spots are limited, so don't wait — enroll today: https://hubs.li/Q04kM4nM0

📍 June is all about Pathways.

All month, we're sharing what it takes to build the connected, well-designed systems that help young people move from high school into careers — and economic opportunity.

Here's what the data tells us:
78% of Gen Z students say they want to determine their career plans before graduating.
Only 13% feel prepared to do so.

That gap is not a motivation problem. It's a system design problem.

A purposeful pathway is the intentionally designed journey that connects a young person's experiences in high school and beyond — education, training and career preparation that leads to work with family-sustaining wages.

When the journey works, each experience builds on the last:
✔️ High-quality advising keeps students connected to trusted adults at every transition
✔️ Accelerated coursework provides access to college credit and industry credentials
✔️ Career-connected learning bridges the classroom and the real world

Graduation, enrollment and credential completion all matter. But in isolation, they don't add up to a pathway. When those experiences aren't designed together, students — especially those in the most complex circumstances — can fall through the gaps.

The goal: every student is able to say, "I know who I am, I know where I'm going and I know who can help me get there."

📘 Read our Pathways explainer to learn what purposeful pathways are and why they matter for economic mobility. https://hubs.li/Q04k7FPR0

Stay tuned all month for stories, strategies and resources on building pathways that work for every student.