Mayor Woodfin’s Children and Youth Commission launches Cradle-to-Career Roadmap to success, a coordinated system of opportunity

From the City of Birmingham

September 24
Birmingham, AL — The City of Birmingham plans to change the way it invests in its children. Mayor Randall L. Woodfin, Birmingham City Schools leadership, and community partners today released the Birmingham Children and Youth Commission’s Cradle-to-Career Report and Roadmap, a citywide strategy designed to connect the systems, resources, and people that shape a child’s life, from birth through education, career, and adulthood.

“This is about changing the trajectory of a child’s life,” Mayor Woodfin said. “Where a child is born should never determine where that child ends up. We have talented people, strong institutions and tremendous community organizations doing the work every day. Now, we have a roadmap to connect that work, align our investments and hold ourselves accountable for results.”

The roadmap represents a fundamental shift: from fragmented programs to a connected system of opportunity. More than 75 leaders from education, government, neighborhoods, philanthropy, business, and community organizations contributed to the Commission’s 90-day planning process, conducted in partnership with the Harlem Children’s Zone.

The work will now move from planning to action under the leadership of Zhaundra Jones, a philanthropic strategist and nationally recognized thought leader with nearly 20 years of experience advancing economic mobility, equity, and community impact. She will drive implementation of the city’s cradle-to-career strategy using five measurable outcomes for Birmingham’s children and young people:

• Early Childhood: Increase the number of 0–3 childcare seats and triple the number of childcare centers achieving three or more quality stars.
• Enrichment: Guarantee universal access to high-quality afterschool programming for Birmingham students.
• Literacy: Close Birmingham’s third-grade reading gap.
• Mathematics: Triple Birmingham’s eighth-grade math proficiency rate.
• Thriving Adulthood: Increase the percentage of young people connected to employment, paid internships, apprenticeships or postsecondary pathways by age 24.

The strategy will begin implementation in two historic Birmingham areas: Woodlawn–Kingston and Smithfield–North and South Titusville. These communities were selected because of their deep histories of leadership and resilience and the strength of the organizationsand relationships already working on behalf of children and families. Using the Woodlawn and Parker High School feeder patterns, the strategy will create stronger connections across the entire educational journey, from early childhood and elementary school to high school, postsecondary education, and the workforce.

The release of the roadmap marks the beginning, not the end, of the Commission’s work. The City will establish a dedicated governance structure, identify neighborhood backbone organizations, and launch a public engagement campaign to bring residents and partners into the work. The roadmap invites every parent, educator, neighborhood leader, faith leader, nonprofit, business owner, and resident to become part of the effort.

To view the Birmingham Children and Youth Commission’s Cradle-to-Career Report and Roadmap, visit www.birminghamal.gov/cradletocareer.