Trident United Way leading the way through collective impact
As the convener for our region’s first Kindergarten Readiness Network, and in partnership with the Tri-County Cradle to Career Collaborative (TCCC), Trident United Way (TUW) is positioned to provide the infrastructure necessary to support hundreds of early learning organizations, providers, businesses, governments, community volunteers and others to collect data for an ambitious common agenda, develop shared goals and milestones and identify and operationalize promising solutions. This move aims to improve academic and developmental outcomes for children from birth through age 5 by creating a cohesive and strategic plan in coordination with community, local and state stakeholders.
Kindergarten Readiness Network Members
The Kindergarten Readiness Network (KRN) is growing and comprised of more than 100 members in the community who are committed to achieving the vision of Kindergarten Readiness. A Guiding Team supports the network by helping analyze data and focus the scope of the work. Network membership is open to any interested party and includes representatives from schools, colleges, businesses, and community-based organizations, as well as parents, community volunteers and others who wish to support the movement to help children, parents and communities ensure children enter kindergarten ready to learn.
Current Kindergarten Readiness Network Membership Roster
To learn more about the role of network partners and to sign up to join the network, click here.
Network Leadership
Convening Partner: Trident United Way
Primary Contact: Amanda Lawrence, Trident United Way
Guiding Team Members
- Amy Asper, Tri-County Cradle to Career
- Bryan Boroughs, Institute for Child Success
- Crystal Campbell, SC Child Care Resource & Referral Network
- James Ella Collins, Charleston First Steps
- Jane Farrell, Community Volunteer
- Kim Foxworth, Charleston County School District
- Kelsey Gilmore-Futeral, SC Department of Social Services
- Janice Key, MD, MUSC
- Herman Knopf, Anita Zucker Center for Excellence in Early Childhood Studies, University of Florida
- Cathy Marino, Community Volunteer
- John Read, Tri-County Cradle to Career
- Alexa Stephens, Tri-County Cradle to Career
- Troy Strother, Tri-County Cradle to Career
- Mindy Sturm, City of Charleston, Mayor’s Office for Children, Youth, and Families
- Adrienne Troy-Fraizer, Berkeley First Steps
- Karen Warren, Community Volunteer
- Virginia Vedilago, PASOs
A Vision for Kindergarten Readiness Network
The Kindergarten Readiness Network has agreed upon the following vision to guide their efforts:
Kindergarten Readiness involves children, families, early care and educational environments schools and communities.
- Families and caregivers encourage the physical, social and emotional, cognitive, and language development of children.
- Early Childhood practitioners partner with children and their families using evidence-based, child-centered, and developmentally and culturally appropriate curricula and practices.
- Communities create a system for access and support resources and institutions that will promote and support the development of the whole child.
All are necessary so that all children will experience kindergarten success.
Interested in learning more? Contact Amanda Lawrence at alawrence@tuw.org or 843-740-7724.