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7/9/2014 - Bridge to Success Recognition

Bridge to Success one of 49 Cradle to Career communities in the country and one of 2 in the state to be recognized with a national quality designation from StriveTogether

Waterbury's Bridge to Success Community Partnership (BTS) has been recognized with a unique quality designation from StriveTogether. BTS is one of only 49 communities in the entire country, and only one of four in New England, and one of two in Connecticut to meet the recently established cradle to career partnership benchmarks.  Almost 100 local organizations and more than twice that number of community members are working together to prepare Waterbury's youth for success from Cradle to Career.  By joining forces, they ensure the city's youth - from cradle to career - have access to the quality healthcare, education and support they need to become responsible adults. 

Judy Peppler, President and Chief Executive of KnowledgeWorks, will welcome BTS to the Cradle to Career network at the mayoral press conference July 10.  KnowledgeWorks is a nationwide organization working to ensure all students thrive in college, career and civic life through the work of two subsidiaries, EDWorks and StriveTogether.  Through StriveTogether’s network, Waterbury will connect with communities across the nation to learn from common challenges and successes to improve outcomes for all children from cradle to career.

"StriveTogether network evaluators were impressed with the level of community engagement in Waterbury,” Peppler said. “Bridge to Success’ active collaborative action workgroups bring together like-minded and passionate public and private partners, parents and caregivers to improve the lives of Waterbury’s children. We are excited to welcome them as one of the 49 StriveTogether community partners.” Mayor Neil M. O’Leary will be joined at the press conference by R. David Addams, Executive Director of the William Caspar Graustein Memorial Fund; Kristen Jacoby, President and Chief Professional Officer of the United Way of Greater Waterbury; Paula Van Ness, CEO of the CT Community Foundation; David Davison, CEO of the American Savings Foundation; Dr. Kathleen Ouellette, Superintendent of Waterbury Public Schools and Anne Marie Cullinan, Chief Professional Officer of Waterbury Public Schools; Waterbury parents including Rubis Collado, Yoellie Iglesias, Dr. Dolton James, and Angela Holmes; and representatives from 80 BTS community partners.

Mayor O’Leary notes that “this elite designation recognizes the hard work all BTS partners have done and will continue doing as they work together to promote early literacy, positive mental health, nutrition and physical activity in children and youth, encourage post-secondary school and career readiness, and promote, support, and nurture parent/caregiver skills as their child’s first and main teacher.”

BTS is a historic partnership that connects all segments of the educational continuum – from cradle to career – with broad community support to improve the educational, economic, and health outcomes for all youth.

StriveTogether, the City of Waterbury, BTS partners and many area funders will support BTS as it assures all of Waterbury’s children enter kindergarten ready to learn, enter 3rd grade with necessary reading skills, enter 8th grade with necessary math skills, graduate from high school on time, and are ready for rewarding careers.