Strada collaborates with students, policymakers, educators, and employers across the U.S. to strengthen the link between education and opportunity.
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We prioritize policies, practices, and programs that help ensure postsecondary education provides equitable pathways to opportunity.
We advance our mission through research, grantmaking, social impact investments, public policy solutions, Strada-supported nonprofit organizations, and strategic initiatives.
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INDIANAPOLIS — January 14, 2020 — Strada Education Network, a national social impact organization dedicated to forging new pathways between education and employment, announced today that Stephen Goldsmith, former Mayor of Indianapolis, will join the leadership team as a senior strategic advisor.
“Steve has had a distinguished career in developing smart policies that advance opportunity for individuals and build strong communities. He shares our drive to ensure that all Americans have the skills and preparation needed to pursue meaningful careers,” said William D. Hansen, Strada Education Network President and CEO. “His ability to galvanize leaders across business, philanthropy, education, and workforce will be a tremendous asset to advancing our mission. We are thrilled to welcome him to the team.”
Goldsmith served two terms as Mayor of Indianapolis from 1991 to 2000, where he developed a national reputation for building innovative public-private partnerships. As Mayor he led both the revival of the city’s downtown as well as “Building Better Neighborhoods,” a comprehensive effort, supported by many national foundations, to dramatically improve the physical and social infrastructure of Indy’s urban communities.
“Strada’s work couldn’t be more timely or needed than it is today. I feel the urgency around breaking down the barriers individuals face to accessing the education they need to advance and improve their lives,” said Goldsmith. “Strada’s thoughtful cross-sector, multi-dimensional approach to tackling these challenges is very exciting to me, and I look forward to being a part of the impact the organization is driving.”
In addition to his work with Strada, Goldsmith serves as the Director of the Innovations in Government Program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and a Daniel Paul Professor of the Practice of Government. At Harvard, he leads Data-Smart City Solutions, a project that combines cutting edge technologies and data analytics to reshape the relationship between government and citizen, and the Project on Municipal Innovation, a platform for cities’ staff to share innovative policy ideas that increase efficiency and improve the lives of citizens.
Goldsmith also served as the Chair of the Corporation for National and Community Service, and was appointed Deputy Mayor of New York City in 2011 by the Mayor at the time Michael Bloomberg. He is currently working on a book about cross-sector collaboration, and has written seven books, including The Power of Social Innovation, Governing by Network: The New Shape of the Public Sector, and The TwentyFirst Century City: Resurrecting Urban America.
About Strada Education Network
Strada Education Network is a national social impact organization dedicated to improving lives by forging clearer and more purposeful pathways between education and employment. The Network engages partners across education, nonprofits, business and government to focus relentlessly on students’ success throughout all phases of their working lives. Together, we address critical college to career challenges through strategic philanthropy, research and insights, and mission-aligned affiliates.
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