Guest Commentator: Danae Mobley, COO, Coded by Kids @codedbykids
What are some ways we can work together to create an inclusive education-to-career pipeline ecosystem in our region?
Philadelphia’s problems aren’t simple ones, and neither are its solutions.
Many people have attempted to address the systemic issues that can keep pathways to wealth out of reach for Black and brown Philadelphians. Too often, solutions are created in silos and make little impact on the lives of residents.
When it comes to creating opportunities for Philadelphia residents – we can’t afford to operate alone. To affect real change, we need to call upon our community members, neighbors, and big thinkers across sectors to activate strategic partnerships and finally tackle our city’s big issues.
The 1Philadelphia coalition, started by Coded by Kids, is just one example of the kind of collaborative effort we need to see between our city’s corporate leaders, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions to grow more equitable opportunities for Philadelphians.
As we’ve launched this coalition, we’ve found that these methods are the most effective to be able to create change:
- Listen. Progress requires collaboration and teamwork. Work with leaders doing the work in your community to learn about their experiences, challenges, and get constructive feedback.
- Let the data lead for impact. Quality data and research are foundational to effective solutions. To put your work in perspective, empower your partners, collaborators, and leaders by providing clear metrics to drive funding decisions and solutions.
- Follow through with funding. After speaking with non-profit leaders across the city, we’ve found barriers to funding can be crippling for small organizations. By removing roadblocks to critical resources, community and non-profit leaders can expand their footprint and build upon their deep community relationships to have a big impact.
When backed by supportive and strategic partnerships, Philadelphia-area leaders can build genuine, systemic change and unlock new opportunities. With the right minds collaborating on any issue, we’ll see a larger impact and more innovative solutions.
For those of us working together, this approach isn’t the quick fix, but it’s necessary to build a more inclusive city.
Upcoming Event
City Hall Connectors: Superintendent Dr. Tony Watlington
Tuesday, March 7, 2023 | 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM | Virtual
Join us for a conversation with Dr. Tony B. Watlington, Sr., the new Superintendent for the School District of Philadelphia. Learn about the immediate priorities impacting our schools, his vision for the future, and how Philadelphia's business community can partner with the School District to help meet the growing needs of our students and maximize the opportunity for our city's future business leaders.
The City Hall Connectors series seeks to improve Philadelphia's business atmosphere and promote inclusive growth by offering exclusive engagement opportunities for members with the city's elected and administrative officials. Attendees have a chance to hear from, interact, and build relationships with these important decision-makers and offer input on how Philadelphia can further enhance its economic climate.
