Milwaukee Succeeds Attends the 2025 StriveTogether Convening
This September, the Milwaukee Succeeds team traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, joining changemakers from across the country for the annual StriveTogether Cradle to Career Convening. For three days, we immersed ourselves in ideas, inspiration and collaboration, all driven by a shared goal: putting 4 million more young people on a path to economic mobility by 2030.
In addition to the inspiring plenaries and keynote speeches, this year’s conference offered 50 different breakout sessions, covering everything from data and storytelling to empowering youth and families and building trust within the community. These breakouts – along with various role-alike sessions and networking opportunities – provided an excellent chance to connect with peers, share lessons from Milwaukee and bring back new strategies to strengthen our work. Every conversation and workshop fueled fresh ideas for how we can come together to support children, families and educators.
One particularly powerful session was led by two of our own - Sebastián Fuentes and Maria Hamidu. Together, they presented Youth Empowerment: Autonomy and Decision Making, showcasing the unique ways in which Milwaukee Succeeds is redefining youth leadership. The interactive workshop sparked meaningful conversations about creating spaces for youth and allowing them to influence the decisions that shape their lives.
And it wasn’t just our youth empowerment work making waves. Our early childhood education efforts were also uplifted as a testament to the power of collective impact. Both Jennifer Blatz (president and CEO of StriveTogether) and Sally Kohn (TV commentator and writer) highlighted Wisconsin’s historic $330 million investment into the child care sector – and the amazing collaboration that helped make it happen. This recognition served as a powerful reminder that advocacy, partnership and dedication can create real change for young children and families.
By the end of the convening, the Milwaukee Succeeds team returned energized, inspired and ready to put new ideas into action!