Why a Statewide Coalition Matters
Entreaties to state government — especially those from Memphis alone — seldom compel a majority of legislators to action. Regardless of the urgency we feel at home, the rigor of our analysis, or the resonance of an issue beyond Shelby County, concerns from southwest Tennessee can too easily be dismissed as parochial.
Memphis is distant from many parts of the state. It is a large metropolitan area. It is racially, ethnically, and culturally distinct. The reasons for inaction abound. How, some legislators wonder, are the concerns of Memphians relevant to the rest of Tennessee?
This time, that question had a clear answer.
Seeding Success did not make legislative visits alone.
Our day’s activities were organized by Cradle to Career Tennessee (C2C TN) — a brand-new coalition of place-based cradle-to-career nonprofit organizations operating across the state. These organizations focus on a continuum of milestones, from early care and development through living-wage employment.
The coalition brings together partners in:
This dream team of Tennessee’s most ambitious and effective organizations — advancing kindergarten readiness, early grade reading, postsecondary credential attainment, and workforce success — took to the halls of our State Capitol with one collective message:
The surest way to ensure children and families thrive is to align the efforts of all state agencies — alongside local efforts — around a shared cradle-to-career continuum.
