Place-Based Initiatives

An exploration of how the science of ECD 2.0 can inform and strengthen work driven by community leaders to improve access to opportunity and reduce threats to healthy development in the places where people live, work, learn, and play.

There are many different models and approaches to place-based initiatives; among the most well-known are Harlem Children’s Zone, Promise Neighborhoods, and Purpose-Built Communities, just to name a few. All are grounded in the fundamental belief that place matters—the opportunities, barriers, services, and conditions embedded in the places where people live, work, learn, and play all affect the well-being of their residents and the ability of all children to thrive.

These initiatives are driven by the belief that the balance between opportunities and barriers to social and economic mobility in cities, towns, neighborhoods, and rural communities is heavily influenced by policies—and those policies can be changed.

A growing number of community leaders are expressing interest in an expanded science framework to affirm their current efforts and inform more effective strategies in the early childhood space. Some have asked explicitly how the science of ECD 2.0 could help strengthen the front end of what they call the “cradle to career (or college) pipeline.” Over the past two years, we have had exploratory conversations with several leaders of place-based initiatives and have moved into active planning with a highly motivated subset.

In order to maximize the game-changing opportunities presented by this growing interest in working together, we are prepared to invest significant time and effort to learn more about each community’s specific goals, challenges, assets, and needs—and we’re eager to co-develop action plans that are driven by each community’s determination of how our contributions might help advance their priorities. We are listening to and learning from local stakeholders to ensure that our participation is tailored to their vision for their community. In short, we view ourselves as playing a consulting and supportive role. We understand that our success in this role must be grounded in trust, and we welcome the opportunity to earn that trust.

A mid adult male shows a volunteer a list as they work together in a community organization.

The shared vision guiding our planned work together is for larger impacts than current best practices for more children through a balanced portfolio of investments in both place-based initiatives and direct services for children and families facing adversity.

Our aim is to leverage these complementary pillars to strengthen the foundations of healthy development and reduce preventable disparities in life outcomes, beginning prenatally and continuing through the first three years after birth.

Stay tuned to this space for more information as specific partnerships evolve and become more formalized.