Community Update | Quarter 2 | April 2026
By Beth Martinez, Community Advocacy Manager
Our Parent Council has been meeting quarterly, and we’ve had great attendance at our meetings. We decided to meet quarterly so that the information we share can better align with the updates from our Leadership Table. This has been working well, as Parent Council members are still able to share feedback on Cradle 2 Career’s overall progress and provide input on different networks when needed.
We are incredibly grateful for our Parent Council members. They continue to be strong leaders in advocating for their voices to be heard and represented. They are always willing to participate in additional meetings, gatherings, and events, and their presence truly makes a difference. We will always continue to advocate for them to feel respected, valued, and welcomed at every table.
Our ECMC College Nights went amazingly well. Three incredible students received $1,000 college scholarships that they will have four years to use. During College Nights, we focused on four main areas:
How education can change your life
Choosing your path
Paying for college
Next steps
Presenting to students at College Nights
Each section shared helpful information to support students as they plan for and navigate their college journey. We are very thankful for all of our partners who helped make these nights possible, including College Possible, Rochester Community and Technical College, Rochester Public Schools, and ECMC.
We’re excited to continue working alongside our Parent Council and having them as an important part of guiding our work as we serve our community. We also took one Parent Council member and three youth representatives to the EPC’s Day on the Hill. It’s exciting to create space for community members to share their authentic perspectives and lived experiences. In addition, we have upcoming Financial Aid Support Sessions to help students and their families complete college financial aid applications and learn more about what to expect in the college experience.
