Celebrating C2C's top 10 wins of 2025
As we begin a new year filled with opportunity, let’s celebrate our top 10 wins of 2025.
Cradle 2 Career…
Hosted the 4th Annual Education Summit
This year’s Annual Education Summit, which focused on the theme of “From Insight to Impact,” exceeded all of our goals! With over 325 registrants and 45 breakout sessions facilitated by 74 presenters, the Mayo Civic Center provided the perfect backdrop for our fourth year of connecting and learning together.
Summit attendees and presenters posing at our photo booth
2. Celebrated Network Achievements
The Prenatal to Age 3 Network presented to 84+ clinicians at Mayo Clinic and Olmsted Medical Center about the positive patient outcomes associated with doula services. They also shared the network’s goals to increase the number of pregnant persons in Olmsted County receiving adequate prenatal care by educating the community on doula services. The network saw a 3% increase in the number of people accessing adequate prenatal care in Olmsted County since 2024.
The Transition 2 Kindergarten Network identified and is now preparing two tactics to support parents and caregivers of preschoolers in understanding social-emotional learning. These tactics will be implemented in the community in 2026. The network also welcomed seven new members.
The High School Graduation Network co-hosted 14 college financial aid support sessions in local schools and organizations. The first three support sessions saw a 35% increase in student submissions of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) from the previous year!
A meeting with the Prenatal to Age 3 Network’s community education work group
3. Moved Into Our New Office
We relocated to a larger, more accessible office that better supports collaboration, community engagement, and inclusive participation. The new space, Suite 130 at the United Way of Southeast Minnesota building, provides improved accessibility and meeting capacity, allowing us to convene partners, families, and stakeholders more effectively and create a welcoming environment for all. We hope you’ll join us on February 4, 2026, for a ribbon-cutting ceremony (12 PM) and open house periods from 11 AM - 1 PM and 3:30 - 5:30 PM.
C2C staff members on moving day
4. Amplified Youth & Caregiver Voices
We are incredibly thankful for our community partners, including the youth and families/caregivers whose voices lead our work. In 2025, we hosted or co-hosted 10 parent group meetings, bringing lived experiences to the forefront. Two Parent Council members also presented at the Transition 2 Kindergarten Network’s data retreat. In the year ahead, we look forward to deepening our partnerships and continuing to collaborate toward meaningful and equitable outcomes.
Parent Council members Abigail Borrego and Khadija Ali presenting at the Transition 2 Kindergarten network’s data retreat
5. Supported Youth Learning & Leadership
We have strengthened our commitment to learning and leadership development this year by hosting three college students – Johnathan Tommavongsa, Falis No, and Amanuel Yeabsira – enrolled in a Community Collaboration course at the University of Minnesota Rochester. These students attended parent and youth meetings where they built connections with our Rochester community. We also welcomed intern Lily Wentz-John, a student at John Marshall High School, and Yezi Gugsa, a recent graduate from the University of Southern California, who came to us through the Groundwork Fellow Program with the Minnesota Alliance with Youth. All five youth further expanded our capacity while supporting the next generation of community leaders.
Lily Wentz-John, High school intern
College work study students (center), Johnathan Tommavongsa, Falis No, and Amanuel Yeabsira, presenting what they learned at C2C
Yezi Gugsa, Groundwork Fellow
6. Established New Network Practices
Our Network Facilitators, Greg Jacob III and Anna Schmidt, worked with network members to identify their needs and make their meetings more accessible. Upon adopting a new meeting cycle that offers more flexibility and a mix of group formats, we have seen a 60% increase in meeting attendance. Our network members have also started recognizing each other with a mini mascot. The intention behind this lighthearted act is to bring laughter and smiles to those who give so much to our community. Our network mascots have visited eight network members and counting!
Network members receiving their recognition mascots
7. Presented at StriveTogether’s Convening
C2C Executive Director Julie Ruzek presented our local work at the annual convening of our national partner, StriveTogether. Julie co-led the session with the Tulsa, Oklahoma, partnership on using data to drive economic mobility. Our public data dashboards were a huge success!
C2C Executive Director Julie Ruzek with co-presenters
8. Participated in Mayor's Year About Youth
The Mayor’s Year About Youth initiative highlighted the importance of centering young people in community decision-making and investing in their well-being and future success. C2C supported this initiative by sharing our aligned work with youth-focused priorities with the community, elevating youth voice within our networks, and partnering with city leadership to advance systems that better serve children and young adults across Rochester through our free Annual Education Summit.
C2C staff with Mayor Kim Norton at her State of the City Address
Dr. Amit Sood’s evening keynote at the Annual Education Summit, sponsored by the Office of the Mayor
9. Built an Even Stronger Team
We welcomed Greg Jacob III and Anna Schmidt to our team as Network Facilitators – the first time that two slots have been dedicated to this incredibly important role. Greg and Anna are a powerhouse duo. In addition to the many network achievements they supported and changes they implemented (as outlined above in wins #2 and #6), they have also created a new internal newsletter to keep network members informed outside of meetings.
C2C staff at a mindfulness nature retreat to kick off the school year
10. Strengthened Our State Coalition
The Education Partnerships Coalition (EPC), the statewide organization that comprises nine collective impact initiatives throughout Minnesota (including C2C), met six times over the summer and fall to align priorities, build community, and strengthen impact across the state. We’re proud to be part of this coalition that advocates for success for children, youth, and young adults from cradle to career.
EPC members at the StriveTogether’s Cradle to Career Network Convening in September