In 2020, KConnect, Kent County’s collective impact organization, was awarded $375,000 over three years to continue its system transformation work to ensure that all children have an equitable path to prosperity. Since inception, KConnect has worked to unify its partners by creating common language around chronic absenteeism, kindergarten readiness, certificates, and systemic barriers so partners can solve problems together, and rallying stakeholders around 27 indicators and success measures (below) to track progress at the community level through its Data Dashboard.

Now that much of the groundwork has been laid, KConnect will spend the next three years identifying areas of impact and leveraging its partners and resource network to bring projects to fruition that directly impact its indicators to benefit children and families. By using content and context experts with lived experience, KConnect and its partners will look to redesign systems to provide access and opportunities to those underserved to ensure everyone in Kent has a path to prosperity. The Steelcase Foundation is excited to walk alongside KConnect in the next chapter of its work, and to see the direct impact it has to children and families in our community.